A "University Lifestyle" is a path for Baby Boomers to go back to full time resident college life to prepare for their "Encore Careers". Inspiration for this site comes from Peter F. Drucker "Thirty years from now the big university campuses will be relics. Universities won't survive. It's as large a change as when we first got the printed book. Do you realize that the cost of higher education has risen as fast as the cost of health care? And for the middle-class family, college education for their children is as much of a necessity as is medical care—without it the kids have no future. Such totally uncontrollable expenditures, without any visible improvement in either the content or the quality of education, means that the system is rapidly becoming untenable. Higher education is in deep crisis.” Seeing things as they really are, Forbes (March 10, 1997) -Peter F Drucker "The best way to predict the future is to create it. " Peter F. Drucker Rosabeth M. Kanter also deserves recognition for provocative thought. Go here for more. Want to help build the concept?What is our purpose?Our purpose is to connect people who will create a new lifestyle on college campuses where they will prepare for their "Encore Careers" . What a "University Lifestyle" is not.To be clear, a "University Lifestyle" it is not a "University Affiliated Retirement Home", or a final resting place located on or near a college campus. Nor is it an "active adult" retirement community, where people live in age group isolation, often focusing on "busyness" activities. It is not about taking classes online, at a community college or a professional school while you continue to work. It is not about trying to intrude on the lives of our youth by trying to live in the Freshman dorms. It is not for those who wish to withdraw or disengage from functional roles in society, and seek retirement. It is not for those who feel entitled to 20 or 30 years of rest, golf or leisure world before death. What "University Lifestyle" is.It is a fresh, new start that enables a person to extend life well beyond the "normal retirement age" in ways that are personally meaningful, and socially responsible. It is a physical and mental wellness program, where you are immersed in college life, rebuilding, retooling, and catching your second wind. It is a place and time to contribute and enrich our college classrooms through real world experiences and hard earned wisdom acquired only through the challenges of life. It is a time to unlearn those things that no longer apply, to abandon that which no longer works. It is a time to reconnect with the world, through intergenerational and multidisciplinary classrooms and social activities. This is a time to rejuvenate and surrounding yourself with the energy, excitement and hopes of youth. It is for those who wish to remain valuable, relevant and contributing to society. Isn't going to college a huge expense?No! It can actually be very inexpensive, if you go about it in the right way. College students are notorious for living inexpensively. You only need a large income if your expenses are high. Average households spend 65% of their income on room, board and transportation.(Ref BLS) But how much do students spend?
Background and Context. Most are aware of the large cohort of 79 million "Baby Boomers"(b 1946-1964) that are staged to retire, beginning now. This population bubble, or age wave, or Tsunami has shaped many aspects of our economy and culture since 1946. It has driven our views on the world, politics, education, the environment, work, and technology. This cohort is now entering their 60's. will undoubtedly continue to change and shape the economy over the course of the next 18 years. Our culture has also created dreams and expectations for "retirement" that include volunteering for noble causes, traveling the world, exploring those activities they always wanted to do but never took or had the time to do, or spend additional time with family and friends. A prevalent thought is that expenses in retirement would be paid for from the 3 legged stool, or some combination of pensions, Social Security and earnings from accumulated wealth (mainly real estate and 401K , IRA's, etc). However, for many, company pension plans have vanished, home values have dramatically declined and tax deferred investments have plummeted in value. It's time for plan B. Our social expectations for "retirement" were created at a time when people would typically work until the age of 65, and die shortly after, perhaps at the age of 67 or 68. The updated reality is that people live longer than they used to, with average lifespans now around 80. Some are projecting that lifespans will increase to 100, perhaps as soon as 2030. This is a game changer. Are we as individuals, or as a culture prepared to sustain an acceptable standard of living for our extended lifespans? What should we do to deal with our extended lifespans? What will we do when we fully realize that at 50, we are only 1/2 way through life? Will our children be burdened us? Can we really expect to live on the dole for so long? Consider those in their 50's. Many married and had children, creating a demand for those 4 bedroom homes in the suburbs with good schools for their children. When they purchased them, many thought they would live in them for the rest of their lives. They would stay happily married, and the grandchildren would come and visit them on weekends. But 50% of them divorced, and their children found jobs thousands of miles away. Are you stuck in the past? Housing, food and transporation typically make up 60% of expenses. Does it really add value to your life having a large home? Large homes require more gas and electricity to heat and cool them, even after the children have moved out. How much value does your personal yard add to your life? Why do you consume and pay to water a yard, so that it will grow, only to pay for a gardener to maintain it, and then pay for it to be hauled away? In a university lifestyle, your personal space is less, but your public space is greater. Want a yard? Go stand in the football field or sit in the campus parks and open spaces. Do you really need 4 bedrooms for yourself? Why not have 1 bedroom? Why not share utilities, cable, internet and phones. Isn't it more valuable to sit in a living room with others, prepare and eat meals with others? Is it really necessary and valuable to pay for the expense of vehicles? Do you need a high paying job so that you can pay to get back and forth to work? How much are you paying to go to work? While the total cost of ownership of a vehicle can vary widely it can cost $.50 to well over a $1.00 per mile. You can check out the true cost of ownership here and do your own calculations. Many people drive 15,000 miles per year to get to and from work. So, at $1.00 per mile, it costs $15,000 for the privilege of spending life, fighting traffic. A university lifestyle, for many eliminates or dramatically reduces the cost of transportation. Many students do not even own a car and find really inexpensive, often free ways(not freeways) to get around. Who might want a "University Lifestyle"? Those who:
Other PathsThere are, of course, many different ways to change careers and lifestyles. This site focuses on just one them. Civic Ventures and Encore share many inspiring success stories of people who have made the transition and have found continued income, while doing work that is both personally fulfilling and also addresses some of society’s biggest challenges. |