[pup55]

We were just doing what we were trained to do by our parents, the "greatest generation". All we hear are these stories about how some guy bought a house for $8000 in 1967 and now it is worth $250K.

There are some lessons about thrift, hard work, character, self-restraint, a few other things that we missed along the way somehow.

It will all work out at some point.

[lutherquick]

I was born in 1965, so technicaly I'm not a boomer...

I think home values in the near future will be based on sustainability, energy efficiency, community, etc...
Many of the baby boomers will lose their shirts, big time, some will profit very well.
Homes in the future will not be just about quantity or quality or size, they will be about dealing with the effect of peak oil.

Small farms will sell well.

I think these baby boomer are hoping more immigrants will buy their homes. Or immigrants will displace the cheaper home market, thus pushing the young Americans up the wealth ladder, and they will buy the baby boomer homes.

It's going to be complicated, everyone will maneuver and try to guess the market. Most live in a delusion that growth will go on forever.
State nursing homes will house these baby boomers, and nothing will be left as inheritance to their children.
Quality of life will diminish in America, just as they retire.

[JoeW]

Clearly, the baby boomers will be remembered as a generation that made many mistakes.
They probably did some good things, also. I just can't think of any at this moment.
Most of the boomers that I have worked with have a huge sense of entitlement, make two or three times what their younger counterparts get paid, and do very little work--preferring instead to make EBay purchases during work hours, checking sports scores, shooting the breeze around the water cooler, and generally expending most of their effort dodging questions for which they have no answers because they are poorly educated and lazy. Ah, and they like to come up with new buzzwords and try to figure out how to work them into the conversation. I have noticed that lately many of them like to discuss how they will Leverage a Resource for this or that, which means getting a contractor, co-op, or less senior employee to do the actual work that needs to get done so they can go back to their EBay search for yet another classic car, or get back on the phone with their realtor about that 3rd home in Florida...

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JoeW', 'C')learly, the baby boomers will be remembered as a generation that made many mistakes.
They probably did some good things, also. I just can't think of any at this moment.
Most of the boomers that I have worked with have a huge sense of entitlement, make two or three times what their younger counterparts get paid, and do very little work--preferring instead to make EBay purchases during work hours, checking sports scores, shooting the breeze around the water cooler, and generally expending most of their effort dodging questions for which they have no answers because they are poorly educated and lazy. Ah, and they like to come up with new buzzwords and try to figure out how to work them into the conversation. I have noticed that lately many of them like to discuss how they will Leverage a Resource for this or that, which means getting a contractor, co-op, or less senior employee to do the actual work that needs to get done so they can go back to their EBay search for yet another classic car, or get back on the phone with their realtor about that 3rd home in Florida...

[JoeW]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '
')I went to a peak oil function (Heingberg) here in town, that was sponsored by the local utility co. and the Mayor, and was shocked by how many people in their twenties attending the event. 20 somethings outnumbered boomers by at least 10 to 1, I couldn't help thinking how the kids are going to react when they are asked to shoulder the final stages of their allready profligate lifestyles ?

Going to be interesting - They have already saddled the younger generations with the housing bubble, pensions, medicare, stock option ripoffs, the list goes on and on.

[clueless]

I have to agree -

I believe "peakoil" will not even be that discernable in the midst of the societal chaos to come. Debt is going to take the middle class (as if there is even such a thing now) down the tubes.

I was 7 & 12 during the last economic shocks that were only related to the oil import situation, now there are about 5 other things coming down the pipe and the "Boomers" are clueless. And they were warned , I remember listening to all the rhetoric.

I have been singing that Beach Boys song "Fun,Fun,Fun" lately and chuckle when I listen to the words, if you want to hear something that typifies them listen to the words in that song.

Well fellow Boomers, Daddy's coming for the TBird...

On a further note - I cannot envision the Fed reflating this real estate bubble, can you ???

[lateStarter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JoeW', 'C')learly, the baby boomers will be remembered as a generation that made many mistakes.
They probably did some good things, also. I just can't think of any at this moment.
Most of the boomers that I have worked with have a huge sense of entitlement, make two or three times what their younger counterparts get paid, and do very little work--preferring instead to make EBay purchases during work hours, checking sports scores, shooting the breeze around the water cooler, and generally expending most of their effort dodging questions for which they have no answers because they are poorly educated and lazy. Ah, and they like to come up with new buzzwords and try to figure out how to work them into the conversation. I have noticed that lately many of them like to discuss how they will Leverage a Resource for this or that, which means getting a contractor, co-op, or less senior employee to do the actual work that needs to get done so they can go back to their EBay search for yet another classic car, or get back on the phone with their realtor about that 3rd home in Florida...

[Vexed]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')ust so you don't feel bad, here in Europe, it is common to find very bright young people with 2 advanced degrees in business, that can speak 4 or 5 langauges and they are delivering pizza to make ends meet.

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JoeW', 'C')learly, the baby boomers will be remembered as a generation that made many mistakes.
They probably did some good things, also. I just can't think of any at this moment.
Most of the boomers that I have worked with have a huge sense of entitlement, make two or three times what their younger counterparts get paid, and do very little work--preferring instead to make EBay purchases during work hours, checking sports scores, shooting the breeze around the water cooler, and generally expending most of their effort dodging questions for which they have no answers because they are poorly educated and lazy. Ah, and they like to come up with new buzzwords and try to figure out how to work them into the conversation. I have noticed that lately many of them like to discuss how they will Leverage a Resource for this or that, which means getting a contractor, co-op, or less senior employee to do the actual work that needs to get done so they can go back to their EBay search for yet another classic car, or get back on the phone with their realtor about that 3rd home in Florida...

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JoeW', 'C')learly, the baby boomers will be remembered as a generation that made many mistakes.
They probably did some good things, also. I just can't think of any at this moment.
Most of the boomers that I have worked with have a huge sense of entitlement, make two or three times what their younger counterparts get paid, and do very little work--preferring instead to make EBay purchases during work hours, checking sports scores, shooting the breeze around the water cooler, and generally expending most of their effort dodging questions for which they have no answers because they are poorly educated and lazy. Ah, and they like to come up with new buzzwords and try to figure out how to work them into the conversation. I have noticed that lately many of them like to discuss how they will Leverage a Resource for this or that, which means getting a contractor, co-op, or less senior employee to do the actual work that needs to get done so they can go back to their EBay search for yet another classic car, or get back on the phone with their realtor about that 3rd home in Florida...

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Vexed', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')ust so you don't feel bad, here in Europe, it is common to find very bright young people with 2 advanced degrees in business, that can speak 4 or 5 langauges and they are delivering pizza to make ends meet.

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')id you go to the EWEB one? I was out of town and missed it. I'm suprised the 20ish crowd was there. Most of my 20ish crowd peers are into the "american dream" scam hook, line and sinker. IS kitty piercy a peak oil believer? I thought she was just a crazy loon

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')id you go to the EWEB one? I was out of town and missed it. I'm suprised the 20ish crowd was there. Most of my 20ish crowd peers are into the "american dream" scam hook, line and sinker. IS kitty piercy a peak oil believer? I thought she was just a crazy loon

[clueless]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')I'm not in any groups. I'm a hard core doomer. you know the "mad max" kind of doomer. My strategy is to be the "last man standing" in my neighborhood after everybody starves to death or leaves looking for food and water. I'm going to claim the whole place for my family and close friends. there is a lot of good BLM land near my neighborhood. Imagine a big scotsman on a horse with a sombrero, poncho, boots and AK-47, saying "I AM THE LAW AROUND HERE!" when you venture into my neighborhood post peak. Anybody who i have given warning caught poaching or cutting trees on my land will be dealt with harshly. I consider signs and heads on pikes fair warning for poachers and bandits. I have thought it out and i can think of 3 main flaws to my strategy plans:

1. I get evicted from my house because of a miserable "soft landing"

2. Some jack off burns my house down and all my gear and supplies get destroyed. I really wish I had one of those steel houses!

3. Global thermonuclear War

-Each of these 3 scenarios would be equally as bad to me. I do not consider one any worse than the others. Each of them mean certain horrible death.

A permaculture group would be cool to join but i dont have any land to grow stuff on right now. I do however horde "hierloom" seeds. I also don't have time to take care of plants because I have 2 jobs just to pay the bills

[Kingcoal]

I used to be like you guys; miffed at the oldsters for being dumber and richer than I. One day it finally occurred to me; if you are really so smart, then why aren't you rich also? Isn't that the goal? If you are smart, poor and miserable, wouldn't you want to use your intelligence to become richer? I began to notice that a lot of people who I thought were so smart, were actually quite full of themselves. At the same time, I began to notice that other people that I despised as dumb and privileged were actually quite brilliant. These smart successful people were much more aware of certain realities. They modeled themselves after people who were successful than themselves and reaped the rewards. The other thing for you doomers to keep in mind is that it has always been that way. Before the oil age, it was the same. The only thing that is different now is that there are more people alive on the earth than ever. This will change with Peak Oil.

There will always be have and have nots.

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')I'm not in any groups. I'm a hard core doomer. you know the "mad max" kind of doomer. My strategy is to be the "last man standing" in my neighborhood after everybody starves to death or leaves looking for food and water. I'm going to claim the whole place for my family and close friends. there is a lot of good BLM land near my neighborhood. Imagine a big scotsman on a horse with a sombrero, poncho, boots and AK-47, saying "I AM THE LAW AROUND HERE!" when you venture into my neighborhood post peak. Anybody who i have given warning caught poaching or cutting trees on my land will be dealt with harshly. I consider signs and heads on pikes fair warning for poachers and bandits. I have thought it out and i can think of 3 main flaws to my strategy plans:

1. I get evicted from my house because of a miserable "soft landing"

2. Some jack off burns my house down and all my gear and supplies get destroyed. I really wish I had one of those steel houses!

3. Global thermonuclear War

-Each of these 3 scenarios would be equally as bad to me. I do not consider one any worse than the others. Each of them mean certain horrible death.

A permaculture group would be cool to join but i dont have any land to grow stuff on right now. I do however horde "hierloom" seeds. I also don't have time to take care of plants because I have 2 jobs just to pay the bills

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', 'I') used to be like you guys; miffed at the oldsters for being dumber and richer than I. One day it finally occurred to me; if you are really so smart, then why aren't you rich also? Isn't that the goal? If you are smart, poor and miserable, wouldn't you want to use your intelligence to become richer? I began to notice that a lot of people who I thought were so smart, were actually quite full of themselves. At the same time, I began to notice that other people that I despised as dumb and privileged were actually quite brilliant. These smart successful people were much more aware of certain realities. They modeled themselves after people who were successful than themselves and reaped the rewards. The other thing for you doomers to keep in mind is that it has always been that way. Before the oil age, it was the same. The only thing that is different now is that there are more people alive on the earth than ever. This will change with Peak Oil.

There will always be have and have nots.

[Vexed]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', ' ')One day it finally occurred to me; if you are really so smart, then why aren't you rich also? Isn't that the goal? If you are smart, poor and miserable, wouldn't you want to use your intelligence to become richer?

[Zardoz]

Seriously bitter thread, and rightly so. Most Americans under the age of 40 or so will soon have plenty to be bitter about.

And let's not talk about what's in store for the kids...

[seven]

Boomers did spearhead many important changes in society and government - federal worker safety laws, anti-discrimination laws, creation of pollution standards, women's rights, social acceptance of sex before/outside marriage, children outside of marriage, and unmarried cohabitation, student loan programs, protection of land, natural resources and wildlife, affirmative action for minorities and handicapped, etc. - most of the 'good' things about living in our society that we younger people take for granted because we were born into this better society, instead of having to fight for its creation.

That said, sadly, the sheer numbers of the boomer generation, caused by the same charmed era that spawned the wealth that boomers squandered, will be a huge burden on society. However, considering that PO, climate change, global instability and the decline of our economy will probably gut our finances long before most of the boomers get to collect the bulk of their Social Security, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

It is tempting to resent the boomers for their time of plenty, and be angry that we don't get the same cushy job/college/housing/blah deal they did - and that they weren't 'wise' with 'our' inheritance - but it's kind of pointless and unproductive. Very few humans, when given tremendous wealth and ease, will take the high road and be smart about using it, preserving it - it's just human nature...average human nature.

Poor people who win large amounts of money in the lottery often end up broke, simply because they had the same 'jackpot' attitude that the boomers did. Not being used to wealth/resources, they don't know how to hang on to it, or make it grow. So, they spend, use, and suck the resources dry in an orgy of excess. Ease begets laziness, which begets overuse of resources and a tendency to deny that there is reason to constrain one's consumption. Expand, overshoot, collapse. Rome did the same thing - and we delude ourselves if we think that we are so different from those who have made the same mistakes throughout history. Easter Island, anyone?

Knowledge and technology marches forward, but human nature remains the same. Could we be so sure that we wouldn't have done the same thing, were we in the boomer's place in history?
I doubt it. People usually need disaster or serious hardship before they willingly curtail or modify a comfortable, easy existence.

At least they made a start - pollution laws, conservation, acceptance of women in the workforce, fair wages, etc. Like humans throughout history, wealth and ease seduced them (or, most of them) into indolence and wastefulness. Each generation thinks that it is better and smarter than all those who came before...it's just our bad luck to be born at a time when western society humans will have to learn to do with much less - when they are used to having, or were promised, much more.

If PO and climate shifts cause drastic changes over a fairly short period of time, I wouldn't be surprised to see rage at boomers translate into widespread violence by pissed off youth who don't get to have anything but an increasingly hard life - we shall see.