By Jane Kenny – RV Lifestyle Specialist
By the year 2010 one-third of the population in the U.S. will be over the age of 50. That means the Baby Boomers – all 76 million of them – will be retired or on the brink of retirement. Retirees in the 21st century are healthier and will live longer than their parents and grandparents did. During their retirement years, Baby Boomers want to be active, enjoy life and fulfill dreams. For many (if not most) traveling is a big part of the retirement dream.
Despite high gasoline prices and low miles-per-gallon, retirees are still heading out to the open road in recreational vehicles. Why?
- They want to fulfill a dream of a lifetime – traveling and seeing the county during retirement.
- The overall cost of traveling in an RV is not as expensive as other modes of travel.
Recent surveys indicate that Boomers will revolutionize society’s concept of retirement. Baby Boomers are largely ignoring the traditional model of a sedentary retirement. They opt for an active retirement lifestyle and expect to make time for travel…lots of travel!
Retirement on the open road? Many Boomers consider this to be an idea whose time has come. All over the nation retirees will be heading out in a new wave of RVs. And this will change the public perception of “camping.”
Camping holds a special appeal for Baby Boomers. They were the hippies of the 60’s in the beat-up old VW bus with the peace symbol on it. They were the ones who camped out in tents or under the stars, the environmentalists who wanted to get back to nature. By heading out to the open road, they come full circle to the free-wheeling days of their youth. But they are somewhat older – and richer – now. These days, their campers aren’t tents or VW buses. True, they want to get back to nature, but with more creature comforts. Enter the “big rig,” the 21st century Boomer version of the camper.
To be continued…
About the author: Jane Kenny’s second book, RV RETIREMENT, How To Travel Part-Time or Full-Time In A Recreational Vehicle, is available from Roundabout Publications at www.TravelBooksUSA.com (1-800-455-2207) or at Amazon.com.
0 Responses
You missed one reason for getting an RV for retirement travel — pets. Many people travel with pets and, wahile the number of hotels and resorts that take pets is increasing, not all do. And many people who consider their dogs as part of the family wouldn’t even think of shiping them as cargo when they fly. So driving with them is the only choice. And it is more comfortable to travel with them in an RV than in even the largest SUV.
Thanks for the great post, I started my career in nursing after finishing a associate degree in nursing from associate degree nursing schools