The generation that refuses to act its age

I'm not sure when this Americanism wormed its way into our vocabulary.

As children, in the UK, we were certainly never given that label. We were generally referred to – not very glamorously – as "the bulge".

But whatever we were called, we grew into the luckiest of generations.

As infants, we had free orange juice, cod liver oil and milk. The NHS started when the oldest of us were tiny. Mr Butler had brought in his education act in 1944, which meant that we were all entitled to free tuition right up to degree level. And when we got sexually active, we gotlucky again, because someone invented The Pill, giving us the chance

to delay – or prevent – motherhood if we wanted to.

Mind you, when we were kids, I don't think we realised we were fortunate. Life was pretty Spartan. Few families had cars or central heating. Food was basic. And at school, our classes were usually overcrowded because there were so many of us.

In Yorkshire and Humber alone the birth rate went up from its pre-war levels by about 13,000 extra children each year. So no wonder there are

loads of baby boomers around today!

And here we are now, in mid-life. The most senior of us are picking up our pensions and bus passes. But we don't see ourselves as "old". We're the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll generation! And there are plenty of noisy 50th – and even 60th – birthday parties going on these days, showing that we're anything but quiet and retiring.

For the past year or so, I've been studying female baby boomers because

I've been writing a book called Too Young to Get Old.

And I've discovered lots of great things about us.

For a start two-thirds of us are happier now than we were when we were young. And we're far more confident too. We also feel about 16 years younger than we really are. And our main ambition for the next decade or so is to travel more.

Perhaps because we're so young at heart, 30 per cent of us are still "definitely" keen on sex – but 16 per cent of us think we'd like it better if we got a new partner!

And talking of partners, a growing number of boomers don't have one – through choice. And these females have been dubbed "Swofties" – which stands for "Single Women Over 50". According to various newspapers and BBC Breakfast, loads of them are into clubbing and dating.

All in all, I don't think we've much intention of growing old conventionally. Certainly, my research shows that only five per cent of us wish to end up in care homes, while over 70 per cent of us want to remain independent in our own dwellings till we die.

But can we really have such an idyllic old age?

Perhaps – but we need to plan for it.

For example, if we're to stay independent we must live on a bus route – because one day, we may find driving too difficult or expensive.

And if we're going to travel, we need to sort our finances – because loads of us don't have a clue about pensions and how much money we'll have to live on.

Furthermore, if we want to live a healthy and active old age – rather than an inactive and immobile one – we need to get as fit as possible while there's still time. Old age won't be nearly as much fun if we've clogged up our arteries, or become obese, or diabetic.

But here's some good news: according to a recent Swedish study, people who start exercising regularly for 30 minutes daily in their 50s, soon become as fit as those individuals who've been active through life.

That's fantastic. People are already saying that 60 is the new 35 – but I see no reason why 100 shouldn't become the new 50!

So, let's get exercising if we're not already doing so.

Some baby boomers are going sky-diving, or bungee jumping, or white-water rafting. But we don't have to be that adventurous. Swimming at the local pool or kicking a football around with the grandchildren will do just as well. The trick is to take up something you like – because then you'll stick at it.

I've also learned that our friends can keep us well. Scientists believe that loneliness is as bad for our health as smoking, and that we're much less likely to get dementia or be depressed, if we've got masses of mates. So it's worth keeping up your tally of pals.

We baby boomers have always done things differently, so we're not going to become invisible as pensioners. And I genuinely think we can have the sort of old age we'd like, so long as we plan for it and put some effort into keeping fit.

Too Young to Get Old by Christine Webber is published by Piatkus, price 11.99. To order a copy from the Yorkshire Post Bookshop, call free on 0800 0153232 or go online at www. yorkshirepostbookshop.co.

uk. P&P is 2.75.

A QUESTION OF AGE, SEX AND HAPPINESS

Christine Webber surveyed more than 500 women in an online questionnaire. here are some of her findings

The majority of those asked (approximately 65 per cent) are happier now than when they were younger.

On average, baby boomers – women born between 1945 and 1965 – feel 16 years younger than they really are.

Their greatest fear about getting older is immobility. 73 per cent worry about that. And 64 per cent of are very anxious at the thought that they may "lose their mind".

Around 30 per cent still like sex a lot. And a similar number "quite like it". Sixteen per cent said they might like it better if they had a new partner!

Well over 70 per cent would like to stay in their own homes until they die. Only five per cent want to end up in a care home.

Female baby boomers still have plenty of unfulfilled ambitions. Top of the list is travelling.