WNC, realistically, I think that the longer term future of baby boomers is something like what happened in Russia - they now will need to rely on their children or other family members, or on non-family relationships that trade long-term support for home and land. I don't think that most older people will be physically or economically able to go it alone - Orlov observed that this was particularly tough on the grandparents who had been able to help their children and now depended on them. Elder work is often likely to be child care so that the adult children can bring in income - I expect to see a lot of older folks lose jobs and never be able to find them again. Cottage industries are good too.

I agree strongly about paying off the house - because boomers have a disproportionate portion of wealth, and frankly, there's a good chance their kids and grandkids are going to be living in it with them. The family home and its capacity to produce food and cottage industry will probably matter a lot more than it has.

But if I had to add a number to that list, it would be "begin to get along with your family." Right now with one exception, our parents are all comparatively more affluent than we are - but they rely on invested funds, not on earned income, and I have long term concerns about what they will live on. I'm not a totally atypical case - my husband and I between us, in our mid-thirties have 7 parents - divorce and remarriage on both sides. For my husband's four parents, he is an only child. Our personal nightmare ;-) is the arrival of previously divorced exes, all in crisis.

Sharon