By Gary Geyer
To refresh your memory, a third of the US population —76 million of us– were born between 1946 and 1964. We were the “baby boomers.”
As boomers, we had monumental effect on virtually every American institution throughout our lives — such as media, education, politics and consumerism.
Hooray for us! We were a force to be reckoned with.
When you think of it, the tag “baby boomer” should be meaningless to us. It was coined after WW2 to describe the boom in the birth of babies when our troops came home. Today the term seems archaic. It described who we were then, not who we are now.
If we are not baby boomers, what are we?
Well, I for one, am a YAPP* – a Youthful, Active Positive Person.
If I was retired, I’m sure I would be a YAPPER – a Youthful, Active Positive Person Enjoying Retirement.
As a (slang) demographic—we, as former baby boomers are now YAPPies. (You know, like hippies and yippies and yuppies… we’re yappies.)
A YAPP is youthful in appearance and attitude.
We try to stay active. We exercise, watch our diet and eat healthier than those Gen X-ers half our age. We still listen to rock ‘n roll (classic rock, not rap or hip-hop), are fashion conscious, get nipped and tucked when need be and have romantic inclinations.
A YAPP leads an active life.
We are Viagra’s prime market. We are prominent in the work force, are politically motivated, surf and shop the internet, play video games (really), take vacations, frequent restaurants, travel, buy luxury items (more than any other demographic) such as plasma TVs, new cars, boats and houses. We help provide for our children, spoil our grandchildren, and today more than ever, take care of our aging parents.
A YAPP is positive about what life has to offer.
We are open to new experiences and new ways of doing things. We live in the present and look forward to the future. What interests us is the full spectrum of life after 50 –the issues, the concerns, the controversies… as well as the joys and the fun stuff. We have been around long enough to know what real life is. We don’t need sugarcoating nor do we entertain illogical Pollyanna notions. We’re after the truth.
YAPPs are a demographic.
The YAPP demographic is growing faster than you can shake a stick. When you consider that every 7 seconds someone turns 50, that means the YAPP population increases every 7 seconds. The mind boggles at our numbers and the power we can (still) yield.
Sadly, we are a virtually untapped market. So attention marketers: Wake up and start tapping! We are tired of being ignored. We YAPPs will spend upward of three trillion dollars in the coming year on anything and everything that prolongs our (forgive me) yappiness.
We do NOT roll over and play dead once we turn 50.
We are still that “narcissistic, self indulgent group” we were when we were baby boomers, and we still believe the world owes us a living. We are alive and kicking, and don’t you forget it!
Fitting into pop-culture
The time is right for our segment of the population to be recognized, appreciated and have our very own pop culture designation.
Just as you might have been a hippie, a yippie, or a yuppie,
congratulations, you are now a YAPP.
Long live the “Yappies!”
*“YAPP,” “YAPPER” and “Yappies” are terms coined by the Editors of Let Life In. Permission to use is granted with the stipulation that Let Life In and LetLifeIn.com are given credit.
Gary Geyer is Chief Editor of Let Life In
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