Are "the golden years" a scam? anchor
Folks keep living longer, and companies that cater to independent and assisted living seniors grow in kind. When we considered independent living in retirement after Harriet's heart attack, I was overwhelmed by how many facilities there were in the Portland area. We ended up touring 38 places (free lunch!) before making a choice. All of these places have a similar message in a style that ranges from enthusiastic to exaggeration to hype. At the Vineyard Place website you can read, " We are completely dedicated to making sure you or your loved one have fun, exciting days and nights full of life!" Your golden years await you! You find pop culture embracing the same rosy view, especially in music. Here's Kenny Rogers singing about how wonderful it is to grow old together: https://youtu.be/8LXKm1CJ998?si=dnhUBrTjYTw6jTCD But there are dissenters. Harvard math professor Tom Lehrer, whom I consider the best satirist since Jonathan Swift, brings his dark and politically inc...