STOP THE WORLD...I WANT TO GET OFF! -- Or, what was world like before brand-names & blah-blah-blah? --

Inundated with more than 10,000 messages a day, it’s not surprising that many folks prefer to go “bonkers” than see another blessed advertisement for things guaranteed to cure all manner of ills and bring us joy life ever after.

You know ones I mean ...restore your venal vigor in just one hour (for just $49.95 plus tax), ...renovate your tinkle pantry in 7 days (based on an easy, affordable, installment payment plan), ... make you rich in less than 21 days (all credit cards accepted for this "best-selling" tips book), ...or enhance your private parts for life (using a miracle formula available at a 50% discount, if purchased within next five minutes on Shopping Channel).

It would be nice to think that we’re okay just way we are. The truth is that world goes better when we buy stuff, and I mean oodles of it, even if we don’t really need it.

With so many “brand-name” and “brand-less” products competing for shelf space and “mind share” -- it’s no wonder we’re pooped and need occasional pick-me-up or put-me-to-sleep pill! After all, being bombarded by those ‘buy now…before it’s too late’ ads, text messages, and infomercials on TV, radio, cell phones, magazines and now embedded in emails isn't much fun. The astonishing thing is how people cope with this dilemma by calling on some familiar escape goats such as daydreaming, dawdling or simply dumping on others.

As little as a century or two ago, no one obsessed about buying “brand-name” products "to impress a boss", "bewitch a suitor" or "to keep up with wretched Jones's".

Is your retirement looming off in not too distant future? Do you have dreams of a life filled with rest and relaxation? Perhaps you envision vacationing year round. Those images sound pretty idyllic, especially if you are currently working long hours and feeling stress and strain of your job. Working women are continually being stretched in a myriad of directions. That often translates into putting retirement planning and plans for retirement on back burner of life.

Do you know that Baby Boomers are retiring at rate of 10,000 every day in United States! The oldest boomer is now 58 years old; youngest is 40. They number 76 million in our country. Are you in that number?

The boomers have had a huge impact in our country. The first wave of baby boomers filled up our schools in 50’s. They changed campus politics in 60’s with their protests, marches and sit-ins. They were entering work force in 70’s and 80’s. The 90’s brought changes to workplace such as flextime and family leave time. Now boomers are entering retirement phase of life. They are living longer, retiring earlier and their focus is on lifestyle, not age. Imagine impact they will have on retirement!

Boomers are redefining retirement as a new career life transition. However, most aren’t prepared for managing that transition. More time is spent on planning a vacation than on next thirty years beyond retirement! Yes, many have been preparing financially with contributions to their 401K’s, Roth IRA’s, etc. However, retirement is more than finances.

There is human side of retirement. For retirement to be truly successful people need to embrace idea of life planning. How can we workers replace function that work has played in our lives? One of benefits of work is remuneration. We get paid for what we do. It gives us a sense of financial security.

But work provides us with more benefits than just remuneration. It helps us with following: time management, socialization, a sense of purpose and status. Let’s take a closer look at those benefits.