Martin Wolf makes some very important points and raises some very important questions in “Longer lives mean profound social change” (Opinion, May 13).
One important point is not covered and that is how many of have us reinvented ourselves after retirement and are enjoying a second life. Fortunately, I ended my first life with good health but was unfit due to lack of time for exercise. Having time since age 65 enabled me to start a new life of walking 8-10 hours per week, giving me a physical health that needs no medicines and keeps me from being a burden on the healthcare system. I started a relaxing hobby in art and keep my mind alive researching world happenings and writing articles on concomitant investment opportunities using — and adding to — business knowledge gained in my first life.
Now aged 82, I know many others — my wife included — who are travelling through their second lives in their own purposeful way and the end of the road is nowhere near in sight.
In his article, Martin Wolf mentions that “our main reaction today is to fret over the costs of an ‘ageing’ society”. We read nothing about second-lifers’ contributions to society.
These might be significant also economically. My wife and I — and others in their second lives — make up the majority of customers in many cafés at lunchtime and in shops during daytime. We take holidays during the week in low season times. The money we spend keeps many in their first lives in jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors and the multiplier effect on economies more widely must be considerable.
We see no statistics on this, nor do I read anything about it in any of my sources of knowledge around the world.
Perhaps the Financial Times could dig deeply into this and shine another light on those in their second lives?
James Hanshaw
Zurich, Switzerland
