Good Morning and Hello, Friday!

Who would have known that “retirement,” a word/concept that I shied away from for years, could become such a hot ticket?

And not only for my retired boomer friends. As it turns out, there are plenty of 40-and-50-year olds who are eager to join our weekly jaunts to galleries and restaurants, as well as our urban walks, and citibike rides. The Retirement Club is absolutely next level when it come to discovery, exploration, and making new friends.

Many of my friends who are close to 60 are incredibly curious about this thing called “retirement.” I sense a culture shift and a reframing of this next phase of life. As opposed to previous generations, those now in their 50’s will ultimately redefine retirement and aging with far fewer negative associations. People will still be judgemental about older people but it’s entirely up to us whether or not we let it stick.

It’s taken me a few years to get to this point. But I can honestly say that this is now THE MOST FULFILLING AND HAPPIEST TIME OF MY LIFE (so take that COVID)!

And just as I was writing this, Connie Ottmann’s fabulous blog (It’s a 60’s thing…taking a gap year in NYC) landed in my inbox. It included the best, and most timely, quote:

“Your 40s are good. Your 50s are great. your 60s are fab. Your 70s are F*@ing awesome.”

Helen Mirren

AND ON THAT NOTE, SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEK’S TOP 10

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stressed and Fed up

Is it because I’m old? Would I feel as frustrated about the direction and priorities of America if I were younger? Who knows! But I’ve always considered myself an “UP” oldster as opposed to a “woke” youngster.

And that may be just as well since “wokesters” are starting to eat their own. A prime example is the recent Teen Vogue fiasco. I’m with Obama on “cancel culture” – it’s not going to end well for anyone.

Woketopia aside, though, this week was rough. Mass shootings, chaos in Miami, and violent assaults in my Lower East Side/Chinatown neighborhood (at least six attacks in the span of two days). And what do our elected officials do? NOTHING.

Anyway, if you are still with me, after all my griping, I do have recommendations and some excellent trend info for you. And yes, I still love NYC as the Time Out Index Survey proves. (Here’s the link if you want to take the quiz for your city.)

please Scroll down for this week’s Top 10.

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It feels like it’s going to be a pivotal year! I certainly raised a glass to fresh starts last night. And will again at today’s New Year’s Day lunch at La Mercerie!

expect to see a lot of “letting go” and transitioning as we leave 2020 behind

• 2020 was tough. Even with no pressing health or financial issues, it was a traumatic year.
• But 2020 also gave people time to reflect on what they truly want out of life and figure out the best way to get where they want to be. And that’s why I believe this is going to be such an exciting year.
• And btw, for those of you asking if I’m going to do my annual trend report, I’m not! Things feel too much in flux. However, I re-read last year’s report and it has stood the test of time. Check it out!

And with that, please scroll down for this week’s Top 10 (with a sprinkle of predictions).

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I don’t know quite how this happened but after a very weepy and scary start to 2020, I found my pandemic groove and managed to make the best of this strange year.

With today’s post, I’m reflecting on 2020, largely with gratitude. And with vaccinations underway, a rebirth of optimism and hope.

And when it comes to predicting what will be long-lasting trends (versus short-lived behavioral shifts), I’m not ready, just yet, to jump into the pandemic trends’ fray.

• For example, back in April, NYC Mayor De Blasio crowed about how well remote learning was doing and how this will do away with the need for in-person teaching, physical locations, etc. And now here we are 9 months later and online learning has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster (not just in NYC, but around the country).
• Similarly, back in April/May, everyone was baking bread, yeast was in short supply and pundits were predicting we would never go back to restaurants. Meanwhile, in NYC, restaurants (even on the coldest of days) are jam-packed.
• When it comes to remote work, the jury is still out. I am not convinced that workers will want to continue to huddle at home, conducting business via Zoom. But I may be wrong. I only know what I would do – I would get back to the office ASAP.

And on that note, please scroll down and join me in reflecting on what we’ve experienced and learned this pandemic year.

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