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Boomers Looking Forward To Their Empty Nests
By Richard Paoli, Sun Francisco Chronicle
July 18, 2004
A majority of the Baby Boomer generation feels emotionally prepared for their children to leave home, according
to a survey by Del Webb, the country's leading builder of communities for active adults.
The Boomers, a population block 76 million strong and defined as those born between 1946 and 1964, are about to find themselves in an empty nest, according to an annual survey.
"These people are not retired," said Dave Schreiner, a vice president for Del Webb, "but their children have left home, and now they ... are beginning their 'someday stage' even before they quit working."
Half of the new home buyers in Del Webb communities since March have been under 60 years of age, Schreiner said.
The Boomers are apparently ready to fly the coop -- on the heels of their children -- and reclaim some independence.
"Many Boomers think they are going to be very upset, but when it happens, they are very much relieved when their children leave home," said Linda Burghardt, author of "Happy Empty Nest: Rediscovering Love and Success After Your Kids Leave Home."
(There are times, as I share in the parenting of a teenager, that I have the strong impulse to leave the house well ahead of the child.)
The Del Webb survey reveals:
-- 71 percent of the Boomers surveyed said parenting was wonderful but not easy, and about 19 percent said it was "more challenging" than they had expected.
-- 58 percent are emotionally prepared for the children to leave the house.
-- Of course, this is balanced by the fact that 25 percent expect their adult children to move back home at some point. But a canny 28 percent plan to make those children pay rent. Interestingly, 8 percent of Boomers would charge their parents rent.
(Today more than 25 percent of Americans ages 18 through 34 live with their parents, according to U.S. Census figures.)
-- 57 percent feel an increased freedom to be themselves.
-- 36 percent will move to a new home when the nest empties.
-- Smaller is better for ready-to-retire Boomers: 44 percent said the top reason for moving is that they want a smaller house, and 44 percent said they want a house requiring less maintenance.
-- 36 percent said they will move more than three hours from their current home.
-- Most Boomers are worried about having enough money for retirement. While 36 percent said they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, 40 percent weren't sure if they will have enough money to live comfortably, and 25 percent did not think they will have enough money.
The Del Webb survey was conducted in April and May and sampled 1,174 U.S. residents between 40 and 70 years old.
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