Today, we are facing many problems.  We have a nation that has lost it's moral compass, our sons and daughters are at war, and life as we know it has changed drastically since September 11, 2001.  Many of our grandparents are becoming "parents" again by inheriting either their grandchildren or some other relative's children, who are siphoning off the remaining "good years" that we have.  Being a full time parent after 50 isn't the fun it was when we were 25.  

  I named this website "Aging Horizons" because of a number of implications.  First of all, we are not necessarily "aged", but getting there.  The rules have changed, and we need to approach the game differently from the way we did when we were "energetic, and able to adapt to a fast paced environment".  The field has changed, because everything in business has turned to focus on Information Technologies, and we are accused (wrongly or not) of not being able to keep up, regardless of our skills.  Where older workers were once "valued employees", it is now the "high tech kid" that is the hot commodity... right or wrong.  Their ability to make a computer work is valued far above the ability to make good business decisions, act respectfully in the workplace, and to have "mature skills" in the business world.  It's almost as if we suddenly died and were simply forgotten by the businesses we spent our lives helping to grow to their current success levels.

  We are openly discriminated against in the hiring process, told that we are "overqualified" to do any kind of legitimate job that doesn't involve pushing fast food across the counter or standing as a "door greeter".  Our own government is importing foreigners to take our jobs in the high tech industry that is left, which is operating at a 4% unemployment rate... while aging workers are currently at a staggering 17% unemployment and higher.  It seems when we figure out the rules, business and government change them just to keep us off balance.  Now, offshoring, even by our government is taking more jobs away from us.

   The horizons we see ahead are changing.  If you fly a plane or steer a boat, you know that the horizon is important to you... it is not just tomorrow, but a destination in itself to the new day on its other side.  As a 59 year old, who has worked in engineering all my life, I can see how the rules have changed and how the "ideas" of aging workers are quickly  discounted as being "too outdated".  Aging Horizons is dedicated to those of us who have suffered through this mess to understand where we are going and how to get there.

   There aren't any easy answers, and there isn't any ONE answer to all the problems.  Some of you will need to use the job resources... some will need to do a personality profile and learn who you are to correct the problems you have in the workplace.  Some of you will need legal resources... whatever you need, you can contact me and I'll see if you can be helped with information or contacts.  Our horizons are aging, but they can be as bright as we choose to make them.  Remember, we're all family here... and even when we disagree, we keep our eye on the ball and work for the common goal to make our lives better.

  Thanks

  Wristtwister