This writer understands the premise that writers write, even when it is hard.  But what does a writer do when the right words have not yet been associated with new phenomena?   Today’s 300 words are a “Dear Ann Landers”-type request for answers from you, my brilliant and creative colleagues. 

                First: retire and the iterations retirement, retirees.  We need a new word.  Many have tried but, really, people.  Rehirement.   Reinvention.   Encore phase.   Second act.  Third life.   My contributions are equally lame: too-broke-to-go-home;  not-dead-yet; living-the-dream??? (to be clear, the question marks are part of the label).  The dearth of creativity and cleverness sets off a silent performance of “Where have all the creatives gone…long time passing” in my two remaining brain cells.  See what I mean?  So, what DOES one call this new group of 55-105 year olds who have left (resigned, been kicked out of, fallen away from, voluntarily closed the door on or ran screaming from) the 100-year-old institution called the “regular job”?  Joyful depressants?  Freedomists?  HELP!!!

                Second:  non-traditional student.  Adult learners, defined as individuals older than 24 (yes there are semantic problems here, too), now fill between 42-85% of student slots in post-secondary education.  The non-traditional learner has become the norm…which means by definition, not so non-traditional any more.   “Adult learner” won’t last if only because “traditional-age” college students are also, legally, adults in many ways.  Again, creativity fails me.  The best I have done in this regard is “big kids on campus”…at least it brings a chuckle from the audience.  I promise to (a) share widely and (b) attribute to you any suggestions that may play well with my audience. 

Who knows, you could be the brilliant writer whose term becomes THE term to describe the retiree and/or the adult learner.  Ideas and humor are equally welcomed at laura@backtoschoolforgrownups.