The Baby Boomer Renaissance: The Boomer Chronicles

Friday, November 11, 2011

The Boomer Chronicles

Dan the Early Retired Man: My First Senior Discount

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 04:05 AM PST

My cousin Dan, who retired in 2009 from the U.S. Postal Service at age 53, is spending his first winter in Arizona (as opposed to the frigid north, Minnesota):

I received an email from the local grocery chain here in Arizona that advertised a one-day 10% discount on your entire grocery bill.

It was after 2:00 pm before I drove over there — my first mistake. Waiting until the afternoon meant all the other seniors were out shopping, too. I knew I was in trouble when there was a line out the door because the store was giving out free coffee and cookies as you entered. We seniors love anything "free."

As I was finishing my cookie, I surveyed the sea of gray hairs in front of me and knew it was going to be an experience. My favorite was the gentleman well into his seventies who was examining the bananas. He was taking one banana from each bunch until he had a plastic bag full of what I can only assume were perfect bananas. In New Jersey he would have lost a hand!

Although I had a shopping list, I couldn't stand the crowds of oldsters blocking the aisles while they sorted through their coupons, so I headed for the checkout.

After my order was totaled up, I had to convince the clerk that I did indeed qualify for the senior citizen discount. "You don't look like a senior," the clerk said, which I assume is a trick to just to keep the over 55'ers coming back.

Life 2.0 in the desert continues…