Attendees consisted of around 20 college-educated, urban boomer women—ranging from early 40’s to mid-sixties (with one 90 something in the mix, brought by her boomer daughter.)

When asked about the topics they would most like to address during the free-flowing discussion aspect of the retreat, they had no hesitation finding pressing issues of concern. The topics consisted of: Finance, Time Management, Search for Fulfillment and Happiness, Health Care (Alternative Health Practitioners, Menopause – Fact & Fiction). Care Giving, Career Planning at Midlife and Media Stereotypes of Aging Women. (Interesting to note, unlike other retreats I’ve led, parenting grown children didn’t register at all. Normally, it dominates.)

In addition, the retreat ended with participants making a pledge to themselves: one take-away from the day of productive introspection and stimulating conversation with peers.

Here are some of them:

Stop Worrying
Take Action,
Be With Supportive Women Who Care,
Be Open to Ideas, Write More,
Change Career,
Move,
Have One ‘Cause’ to Devote My Time to,
Continue to Work As Long As I Enjoy My Work,
Be Open to a Close Relationship With a Man I Really Like,
Spend as Much Time as Possible With Family & Close Friends,
Become a Better: pianist, golfer, speaker of Italian,
Sell My Business,
Honor My Art and My Practice,
Raise A Million in Legacy Gifts,
Be With My Husband,
Take Some Classes,
Travel Within Two Years,
Be More Forthright With Certain People,
Honor Myself for My Knowledge and Wisdom,
Take Credit For What I Know,
Create Structure In My Daily Life to Include Daily Exercise,
Keep My Environment Clean and Beautiful,
Take Steps Toward Growing and Maintaining My Business,
Financial Planning,
Health Care – Cobra or Domestic Partnership

And a big thanks from me to Sandra Call for hosting this rich and mutually-supportive group of boomer women, and giving me permission to share their pledges in this blog.

Carol Orsborn