Older folks and love – a great blessing

Sussex County is the largest chicken-producing county in the nation, and soon it could take first place as the wisest county in the nation.

Follow this reasoning: Census reports for many years have found Sussex to be one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.  The largest sector of growth in the Sussex population is in the senior citizen category.

Take our temperate climate, great natural and cultural amenities and low taxes, add the baby boomer phenomenon and greater longevity, and that trend will only expand for at least the next decade or two. Age and experience stand as the main ingredients of wisdom.  Therefore, Sussex is racing toward being one of the wisest counties in the nation.

That’s good news.  Older people bring resources and available energy to their communities. Available energy because many are retired and have time, skills, knowledge and a zeal for volunteering that can be brought to bear on community needs and issues.

They also bring jobs. The Sussex County healthcare industry is growing by leaps and bounds as older people go into the shop for repairs and maintenance. They love life in Sussex, and they want to keep themselves in top-notch condition so they can best enjoy and contribute to life here.

Keeping themselves in good shape through wise lifestyle choices and taking advantage of the great medical facilities we have, older people also keep open their options of working longer – especially in part-time positions that offer income, mental and physical activity, and social benefits. 

It’s often reported that because of the baby boomer population bulge and retirement, employers will need to depend increasingly on older workers.  In Sussex, they’re a plentiful resource.

That’s a blessing for our county, the sweet spot of the Mid-Atlantic sweet spot. Most importantly of all, many older people are grandparents and we know how grandparents like to shower love on young people.  

Like older and wiser people, love is something – maybe the only thing – that there can’t be too much of.