I was reading the article on older Americans living a nomadic lifestyle by Richard Eisenberg http://on.mktw.net/2Af0jgV dealing with the downwardly mobile older Americans living in mobile homes (houseless people). This immediately brings back memory of a blog post (http://bit.ly/2mPGIxO) (reproduced below) I done on the downwardly mobile elders in Japan. Similar social conditions prevail in two economically most advanced countries in the world. The word used to described the former case is “Workamper”, and for the latter case “Dipper or Dropper” or literally “Dirty Old Man”.
In fact, a few books on this social situation had been published in Japan, causing a stir because of the titles of these books in Japanese or translation in Chinese.
The direct or literal translation of the titles (in Chinese"Dirty Old Man") of these two books translated from Japanese had caused quite a social storm in Japan.
The content is definitely NOT what you might think (sexual connotations), taking hints from the titles (shame on you)! In fact, it is about something much more important in our individual life and life journey, in the context of mobility or flow (upwardly or downwardly) of the aging population: Money, Perspective on Money, Aging and Retirement, Health, Wealth and Happiness. Think of the buzzword “Yuppies”, if you want to get into the right context, mood or perspective.
The Dirty Old Man refers to the Downwardly Mobile Aged Person (a Dipper or Dropper), while the Gentlemanly Old Man refers to the Upwardly Mobile Aged Person (an Upper or Flipper). Dippers / Droppers are experiencing substantial reduction in income / purchasing power. The Uppers / Flippers are inventing ways to reduce the impact of reduction of income / purchasing power, by paying more attention to alternative economic models such as collaborative consumption / sharing economy and the emphasis on non-monetary needs such as intellectual and emotional or spiritual concerns.
The social issue of fast growing number of Dippers / Droppers is causing grave concern in Japan and many developed and developing countries. The possible solution points to the direction of creating more Uppers / Flippers amongst the aged in particular, and over-all population in general.
This is also an excellent way to introduce Aging Literacy, an issue or education that will affect everyone, either now (e.g. having aging parents) or in the near future (we are all getting old)!
The message is then clear: Don’t be a Dirty Old Man. Be a Gentlemanly Old Man. Be an Upper / Flipper NOT a Dipper / Dropper! Do think of your aging parents NOW if you are still so blessed…. and prepare yourself for the soon-arriving event (your own Retirement)!