‘Farewell to the Boomers is the title of the new book by the German sociologist Heinz Bude. He’s a boomer himself and explores the present state and the legacy of the boomer generation. ‘Okay Boomer’ a New Zealand MP accused an older colleague in 2019, dismissing him as somebody past his due date and taking up space,’ Camp said.

‘We’re both boomers aren’t we,’ I pointed out and looked around the pub. ‘And we’re not alone.’

            Camp gave me an exasperated look and kept on going. ‘Okay Boomer became a generational battle cry meaning: your time is up, move on over, make room, head out to pasture and all of that.’

            ‘Who are the Boomers? I know it’s short for baby boomer. Most of us are now in the process of retiring or are already out of the workforce.’

‘To answer your rhetorical question. The Boomer generation are those born between 1946 and 1964. Next is Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980 and they will do the same as us, as soon as they can afford it. That’s what the militant millennials, also known as Generation Y, born between 1981 and 1996, are demanding of us.  We’re in the way. Our time is up.’

‘Making room for the next generation may solve one problem but it creates another problem because there are so many of us boomers. Apparently, we’re putting a strain on the pension and health care systems and we’re also leaving behind an ongoing ecological and environmental disaster, which the generations coming behind us need to solve. Suddenly, we’re not as popular as we used to think of ourselves,’ I said. 

‘Let’s face it, in their eyes we are the ones who have ruined the planet with our exorbitant and lavish life styles, our consumerism and greed for more and better. They blame us for leaving them an overheated, exhausted, war-ravaged planet.’

 Okay Boomer is probably much too mild a term. Maybe they mean to say: Fuck off boomer.’

‘Guilt is always an individual burden and to blame a whole generation, which encompasses millions of people, with different educational, social and cultural backgrounds, is probably a bit over simplistic, professor Bude argues. No other generation ever grew up in a time with no big wars and ever increasing prosperity. Yes, we had the threat of the Cuban missile crisis, assassinated presidents and leaders and the iron curtain with its constant threat of nuclear war. On the other hand, we saw education become more accessible to millions of people and we therefore became more tolerant and inclusive. Women demanded and were given more rights and opportunities, media and connectivity expanded exponentially and travel around the globe became commonplace and helped to expand horizons and appreciation of other cultures.’

‘Also, the Xers and millennials grew up with unprecedented amenities and choices and profited from the lifestyles of their parents.’

‘Here comes Vicky, she is a millennial. Let’s hear what she thinks of the Boomers and their legacy,’ I said.

‘From what I’ve heard, you had the best music, the best recreational drugs and the best sex. Was it really like that?’

‘Definitely the best music was created between 65 and 75; the drugs were overrated and the sex, well, I heard about it,’ Camp said with a twinkle in his eyes.

‘The music still stands the test of time and so do you two guys,’ Vicky laughed.

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