Were you born between 1946 and 1964? Over 35 million single people born in those years are called Baby Boomers.

There have been numerous conferences for a call to action for the graying of America. The statistics and demographics of what is shifting in our culture cause us to have to examine every social agency and public policy in a different light.

But if you are a Boomer Single, how are you most affected by the predictions for the future?

The major opportunity and challenge facing you today is the fact that you will live longer. Within the next two or three decades, advanced medical and scientific discoveries will increase life to an unprecedented length. Not only will it be relatively normal to live to be 100, some people may go to 120 and beyond. It is now estimated that over one million Boomers will live to be 100.

Since you will be living longer, here are Five Survival Tips:

* Choose your mate carefully.

If you live to the age of 100, you obviously will have many years with your partner. It is more important than ever that you like that person as well as love them. If you retire at 65 or 70, you will be home alone with them for many years.

* Have enough savings.

Statistically, Boomers have not proven to be good at saving. You are going to need more savings, investments, and planning for your economic future than people had in the past. You may need more training, a new career, and planning for working longer.

* Single Boomer women need to pay careful attention to their finances.

Women who are Boomers may have earned less than men, or stopped working for periods of time to care for their children or aging parents. Their security for their senior years may be in jeopardy. If you are a single Boomer woman, you should look at living on less and saving more.

* Think about your attitude.

Traditionally, we are a youth-worshipping society. While some cultures revere their elderly citizens, many of our older Americans languish in nursing homes, feeling forgotten and invisible. Ask yourself how you view old people. Look for all the qualities and characteristics about them that you admire. When doing this, you will be shifting your own attitude about yourself as you age.

* Become technology savvy.

Boomers will be moving into a wired retirement. You will be better connected than retirees have been in the past or are today. It will be easier for you to meet others, and to stay connected and informed. You will have more choices than ever before.

If you are a Boomer single, you have your challenges and work cut out for you. You also have more opportunities than you could have imagined. Are you ready for the rest of your life?

Tonja Weimer

Tonja Evetts Weimer is a Master Certified singles relationship and life coach, speaker, syndicated columnist and author.

Tonja is a full time professional coach with a practice in Greenville, SC. She helps individuals, especially singles, re-craft their lives and find happiness and success in their career and relationships. Some of Tonja's professional activities include:

==> Syndicated singles relationship columnist, writing SAVVY DATING, a weekly column read by over a million readers in many U.S newspapers. Tonja's column addresses relationship and life issues of interest to all adults, but particularly to the over 110 million singles in the U.S. Tonja has also had articles published in New Woman, Hope, and House Beautiful magazines, and has won 3 Matrix Awards for her writing.

==> Motivational speaker, Tonja has been a keynote presenter at national and international conferences over the last 30 years.

==> Author of materials for educators and parents (7 books, six music albums and 2 videos), which have won 22 awards.

Some Speaking and Media Highlights:

==> Keynote speaker for 2004 Women’s Issues Network Conference, Sumter, SC.

==> Keynote speaker for 2002 Parents as Teachers International Conference, St. Louis, MO.

==> Keynote speaker for 1999 International Conference for Children & Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder.

==> Keynote speaker for 1998 European Education Conference, in Mannheim, Germany.

==> Keynote speaker in 35 U.S. states at educational conferences.

==> Presenter at the International Special Olympics in Notre Dame, at the request of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

==> Created Space Songs for Children, at the request of NASA (album taken into space by astronauts three times.)

==> Appeared on CNN’s Showbiz Today and many other TV shows.

Educational and Professional Qualifications:

==> National Fellow (U.S. Dept. of Education.) M.A. in Human Development and Education, with an emphasis on creativity.

==> Master Certified Singles Relationship Coach, Relationship Coaching Institute.

==> Personal Life Coach, Graduate, Institute for Life Coach Training.

==> Member, International Coaching Federation