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The Voices of Baby Boomer Women is committed to sharing the voices of everyday boomer women. We occasionally feature members of the National Association of Baby Boomer Women.
We hope you enjoy reading about Barbara Boone who reinvented herself after retiring as a school teacher. As we’ve often shared, baby boomers aren’t retiring, they’re reinventing.
Trending baby boomer women themes that I noticed with Barbara Boone are:
- Reinvention
- Travel with girlfriend
- Desire to make a difference
- Importance of faith
- Singlehood
- Preventive medicine
- Degree of maintaining youthful looks
Using one paragraph, tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a retired school teacher with Baltimore County Public Schools. I now own my own organizing business, Busy Bee Organizing Services-www.bzbeeorganizing.com. I am finishing my fourth year in business. I have just completed a course to be certified as a Productive Environment Specialist with the Productivity Institute started by Barbara Hemphill. I am transitioning my business to focus on productivity in the workplace. I enjoy traveling, gardening, decorating my home, baseball, and fellowshipping with fellow Christians.
Tell us about your family; married, divorced, children, grands, boomerangs or parents living with you, etc.
I am divorced-no children-3 great nieces-1 great nephew. Parents deceased. Lots of cousins who get together whenever we can. Almost all are located in Maryland.
What is your favorite childhood memory that is reminiscent of growing up in the 50s, 60s or 70s?
My favorite memory is of my 2 sisters and I dancing in front of the TV to the Buddy Dean show.
What qualities do you have that speak of our generation of women?
I am the trend setter for my family. I am the only one to graduate from college, own my own home, own my own business. I am the most educated and most traveled.
What inspires you?
Anything in nature-the ocean, mountains, flowers, animals.
What brings you the most pleasure in midlife?
The freedom to do as I please, set my own schedule.
Do you have any interesting hobbies?
Doll collecting. My grandmother started us on a collection of fashion dolls when I was young. I kept up the collection and added new dolls to it wherever I traveled. My collection numbers around 70 dolls now. I have Princess Diana in her wedding gown and Anne Bolyn, Jacquie Kennedy in many of her outfits when she was first lady. The collection is quite unique.
Do you have a favorite book or movie? If so, tell us why it’s your favorite.
Dr. Zhivago is my favorite movie. I love Russian history and the scenery is beautiful. Can’t think of just one favorite book. Non-fiction-Boundaries by Townsend and McLoud.
Do you travel and if so, who are your favorite travel partners and where do you like to go?
My friend, Linda, is my favorite partner. She travels all of the time for business and is very savvy about traveling. The last two vacations we took were to Canada and Hawaii. We both love Sanibel Island.
Do you practice preventive medicine? Please elaborate.
Yes. I take daily vitamins and anti-oxidants by Dr. Andrew Weil. I also use Isagenix products. I have had a yearly physical for over 30 years.
What do you stress about?
Technology that doesn’t work or you need a degree to figure out how it works.
Is it important for you to retain your youthful looks, and if so, to what degree are you willing to go?
It is important. 60 was the hardest birthday I have had. The body really shows signs of aging. I do the best I can with quarterly facials and daily care of my face. I exercise inconsistently although I am doing so now. I am not willing to have cosmetic surgery unless it becomes more affordable. I wouldn’t have a face lift because of the pain.
Have you re-invented yourself, and if so, how?
I started my own business at age 58. That is a big reinvention.
Do you plan to retire?
I have already retired from one career. I don’t know when I will stop my business. I do collect Social Security now. Yeah!
Are you doing anything to GO Green?
I recycle paper, plastic, and metal. I have a programmable thermostat and triple-pain windows.
Do you engage in any faith based practices?
Yes, I am in a weekly Bible study group at my church. I attend church regularly.
Can you pinpoint major turning points in your life that led to your life’s work/play at midlife?
Career burn-out from teaching 25 years that eventually led to starting my business.
Do you still have unfulfilled dreams, and are you doing anything to accomplish them?
I have no unfulfilled dreams.
How do you make a difference in the lives of others, your community, your world?
I help people wherever I see a need. That may mean taking them someplace or helping them in their home. I hope that my organizing business makes a real difference in people’s lives.
Who has had the biggest influence on your life and why?
Jesus Christ does because he is my Lord and Savior.
Be in touch with Barbara: www.bzbeeorganizing.com
