DEAR ABBY: I am in my early 40s. Most of my good friends, whom I have known my whole life, have not given a second thought to our approaching "golden years." No one is saving money for retirement, participating in any sort of plan or even thinking about how they will manage later in life.
They all have fun, interesting, low-paying jobs. This mindset may have been fine 20 years ago, but we aren't kids anymore. I worry that when my friends are senior citizens they will be destitute. They laugh off my worries.
My parents are enjoying a modest but comfortable retirement which they worked for -- and planned for -- most of their lives. I want the same for myself and my friends. How can I inspire them to take action? -- TOM IN LONG BEACH, CALIF.
DEAR TOM: You are a caring and wise friend who is surrounded by perpetual adolescents. Sometimes people can be their own worst enemies, and it's not always possible to save them from themselves.
Talking to people who choose to live for today while ignoring the importance of preparing for tomorrow won't work. A better approach would be to teach them by example, then cross your fingers and hope they catch on.