What Did Happen to Mr. Faunce- Social Networks and Seniors

Are on line communities a good idea for the young/old? The New York Times featured an article on June 6, 2009.

Adults between 65 and 85 are frequently isolated. Retirement is not always (especially in this toxic economy) what you expected. Widowhood and families who live far way, leave holes in your life. Even retirement communities that draw older people vast distances from their kin, can backfire in lonesomeness and chronic boredom. This void often leaves elders minus the natural social support they would have reaped if family, spouses and friends lived around the block.

I am a perfect example. I was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey but have lived in Santa Cruz, California since my early 30’s. I came west to go to graduate school at UC Berkeley and never left. I love Santa Cruz, but my deepest roots are bored into the sandy island community where I was born

As more and more people over 65 use technology, social networks like Facebook have become emotional tools for the young/old generation, like me. I am on My Space. I was visiting an old friend who lived in the Villages in central Florida a year ago. Slated to speak at a Geriatric Care Management conference in Orlando, she asked me to stay with them for 4 days. During my visit my old acquaintance introduced me to My Space. Loretta, who I have known for 40 years, was also transplanted from Atlantic City. She slyly told me she used the social network to lure her grandchildren who are scattered all over the country, into e mailing her. I came straight home and got myself on My Space. My granddaughter Julia was impressed and I have been able to check in with my nephew Chris Stevens in Philadelphia, who writes graphic novels.

Social networks used to exist just around the corner. In Ventnor Heights where I grew up the neighbors knew my mom, my grandparents and my great grandparents and every shred of family gossip reaching back three generations.Up until the 1950s, Americans mostly lived and died in the same town. Your family and friends were always accessible. When retirement, widowhood or the death of old cronies hit you in the gut, there was always a remaining friend or relative to offer relief in troubled items.

The new alternative to lost neighbors and family includes on line social communities. There are an array of web based choices We can turn to social communities that reflect where we used to work. In the NY Times article a woman socializes on line on police.link.com as she was a former police dispatcher.

I checked out Eons and thought the site a great tool for people over 65. As the divorce rates have soared and older people want to be romantically connected again, it seems like a great way to look for a sweetheart. Eons had a link for healthy eating, combating loneliness, cards , games and more.

I get e mails all the time from classmates.com. I went to high school 3000 miles away from Santa Cruz. I am always curious about what happened to my fellow Atlantic City High School students and teachers. I can join in and find out for instance, what happened to Mr. Faunce, our high school principal.

He was a great guy and had a big effect on my life. I was a terrible high school student but aced his history class, which was made up mostly of hunky football players who had to keep up their grades to play. Mr. Faunce double dutied as the football coach. He was a great instructor and I will never forget him taking me aside and asking why was I flubbing my life. He was the first teacher whose words sunk into my teenage brain.

Years after I left he came out of the closet and admitted he was gay and I always wondered how he was ostracized by my old Atlantic City High School community. In that small town, a homosexual principal must have suffered. I have dreams of going to go back to tell him, I did make it and how he would be proud of me.

Through the social network of classmates.com I have entered a community from a coast away and joined others in wondering what happened to Mr. Faunce. These on line social connections have worked for me and I believe are a good tool for other baby boomers. Next I will talk about on line social communities for family caregivers.