Portland's Baby Boomers Social Club

Last Saturday night I stepped way outside the box and attended a singles dance sponsored by The Baby Boomers Social Club. It was a spur of the moment thing. I saw a tv new report on the dance and decided to go.

Getting there was easy. The Portland Red Lion is right on the MAX (rapid transit) rail line. Many of the boomers who grew up in Portland remember it as "Top of Cosmo", where in the 1960s and 70s it was the place to go for Prom Night or that special night on the town. The view is spectacular overlooking Portland city lights and the Towers of the Convention Center. It is a nightclub atmosphere offering music from the 50s to the 70s with a few 80s.

I got there early so that I could attend the dance class. For the past 45 years I have been telling myself that I cannot dance fast. There were two women for every man at the class. I knew I was going to be in for a fun evening.

After a short half hour lesson the games started. I found a spot to set at the end of a long table. Before long I was joined by Elizabeth, Arlene, Maureen and Evelyn. Like most boomers, they could dance and they took turns with me. It was a fast four hours and before I knew it I was on the train heading home.

The following is from their website http://www.babyboomerssocialclub.com. They say it better than I can.

“The Baby Boomer Generation was born 1946 to 1964. Boomers grew up in a time of change, music was changing, we ushered in rock n roll and we proved it was here to stay. There were many societal changes whereby we were called "The Me Generation, If It Feels Good Do it". Well, it still feels good to dance and the Baby Boomers Social Club is meeting that demand and making it happen for hundreds of Boomers. Music is good for our soul and dancing is good for our hearts. Most all health organizations tell us we all need to exercise more, what better way than meeting a group of your peers and dancing to the music you love. The Baby Boomers Social Club provides this form of recreation and entertainment.”As we get older, our children leave home, our parents or a spouse pass on, or we could be in a rut and need change. There is emptiness and we all deal with change differently. The Baby Boomers Social Club is here to help us get out of our comfort zones, go out and meet new and old friends, to establish new relationships to last our lifetime. The Baby Boomers Social Club provides an atmosphere where friendships can be cultivated and members feel they have an extended family. We want to grow into our old age and beyond "in our own way". As always, we are changing the definition of middle age and old age. We are not going to age quietly.

“Everyone has their own reasons for coming but many are saying, "We really needed a place like this", "we needed a place for our age group, our time and our music". Some have run into friends they had not seen for 25 years.

“We can be ourselves, aging rock n rollers out to have fun, dance and remember the good times. We are now making more good times. We have left our inhibitions, clicks and attitudes back in high school, now we just have fun.”.