According to an AP-Yahoo! News poll released this morning, people would rather have Obama at their July 4th BBQ this weekend than John McCain–he won that election 52% to 45%. But what about their wives?

I don’t know if this is true or not, but it seems as if this year both women have been receiving more scrutiny than past candidate’s wives. Both Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain are baby boomers, and in another AP-Yahoo! News poll, it appears that the public is not taking to them quite yet.

What do you think? Does it matter to you when you’re deciding whom to vote for? Do you want the new first lady to be more like Hillary? Or like Laura? Or would you rather she just be like Michelle or Cindy?  Which one do you want bringing the potato salad to your BBQ?

2. Identify the intrinsic things at work that are truly important to you and those you can do without.

3. Give yourself permission to take unscheduled time for dreaming and exploring lots of options.

4. Challenge assumptions about what it means to be over 50.

5. Stay flexible. Make plans, but be prepared to toss them aside.

6. Get a realistic picture of your finances and plan accordingly.

7. Accept that you are likely to feel anxiety and stress. Use them to grow and learn.

8. Let go of unrealized career fantasies and regrets. They are stumbling blocks to moving forward.

9. Ignore chirpy, 10-things-you-can-do-to-overcome-anxiety advice. There are no quick fixes for getting through the process.

10. Don’t go there alone. Get together with others who are grappling with the same questions you have.

From Smart Women Don’t Retire–They Break Free.

For a more articulate piece on Carlin’s impact on comedy and on American culture generally, check out Richard Zoglin’s piece on Time’s website here.   

THE MARRIAGE BENEFIT is less a book about how to make our relationships better than it is about how our relationships can make us better if we just work on our expectations and improve communications. Harvard professor and psychotherapist O’Connell offers a peek behind the door of a marriage therapist, where readers can see that their problems are not unique.

Through wonderfully revealing anecdotes of couples with problems many of us face: long-held bitterness, diminished sexuality, the scars of infidelity, and the search for authentic meaning, O’Connell shows how by respecting each other’s individuality, looking for “real” sex, and learning how to play with each other again, we can reap the benefits of the long-term emotional investment we’ve made.

We had luck this year at Springboard with How Not to Look Old because it touched a nerve and women around the country started talking. But what will be the next big thing? Who knows? What do you think? What kinds of books would you like to see?

You can hear the a podcast of the whole panel here.

And of course, more to come, including lots of Transition Network events!

The book also got a rave review from the LA Times this weekend. Check it out here.

Some more statistics for you:

Check out more here.

Maybe after the panel, Boomer Blog will have more answers, but what do you think? What makes you go out and buy a book, whether you’re a boomer or not?