For parents who are just beginning to relax into their "empty nest," Halloween may not be the scariest day of the year. A call or email from an adult child saying, "I'm coming home to stay" can send "they're back" chills down the spine of any mother or father who believed their parenting days were safely behind them.

These returning adults are often called "boomerang kids" because, when sent out into the world as grown-ups, they come back expecting their parents to resume caregiver roles as if there had been no interruption.

According to a 2006 Statistics Canada study, Generation Xers, especially the later wave born between 1972 and 1976, were three times as likely to return home to live with their parents compared to baby boomers. The tendency to "boomerang" at least once has been on the rise through each of the last five successive generations, starting with the first wave of baby boomers born between 1947 and 1951.

The labels involved -- "empty nester," "boomerang kids" and many more -- are packed with false impressions, not the least of which is that moving back home is a temporary personal issue, an inevitable phase of growing up in the twenty-first century. This retro-lifestyle pattern is not the result of one set of problems, nor of individual failure. The root causes, which include overly-expensive education and escalating real estate costs, are not addressed by society when "boomeranging" is seen merely as personal failure. Ignoring the causes, and the resulting social implications, solidifies "making do" as a way of life.

Rural areas and small municipalities are striving to encourage these adult children to stay in their communities while urban centres are struggling to help youth find commitment to, and from, their neighbourhoods. Another recent Stats Can release pointed out that 6 out of every 10 of those aged 25 to 39, who did not live with their parents, owned their own home in 2006. The breakdown of this statistic reveals that approximately half of independent 25 to 39 year olds in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal owned real estate versus 71 percent of their rural and small town counterparts owning property.

More than twice the number of people aged 37 to 39 owned real estate, compared to those 25 to 27, which was interpreted as a reflection of the increased probability of full-time employment and two-income households. The study concluded that "household income is one of the factors, if not the single factor, with the biggest impact on the likelihood of owning a home."

Earlier research revealed that, on average, it took 5 years longer to make the transition to adulthood in 2001 than it did in 1971. Today, that delay may also be coupled with crushing student debt.

Location is also significant. More than twice as many rural dwellers with annual incomes of under C$30,000 were homeowners, compared to parallel groups in Canada's six largest metropolitan areas.

Since the 2006 Census identified 80 percent of all Canadians as urban dwellers, reduced property ownership in urban areas affects Canada as a whole. Although higher urban housing costs and fewer rural rental options appear to be obvious reasons for this pattern, lack of creative thinking and of professional advice may have been deciding factors for buyers who gave up when traditional buying approaches failed them.

Research into specific support for early sustained-independent living and property ownership could identify strategies for communities to expand on. We have only begun to think creatively and collectively about how to accomplish together what too many individuals, working alone, feel is impossible. For instance, property tax deferral programs could help urban first-time buyers bridge the financial gap caused by the high cost of education and of real estate. Community-supported variations on investment syndicates or investment clubs might enable marginal first-time buyers to increase their knowledge of real estate while they built equity.

Few things that matter in this world are simple. Property ownership is no exception, but it is not beyond anyone's full understanding. The experience and knowledge of real estate brokers, financial professionals, investors and land owners enables them to problem solve outside traditional financial and real estate methods. Those who lack this expertise can be short changed. The answer may lie with community-based "think tanks" of creative, knowledgeable professionals who excel at discovering innovative solutions to individual, family and community needs.

Ironically, as Boomers -- inventors of eternal youth -- move their skills and knowledge out of the workplace and into communities, they may be the driving force behind reversing the delayed transition into adulthood and helping other generations get on with their lives.

Published: October 30, 2007

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Strategist and Futurist is The Catalyst -- intent on "Helping The Best Get Better." An internationally-recognized "new retirement" authority, PJ's research, writing and speaking programs focus on decisions Baby Boomers face to achieve a successful future. Author of 6 books, PJ knows that, since home is headquarters for the "new retirement," professionals and consumers need relevant knowledge and insights, along with solid decision-making skills, to protect and enhance this private oasis. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more, visit TheCatalyst.com.