Every year at about this time, the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics and probably several dozen other agencies generate a “Profile of Older Americans” (or something like that).

I always get a kick out of sharing some of these “big picture” demographics because … I’m easily entertained? Well, yes, but I also delude myself into thinking that it’s helpful to be able to back away from the microcosms of our daily lives and see what the statistical macrocosm actually looks like. For instance, did you know that, between 2007 and 2017, the population aged 65 or better increased from 37.8 million to 50.9 million? Further, that same crowd is projected to hit 94.7 million by 2060.

We’re winning! We’re also a voting bloc.…

Granted, 65 is a somewhat arbitrary number, but it does confirm that (a) we are not dying on schedule, and (b) a lot of us are not all atwitter on Twitter about the latest adolescent phenom.

One would think these simple facts might suggest something to the powers-that-be, like fixing Social Security. Let’s make this plain:

■ More than one in every seven (15.6%) of the folks in this country are “older Americans,” defined as 65+.

■ The 85+ crowd is projected to more than double, from 6.5 million in 2017 to 14.4 million by 2040. That’s 21 years from now.

■ In 2017, there were 86,248 folks age 100 and over! Remember when hitting 100 was unheard of ? I do; now, it isn’t.

■ If you’re 65 today, you have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.5 years (20.6 for females, 18.1 for males). So, 85ish, right? True, that’s an average, but it might make us want to think about our retirement planning: (a) Will I outlive my money? (b) How bored am I going to get if I don’t engage in something worth engaging in? (c) Why am I acting “old” at age 60? There’s a lot of road left ahead.

■ None of us will be shocked to hear “older women” (I’m sorry — I didn’t make up these terms) outnumber “older men” (age 65 or better), 28.3 million to 22.6 million. Predictably, then, a larger percentage of older men are married (70%) as opposed to older women (46%). In 2018, 32% of older women were widows.

Think about that. Then think about this:

■ Among women 75 or better, 44% lived alone. That should tell us something about how we plan the trajectories of our lives, understanding that “planning” can only go so far. Still, it warrants a modicum of reflection: Will Mom be just fine in the four-bedroom, tri-level home? Well…

■ The median annual income for older individuals in 2017 was $32,654 for males and $19,180 for females. The latter breaks down to $1,598 per month. Is there something wrong with this picture? What’s the average minimum wage? What? I didn’t hear you…

■ In good old 2017, nearly 4.7 million older adults were below poverty level. If that makes sense to somebody, I wish that somebody would explain to me. In what universe does having 4.5 million Elders at poverty level seem rational?

■ Here’s the last one for today: Among folks age 75+, 42% reported that TV is their first source of emergency information, as opposed to 31% for the general population. Specifically, 9% of Elders reported receiving information via internet, as opposed to 31% for the general population.

The “profile” goes on to discuss the need for caregiving, racial/ethnic population percentages, etc., ad infinitum; but I decided to stop here, because this is more than enough for us to try to take in.

Is it all … dark? I don’t think so. If we’re not “dying on schedule” (meaning, in line with what Medicare and Social Security might prefer), that suggests that we have a lot of life ahead. That’s a gift! What do we choose to do with that gift?

And it tells us that the pictures of “aging” and “retirement” have changed pretty dramatically from those most of us grew up with. We can plan and we can look ahead and we can aim our lives in directions that suggest reasonable comfort, reasonable contentment and a sense of purpose — or, we can do absolutely nothing and hope for the best.

That would make sense, because hoping for the worst would be stupid.

I believe in hope. I also believe in doing everything I can to make life as joyous as possible — which, for me, defines “faith.”

Aging is not an affliction. It’s an achievement!

Mark Harvey is the director of information and assistance for the Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached by email at harvemb@dshs.wa.gov; by phone at 360-532-0520 in Aberdeen, 360-942-2177 in Raymond, or 360-642-3634; or through Facebook at Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.