The pharmacy I worked in had a huge senior customer base which provided an education and glimpse into the traditional retired senior culture, an enlightening experience for which I will always be grateful.

I was able to get a first hand look at how traditional retirees think, how they live, what they care about, and how they behave. Many were happy in their retirement. They socialized at the senior center, traveled, played golf -- things many retirees love to do. But I also saw an unhappy side. It wasn't just health problems -- they took those in stride. I saw far too much boredon, depression, loneliness, alcohol abuse, and a yearning for a time when they looked and felt better.  Many were in financial difficulty.

More than a few expressed an interest in finding a job of some kind but felt unqualified "because of their age." Others wanted  more income but did not want to go back to work because they felt they had earned their retirement, even if it meant doing with a lot less.

Having seen as much as I saw and knowing there can be a more satisfying way of life in the mature years for those who want it, I am now an advocate for balanced lifelong growth and productivity.  Unfortunately, you can't wait until you are retired to decide what you want to do in your retirement. It takes more than financial planning. It means you have to decide well in advance of retirement how you will live in your retirement years.

I now write for boomers who want to stay as youthful, vital, healthy  and productive as long as possible in their mature years. At age 81, I know that much of the decline associated with (or blamed on) aging doesn't have to happen.  I know how to avoid it and am eager to share with others what I know.

If you want to get to know me a bit better, view the video I made for an Oprah competition:

http://www.blip.tv/file/3832885