What, if anything, have you done to prepare for a retirement career?

Do you have an avocation? Something you enjoy so much that you do it after putting in a full day's work?

For me it is browsing internet. I love it and give as much time as I can.

My husband and I have alot of plans since he retired last year. He likes to hunt and golf and I like to teach and surf the internet and we plan to travel, while we are still young. I've thought about going to medical school if I ever get bored, because I'd like to work with research, and the internet makes it so easy to do. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Trish

I know what you both mean. The internet has reshaped alot of earlier plans. Fortunately, I've been able to finally merge all my avocations into a great retirement career of writing and enjoying various aspects of the arts. Only now are they beginning to pay off.

Do you also hunt and golf, babyquacker?

I love the outdoors and go with my husband when I can, but the only thing I really care to shoot is my camera. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I don't much care about golf (unless it's miniature) but then again, I don't think he likes it as much as he used to! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I would like to do more with art and photography on the computer, though. So, that might start happening.

Trish

I feel the same way. I think most couples need to find at least a few things they enjoy doing together. My husband and I sailed, and that was great.

It's springtime! Anyone interested in getting their avocations off the shelf? Sailing? Fishing? Woodworking? Working with children? It's amazing how many people have taken an avocation into a full time second career.

Let's hear what you're doing.

Springtime means an opportunity to check out the summer courses for continuing education. What would be your choice for helping those getting back into the work force?

Do you think it's worthwhile for a woman over 50 to look for a career involving more college education? Why?

Absolutely! Especially if you are retired and find yourself, finally, with TIME. With so many corporations cutting or pulling retirement benefits completely and the prospect of a highly diminished social security benefit, women need to give consideration to the pursuit of a 2nd career.

Given the nature of the modern workforce, many people will require retraining in order to work in a job that pays well. My thought is, if you're going for more training, why not pursue the college certificate or degree you've put off and always wanted? Or, change fields completely and start over in something completely new and challenging.

Enjoy!

Do you have any suggestions for those worried about literally changing careers? What would you suggest they do, first? For instance, does life experience help with continuing education?

The first thing I would suggest would be to sit down and do a careful inventory of your skills/experiences. Think about where you've been and where you want to go. Once you've decided on a general direction, look back at your skills/experiences inventory and try to determine if you need more/different education to get to where you want to go now.

If you are unsure whether additional education is needed, visit with a career counselor, a college admissions counselor, or an independent education consultant.

In regards to life experience, this ABSOLUTELY helps with continuing education. Many accredited colleges and universities give credit (through testing or other means) for mastery of content through life experience.

For example, if you have--through your life or work experience--developed even a minor mastery of a foreign language, you can take a CBE (credit by experience) exam and earn college credit for that knowledge. Or, if you don't want credit but do want to skip the introductory course, you could take the CLEP (this is a college level placement exam), "test out" of the introductory course and enroll in an advanced course.

The "life experience" area is where adult/returning college/university students have a distinct advantage over first-time freshman. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your very thorough reply.

It would be great to hear from any of our readers how this will help them find a focus for creating a new career.