Golfing, traveling, scrapbooking, gardening, just relaxing -- leisure time -- is what most people think of when they think about retiring. But baby boomers are rewriting the definition of retirement. Many soon-to-be-retired professionals, executives, doctors, dentists and so on, are uncertain what Plan B -- your career after retirement -- should be. You may still be in your forties or fifties, but you need a plan for the future.

Start thinking of this period as a second adulthood, where you not only achieve some of the traditional definitions of retirement, but you move on to lead a purposeful, passionate, and productive life in a second career. Maybe you are questioning what exactly you are going to DO with the rest of your life. For some people the process is agonizing. In my career counseling practice, over the years, I've worked with many clients, such as a dentist or a CEO, who thought of themselves in only that one role. What a ridiculous myth that is. You are multi-talented and your career can change, and for many people looking toward retirement options, it changes significantly. Think of this phase as a major fork in the road of life. If you are phasing into retirement, you will need solid guidance to make a good second career plan, whether the goal is to travel on extended vacations, to explore new places to live, or finally to have better quality family time. Making the right retirement career choices means having enjoyable, rewarding, and meaningful years ahead. You can achieve whatever you want, and it will likely be less stressful, shorter hours, and offer you greater flexibility.

You will likely need more money to "retire" than you think. Author of Personal Finance: Tools for Decision Making, Diane McDonald says "Retirement is never as cheap as people expect. The real reality is that most people need to make 80% of their working salary to afford their retired lifestyle. It actually may be more than that, depending on a person's health, since medical expenses (insurance premiums, non-covered medical care, prescription drug costs) can easily eat away at savings."

So, along with the financial planning comes some solid second adulthood career planning which includes:

-  PICK THE LOCATION. Career options can be dramatically different based on WHERE you choose to live. One of my career counseling clients wanted to escape the New England winters. We aligned her goal of living four months each year in Florida and finding a second career that gave her greater flexibility. She made the necessary changes to run a "virtual office" and now she's watching the waves crash onto the surf as she talks to clients. She is living her perfect life. For some people, living near the children and grandkids is an important consideration. Keep in mind that cities offer more options for second careers, but it is more expensive to live in a large city than in a small town. Once you picked a location, Step 1 is decided and you can plan from there.

-  IDENTIFY YOUR BEST SKILLS. Using your best talents or "strengths' on the job is easier than the stressful challenges of always pushing the envelope to learn more and to keep up with ever-changing trends and business technology. And, certainly, using your natural talents is more satisfying. Each of us have numerous skills that can be transferred from one career to another, i.e. planning, managing others, using computer software, conducting training sessions, etc. Take inventory of your greatest assets. Consider what you enjoy doing most, and make that a pinnacle requirement for the next career.

-  CONNECT YOUR VALUES AND INTERESTS. You may not want the same pressures as before. A strong desire for time off, increased family time, or taking long vacations may be your motivating factors. These kinds of options require portable careers i.e. an eBay BIZ, consulting, writing, web design -- things you can do anywhere. Tele-commuting is a great way to conduct business. Consider what really interests you -- fitness, painting, fundraising, real estate, investing, and follow that lead. A happy second career comes from interacting with others who share the same interests. This is your fun time -- maybe teaching salsa dancing is the thing to make your life come alive -- now is the time to do it.

-  GOING PART-TIME. You may still love the work, but want more time off, less management pressure, and a flex schedule for longer vacations. Employers are beginning to work with employees to retain their talent by making these concessions. Expect flex schedules to dramatically grow in the next five years with the boomers aging and employers desperately needing their talents.

-  BRAINSTORM CAREER OPTIONS. What jobs come to mind when you consider using your strengths, and aligning your values, interests and geographical preferences? Ask other people for ideas to draw up a short list of possibilities. Research each one to determine whether job duties, availability, potential future growth, salary range and training requirements, and highlight whether or not you'll need more training to enter this field. List any other factors that might influence your decision. Libraries, the Internet or on the job are a good source of career exploration reference materials that define jobs, duties performed, outlooks, salaries,

-  CONDUCT DUE DILIGENCE. Interview at least three people who are working at the career you envision for yourself. Be sure one lives in the region you plan to do it in. You'll uncover the facts to make informed decisions and not ones based on fleeting fantasy. People need a sense of purpose to have meaning in their lives. Thorough retirement career planning allows you to create that for yourself. Making your next career fun and rewarding is a worthwhile goal.

© Copyright 2006 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.