I know for a fact that I will not be retiring at 65 years old and getting that gold watch like my Gramps did. He worked for Standard Brands all his adult life. I am only 53 yeas old and have had a great many jobs since I turned 21, just like most of you. Gramps had one job.

I hear so many folks in my generation talk about how they can't even begin to think about retiring, while others have already retired. Those ahead of us have much needed information for the rest of us. The following is some of what I have learned from those who share. Here are some suggestions of how to ensure you a content and worthy retirement.

*Plan, Plan, Plan

Do NOT spend more time planning your yearly vacation than you do the next 2-3 decades of your life! Put some energy into this! Just leaving this to chance is asking for trouble. Ask yourself these questions: Do I want to work? How much do I want to work? Do I want to work in my same field? Do I want to try something new? What have I always wanted to do but never had the guts to try? Do I want the advantages of being self-employed or do I want the advantages of working for someone else?

*What is my passion?

Wouldn't now be a great time to not just work to make money but to work at something you love? Most of you work between the years of college and retirement at jobs you hope can make you enough money to keep you in a lifestyle you desire. You were working to support yourselves or your family. You had responsibilities that came before what you may have desired. Possibly, you can alter that now. Possibly, you can do what you truly want to do. Now may be your chance! Take it! Grab that brass ring on the carousel!

*Nurture your relationships

It can happen amazingly fast. You leave your full time job or you work less hours. Your children grow up and leave (isn't that what they are supposed to do?) You find yourself with more alone time. You are not out in the world as much as you used to be. Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it? Well, BE CAREFUL! It is so easy to isolate yourself. To cut yourself off thinking that you just need some time to not be so busy, to not be running around like crazy, and to have some much needed time for yourself. It can be a wonderful thing, but can you have too much of a good thing? Yes, you can. And being alone too much creates its own issues.

Use these extra hours to have some alone time to read or garden or work in the garage but be sure to nurture those important relationships. Develop new friends. Reach out to folks you haven't contacted in awhile. What activities did you always want to pick up on again that you didn't have time for, like golf?

Reach out and surround yourself with people who you enjoy time with. You'll be glad you did and so will they. Pick up the phone!

Retirement can be an exciting and invigorating time in your life. It will most likely be the longest stage in your life. This is something that is worth some time in figuring out, don't you agree? You owe it to yourself to take charge and create a retirement that truly fits who you are, that is deserving of YOU.

Consider these questions:

1. What do I want for myself in these next 10, 20 or 30 years?

2. Is there something I have always wanted to do that now I have the chance to try?

3. Who do I choose to spend time with that I haven't been neglecting over the years?