Look out world! Here come the Boomers in full force. There are 76 million of them, the largest cohort group of all generations. Just as they impacted the world of pop culture from American Bandstand and Elvis to Howdy Doody and hula hoops, as well as everything else, they're now about to invade the uncharted territory of NON-RETIREMENT. Yes, you heard me right.

Lots of discussion is happening around this idea. The word “retirement” appeared in the 1930's to describe the phase between the end of career and death. It's interesting to note that the span was often short, which may reflect on the shorter lifespan then (45 years at the turn of the 20th century). Now we are living much longer: The fastest growing age group are - guess who the 85-and-up gang. Boomers are living longer, are healthier and more mobile, and are beginning to change the face of future planning.

A few facts about Boomer views and attitudes:

Over 80% want to work after they retire in a field they enjoy, with flexible hours and reduced stress.

About 17% want to start their own businesses.

Over 40% want to work part-time mainly because they are interested in and enjoy that work.

More than 50% are already engaged in volunteering and want to continue in an expanded way after they “retire.” Another 25% expect to start volunteering after they leave their jobs.

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The two things in the workplace they'll miss most are their relationships with colleagues and doing meaningful work. (Civic Ventures and Temple University study). How to replace them? It's a good contemplation for anyone approaching this transition.

Start thinking about how your life will be impacted by emerging trends. Consider such topics as family life, eldercare, lifestyle, mobility, possible relocation, time, leisure, recreation, the search for meaning, etc.

Also think about your current interests. What would you like to do in the future, either for gainful employment, as a volunteer, or for enrichment and leisure? As a child, what did you dream of doing? You might surprise yourself with what comes up. Why not seriously consider your childhood dreams and actualize them soon? For instance, if you wanted to be a firefighter as a kid, and turned out to be a psychologist, when you leave your career you might want to marry the childhood dream with real work and research pyromania. Or say as a kid you always wanted a horse but couldn't have one. Now, with work obligations behind you, you could volunteer at a stable or at a vet's. The possibilities are endless. Follow your heart.

If it's still appealing, how might you translate one of your fantasies or untapped talents into a new venture? Email and let us know or contact us if you're stuck: joyce@u-wisdom.com.

Joyce Cohen is a leading figure in the field of career development and life planning. She consults with organizations of all sizes and leads seminars on career management, mentoring, learning organizations, creative aging, retirement planning, growth and renewal, and other topics related to successful life planning.

Joyce can be reached at joyce@u-wisdom.com and will answer questions as space permits.

The opinions expressed are the author's and not necessarily those of connpost.com. Comments for Post: Carol Dauber cdauber@ctpost.com