[redwitch]

I've been a legal secretary for over 30 years and truly was at the top of my field. I looked for a job here. First, in my field, then in other fields as either a secretary or administrative assistant. The best (??!!!) salary I was offered was $12.50/hour with no benefits and no overtime (this was for an Ocala law firm that I know was charging $750/hour for appellate work -- my speciality). I literally started laughing and said I would rather be homeless. So, I started my own business. It is growing slowly and steadily. In January, I had 1 client (DickY). February gave me another one. By April, I had 7. Now, I have over 20 and getting about 5 more a month. I'm not doing this to earn a little extra money, I'm doing it to earn a living since I'm too young for Social Security or retirement.

There are many things you can do here. If you just need a little bit of pocket change, work for The Villages in the rec centers or as a gatekeeper or the like. If you just want to do something to make you feel useful, volunteer -- there are many places that need help. The stores around here are nearly always looking for help of some kind, usually part-time. If you're in the medical field, do check out the hospital. Substitute teaching is a viable choice as well. As was said, be prepared to take a hefty cut in pay -- $10/hr is truly considered a good wage.

The point is there are things you can do. Sometimes it will take time to find your niche but if you work hard enough, are willing to do your best, be reliable, honest and ethical, you will succeed. (If someone would have told me that I'd be doing things like watching and cleaning houses, weeding, watching pets, etc. for a living in my 50s I would have died laughing.)