[Ohiogirl]

I have 4 retired girlfriends in the Columbus area that I see a lot of when back for the summer. Each one has somewhat different interests and retirement solutions.

One, who retired as an executive at a large healthcare insurance co., sells Medicare supplements and advantage plans. Really knows her stuff, loves working and gets her personal satisfaction there. Plus it's mainly seasonal - medicare re-enrollment time. She's been doing it about 3 years and is now getting lots of referrals because her customers are so pleased with her - because she truly doesn't care which policy she sells, just wants people to be well-matched. She also, with her husband, helps out their son and his family with occasional baby-sitting and home improvements.

Another, who has mostly been a stay-at-home mom and homemaker, loves to improve her already nice house - that's her thing. I think they may even move to another high-maintenance, large, expensive home that needs remodeled and redecorated (because she loves to do this as does her husband, who is very handy). She says so what if they get too old to handle stuff - that's maybe when they will downsize - or not. I am sure that if she were in The Villages, she would be moving every 2 or 3 years just to redo houses.

The other 2 are single women. One is a big-time gardener, and what you might call a lifelong learner. She takes various college classes that interest her - right now taking one called "Women in Literature." Joined a book club at the Art Museum this year - in past years she's done other stuff. Before that it was professional landscaping classes. And she volunteers with an arboretum helping to organize their spring plant sale. She has no children and makes a point to meet and make friends with other single women who act as an unofficial support group when one of them has health issues. She has also done a lot of interesting travel.

The other loves to play games, belongs to a gaming club (board games, mostly) and has learned to play mah jongg and going to take bridge lessons this winter. She also travels with other single friends and occasionally babysits a 2 yr old granddaughter in Georgia.

Lots of different things - just have to figure it out.