Doc Schilke One of the best things you can take with you into retirement is your sense of humor - just ask Doc Schilke, seen here in this April 2006 photo, as he gets ready to deliver Meals On Wheels.

Did you read Paula Gibbs' editorial in the January 31 issue? It was about doing a Career Day program at the Wiscasset Middle School. I remember going to a Career Day when I was in school, and I thought it was very informative.

All this got me thinking. What about a Career Day for people in their sixties and looking forward to retirement? A bunch of us retired "old folks" could answer the "boomers" questions and give them some advice.

So what might be some of the questions and advice? Probably much like in Paula's editorial. First, how did I become interested in my retirement job? It was totally unplanned. I wanted to get out of the downsizing and outsourcing rut that I was in. The stress level was high just trying to survive and stay employed. My great plan was to retire, get a non-stress part time job and spend the rest of the time playing golf. I never got a part time job, and I have not played golf since I retired.

What was the path I followed to get to this level of retirement? Being na�ve helped me. Whenever I was told I would be great at a certain volunteer job, and it wouldn't be much work or take much time, I believed it. It took years to learn that all recruiters looking for new volunteers use the same line. Oh sure, some words may vary but basically they are all the same. I've used that line countless times myself to get new volunteers.

First advice item: learn how to say "NO!"

Second advice item: Learn how to say "YES!" to golf, bowling and cribbage. Someone has to use the golf courses and bowling alleys during the day. Also the police need to have some easy places to raid for illegal gambling on cribbage games.

Now what should people do on their first day of retirement? There are some things that just have to be done.

The first is to take a drive during commute times and go five mph under the speed limit, like you had nothing better to do.

The second thing to do is when the weather gets nice, sit next to the road drinking a cup of coffee and wave to those going to work. Time it so your former co-workers will see you.

Sometime during retirement you will find the time to visit the grandchildren during the day. It's okay to help out your son or daughter, but you need to look around their house when they are not there. This isn't spying really, but you have to find out if they are reading books with titles like "How To Find Cheap Nursing Homes Where You Can Stash Your Parents and Save Your Inheritance," or "How to Get Your Parents to Clean House, Do Yard Work and Entertain the Kids and Pay You For the Privilege." It's hard to believe that your own flesh and blood would read such trash, but if they are, you need to know.

There's also discrimination that you will face. There are some Florida retirement communities that are acceptable for Mainers and some that are not. Then there are also those who are not snow birds and will tell you in no uncertain terms that "only wimps leave Maine in the winter."

Last question. What's cool about being retired?

To be serious now, there is the chance to learn, do useful things, help others and have fun. Contrary to when we were teenagers, we all know "everything" now. We've had the chance to experience joys and heartaches. Many of us have gone through things we would not want others to ever have to experience. And all of that is cool in a way.

But what is really cool is that all retirees have the opportunity to do great things and have an impact on life around us. Just take a look at all the retirees doing volunteer jobs or jobs for little pay. For every retiree or person contemplating retirement who is reading this article there is a great volunteer job waiting for you and it won't be much work or take much time and you'd be perfect for the job. Just say "YES!"