to give back, as well as a wonderful opportunity to interact and meet new people.

6. Develop new friendships. A measurement of whether people have a successful retirement is the strength of their social network—that includes family and friends.

7. Spousal input. Retirement often means a shared experience. Therefore make time to share your dreams with your spouse—you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that he/she wants to join you on that Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.

8. Remain healthy. There’s an old adage: A lean horse for a long race. That means eating well, watching your weight and remaining active.

9. Financial stability. If you can’t afford to retire yet, consider partial retirement—which can include working part-time in your current job or finding something new and exciting from which you can earn some money.

10. What’s next in your life? Go to a helpful web site such as www.WhatsNextInYourLife.com to locate non-financial retirement planning tools. •

Steve & Joan Carter are cofounders of Life Options Institute, an organization devoted to helping people plan for life after age 50.