I am an author with a self-published book SECOND CAREER VOLUNTEER, a passionate, pennywise approach to retirement, available at website www.secondcareervolunteer.com and in local Albany. NY bookstores. Found this lifestyle through word-of-mouth and have expanded it to my own liking, becoming a long-distance, long-term volunteer in Alaska, Florida, Arkansas and (in Jan, 2010) New Mexico. Here's the deal: I only volunteer my workskills with organizations that offer free room and board! This means I only have to get myself to a destination and don't have to cook. When home, I belong to book clubs, writing guilds, hike, read, and enjoy my grandchildren.

How did you get to where you are now?

By moving 18 times! (Had a grasses-greener husband-we parted company long ago.) Seriously, by taking advantage of every opportunity to survive; to be the best single-parent I could; by working two or three jobs to get my children through school; by taking a sojourn in Hawaii - HEY - I worked in paradise!; by returning to the mainland and working more years so I could discover my wonderful retirement lifestyle.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

Much more confident. Was always willing to investigate how we could achieve a more desirable lifestyle, but now that I am "alone" i.e. children are now independent, I can go places and do things never before immagined.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Volunteering in Australia for a year. Wouldn't that be fabulous!

Ask for more money when time for salary review!

Eleanor Roosevelt

My Aunt Peggy

Any woman who is confident, intelligent and knows where she is going and what she deserves.