The 30 years AFTER retirement. . .

Reporter Tony Lang's Sunday stories on people who live to be 100 or older were fascinating reads. I was most struck by 101 Marion Brant, who has been retired from Procter & Gamble for 38 years -- longer than he worked there.

Many of us look at retirement as a wind-down to life. What if we started to view it as a full third of our lives, a period when we can be especially productive, creative and daring? It's exhilarating to think of being able to pursue a second career or give full attention to a hobby without having to juggle those activities with family responsibilities.

There have been a lot of hand-wringing stories about the burden retiring baby boomers will soon place on society. How foolish and short-sighted of us not to see the potential of a newly freed contingent of workers who can apply their hard-earned skills and experiences to volunteer efforts, start-up companies or simply the support and enjoyment of their family and friends.

Cincinnati neurosurgeon John Pew had the best advice: Live your life as if you will live to be 100. Who would want to celebrate retirement -- then waste the next 38 years?