February 19, 2006 Fun and Profitable Retirement Jobs You Never Thought of Joanne Fritz, PhD second50years.com etirement is an opportunity to do what you love and what you are good at. And if you want to earn money, you can turn your personal passions and experiences into a new source of income. Review your interests -- horseback riding, golf, animals, crafts, books, garage sales, etc. Chances are you can find extra income in those areas. Perhaps you've built up a lifetime of expertise in a particular field -- accounting, organizing events, writing, investing, counseling or teaching. Can you translate this into a paying retirement position? Or create a business from your interests or expertise? Here are some examples... Barbara, retired for 10 years, took an Elderhostel trip and enjoyed it so much that she used her previous experience in the corporate world to get a new job as program coordinator with two of the universities that run Elderhostel. She runs half a dozen five- to 10-day programs per year, receiving up to $750 per program, and gets to see historical sites, museums and symphonies. To investigate this line of work, go to Elderhostel (www.elderhostel.org). Tom and Jean responded to an ad for house sitters and now look after haciendas in Mexico. This paid work gives them time and money to pursue their hobbies and interests. Nadine worked as an interior designer for many years. In retirement, she buys small, older homes in her city's historical area to fix up and resell. Don, an outdoorsman, also retired, now works every summer at the concession at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. For jobs in great locations, such as a reservation clerk in a posh hotel or at a gift shop in a scenic park, visit www.coolworks.com. (There's a specific page for older workers -- click on "Older and Bolder.") START YOUR OWN BUSINESS You don't have to re-enter corporate America. Instead, you can carve out your own niche in the business world by starting your own company. Some examples... Bill used his previous experience in sales to start his own small company as a distributor for Entrepreneur Magazine's "start-up" manuals. He also became a business broker to help people buy and sell businesses. He runs his activities from home and has plenty of time for travel with his wife. Mary, retired from a corporate job, had been a biology teacher early in her career. Before retiring, she took classes at a botanical garden to become certified as a master gardener. She now grows plants to sell and provides landscape design for home owners. Sheldon didn't want to retire as chief executive of two companies but was forced. He then bought a hotel so he could continue to run a business -- and live the high life to boot. Sue started her own cleaning company, hiring teams of workers (some of whom are retirees) to do the cleaning. Cynthia and Matt, full-time RVers, supplement their retirement income selling odds and ends on eBay. They go to garage sales, auctions and estate sales to find bargains they can resell through on-line auctions. MORE EXAMPLES Looking for ideas on what to do? Let your imagination take off. Here are more ideas to consider... Book lovers can sell their used editions on-line through eBay (www.ebay.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com). There's no need for an advertising budget. Hunt for merchandise to sell at garage sales, flea markets, library sales and thrift shops (http://bookologist.com). Craftspeople can participate in craft fairs at local community centers and city and county fairs. Build a customer list (collect names and phone numbers and E-mail addresses) so you can continue to sell directly to interested buyers. Information addicts can create tips booklets to sell on-line. Use your knowledge to teach others something of value about a hobby or a skill. Travel aficionados can become home-based travel agents, full- or part-time. To set up an account with a supplier (such as a cruise line or airline), you need an agency account number from the International Airlines Travel Agency Network (IATAN, www.iatan.org), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA, www.cruising.org) or Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC, www.arccorp.com). Team up with a travel agency to become an independent agent to see if this business is for you (you can get your own license down the road). Caution: Check your state's law on licensing and registration requirements for travel agents. ON-LINE HELP If you still don't have an inkling of what you want to do or how to go about finding out, there's plenty of on-line help. Useful sites... AARP (www.aarp.org) for numerous resources on working. 2 Young 2 Retire (www.2young2retire.com) for ideas and examples of people changing the face of retirement. Seniors4Hire (www.seniors4hire.org) featuring free registration for people age 50 and older looking for jobs. Senior Job Bank (www.seniorjobbank.com), a referral service listing part-time flexible and temporary jobs. Retired Worker International (www.theretiredworker.com) lets you create an on-line profile (no résumés are used) to attract employers. Second50Years (www.second50years.com) will help you explore ideas and resources for post-retirement careers and businesses.