In the middle of January when the daylight hours are short, the darkness and gloom become the only thing you see outside work the though of retirement seems idyllic. Pictures of lounging in bed with the newspaper, another cup of coffee and the day ahead ready at your beck and call. We all hope t reach retirement be it at 60 or 65 or whenever but my first piece of advice is plan for it . Don't just suddenly let it happen. Retirement just doesn't mean senility and death. The modern retiree has much to offer and the prospect of a longer retirement than any other generation.

Finance. Yes I know it is too early to think about it but you have been warned. If you want to enjoy your later years make sure you are prepared. Sort out your finances. Get help.

Moving between work and retirement. Your final years in work may be a strain and hopefully there can be some sort of transition that your employer can help you with.

How are you going to spend your time? there may be 40 hours of time you allocated to your paid employment that are now free for you. Do you have enough hobbies or you aim to volunteer or even go back to education. My original plan hatched around a table in a pub was that a group of us would go back to university, spend three of four years studying a course that had no immediate relevance to us but would include at least one year abroad.

Set targets many of us have spent the last decade chasing targets set for us by others, sometimes reaching them and sometimes agonising because they are out of reach. Now its your turn. What do you want to do? Travel, learn, change direction and work, help others...

Remember this your third age and you now have the time to fulfil your wish. Don't end up saying i wish i had - go and do it before it is too late. Perhaps use the time after a meal with friend to make a list of the fifty things you would most like to do. the results may surprise you.

So you don't know where to start. You have a computer and can use the internet. Type in retirement as a search as see where it takes you. Can't use a computer? Go to your local library and they will help you. Your age and experience makes you a valuable member of your community. Use the time wisely.

Eventually though not necessarily at first you will add your voice to millions that say

' I wonder how I had time for work.'

What am i going to do? send a comment back and I will reply.