“Librarian’s Shelf” by Robert Trautwein   "Retirement Preparedness" Faced with the prospect of retiring in three to six years, I am questioning if it is possible to reinvent myself after retirement.  How do I go from being who I am now to being the person I will be when I retire?  To put it another way, “How can I avoid being less than I currently am?”  Maybe the mid-life crisis has finally caught up with me! Perhaps I need a therapist!  To help me sort through these issues, I have read several books at the library which address some of my concerns.  James Audrey’s “The Spirit of Retirement, Creating a Life of Meaning and Personal Growth” (2002) is a book that every soon-to-be retiree should read.  The author uses examples from other peoples’ lives to illustrate his points.  He discusses how the retirement years are “your years,” which you have earned and for which you have been greatly anticipating.  And, since these retirement years will not stretch on forever, you should actively use that time for self-fulfillment. Now, that’s a tricky word, “self-fulfillment.”  It always makes me feel guilty.  But Autry says that self-fulfillment can come in many different ways and in combinations of different actions.  Through his examples he shows how some people become fulfilled by rediscovering their roots.  Others reinvigorate friendships.  Some give themselves to causes or services to find fulfillment. In his book, “The Third Act, Reinventing Yourself After Retirement,” (2002) author Edgar Bonfman discusses how the “third act” can be the best part of our lives.  He challenges retirees not to squander what could be their most fulfilling years.  We can reinvent ourselves by learning new skills, taking classes in a field of interest, attending Elderhostel programs, etc.  We can discover new aspects of ourselves by going on a three-month pilgrimage from Paris to Santiago de Compostelo, Spain, walking the Appalachian Trail, sailing around the world in freighters, etc.  We can give back through volunteerism to our church, our community, our nation, the world.  Whatever path we take to fulfillment, Bronfman exhorts us to follow our hearts and enjoy the journey.