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I retired under duress in February 2007 and thought my world had ended. At the same time, my son was suspended from the 9th grade. What was suppose to be "me time" turned into "stay-at-home-and-home-school" time. Summer came and went without a family vacation - who could afford it on only my husband's salary? Then August came.

My son is a sophomore. I am teaching at the local community college. I volunteer at our cultural and historical museum in the genealogy section. My husband thought it was a great idea for me to spend a couple of hours a week at the museum. My son thought it was funny that I liked the dusty books.

Then, my name was put into the museum newsletter. People began to ask me how to do family research. Almost over night I was involved in the greatest discovery of my life - me. Now, I find my love of history, of family, of place is moving me toward a new vocation. Rather than just sit in the genealogy room, waiting for someone to come, I am remaking the room. I want it more user friendly with books and magazines readily accessable.

I find I have talents and abilities that are useful in researching family history. I like the look on people's faces when we find a name or a date that has escaped them. That is connection.

I have been retired for almost a year and I have rebranded myself from a municipal employee to being a teacher, a researcher and, yes, a stay at home mom. I more available to my son as he negotiates these last years of high school. I am comfortable in my own skin. This is the fullest life I've led in many years.

A few years ago I decided to re-connect with a passion that had been a huge part of my life in my "youth" and that is theatre. I had even moved to NYC to become an actress and had then gone on to do lots of regional/community theatre in my twenties. But life intervened and I began a career in publishing and advertising and met my husband. Before long we began a family and that really took over my life and my time. Being a Mom and also continuing to pursue my career left almost no time for anything else. But eventually the kids got bigger and my passion for theatre began to re-surface. I got involved in teaching drama and music at a camp in Vermont and later at a performing arts school. I participated in a few community theatre productions as an actress. But about five years ago, I really took the plunge and signed on to direct at our local junior high school. Suddenly my urge to give back and contribute to my community and also feed my passion for the performing arts came together. I began a journey that has been so enormously challenging and rewarding and has given me a higher sense of purpose than almost anything else I have done. To bring 100+ kids together to create something special that they can be proud of is no small feat. To build a community of kids and adults and to ultimately create a performance that moves an audience is the highest calling.. at least for me. To watch a group of self-conscious, nervous 7th graders find their voice and their confidence and to share their talent with an audience night after night is incredibly rewarding. The experience will stay with many of these kids for their whole lives. The thrill of doing something well, of working so closely with their friends
and community and of putting on something that they are really proud of is incomparable. For me that is what I do to live TheFullestLife Possible.

Sometimes living the fullest life means getting the smallest life in your life. Five years ago, I never thought my son (and only child) would ever get married, much less give me a grandchild. He was a confirmed bachelor, dating the wrong women, and "never getting married." When he called and asked me to have lunch with him, then told me about this wonderful woman he had met, I knew it was something special. A beautiful romance bloomed, they were engaged 3 months later and married a year and a half after that. 18 months after their wedding they told me I was going to be a grandparent. I was overcome with joy.

My job at the time included working nights, weekends and holidays. Upon learning I was to become a grandmother, I knew I wanted to be able to spend "Grandma time" with my newest family member. I quit my job and a month later was hired by Eons—working very hard every day but leaving on time and leaving my work at the office. The dream of my life when I joined Eons was to become a grandmother. In May 2006, my grandson was born, making that dream a reality.

I spend time with my grandson almost every week (I know, I'm a very lucky grandmother to have him close by). My husband and I plan around grandson-time. It's funny how your life's dream can come true, over and over again. For example, when he was born, I became a grandmother; then I bonded with my little guy and became a grandmother again; then, he called me "grandma" for the very first time, and I became a grandmother all over again. It takes your breath away!

This past Christmas, as I put up my holiday tree, I pulled out all the toy-like decorations, looking at them with new eyes, imagining how my grandson would see them when he came over. I put them down on the lower branches—the kitty, the teddy bear in the swing, the parachuting Santa—he loved them!

It's funny how being with him has become such a priority—no trip is too long in order to see him. Last month I had gone to Harvard Square for a little holiday shopping. I finished and hopped on the subway again to go home. (Important note: While riding the subway I do not have cell phone connection.) I got home about an hour later, and the cell phone rang. "Hi, Mom! Did you get my voicemail? Want to come over and babysit the little guy while we go out to a movie?" My "fuller life" was calling to me. "Sure! I'll be right over," and I headed back out the door for the long trip back to Harvard Square and the bus line to their house. What's 1-1/2 hours of public transportation, when you get to spend time with one of your life's dreams come true? It’s my living the fullest life, for sure!

Boom boom boom ~suzy

My own teenagers can hardly believe their mother is the CommunityGal for Eons! I know more about social networking these days than they do! Did I ever in my wildest imaginings think I would be working for an internet startup company at 56? Never! Emphatically never! But look at me, Ma! I work next to engineers, web designers, and people who talk Web 2.0! And I am having a blast.

Once I told Jeff Taylor that a few years back I said to myself, “I’ve had a few really good jobs in my life. One in particular was terrific, but I want one more really fabulous job in my life.” And Eons is it!

Building a community for my generation is not only my work, it is my passion. I love seeing the groups that are forming every day on Eons. I learn so much from our members' experiences and expertise, which they share in their group postings and their blogs. And I have made new friends on Eons. People who have joined the Eons mission to build the largest social network of people 50+ ever! My family is proud of me, my younger colleagues compliment me often, but the person who really feels like she is living the fullest life possible right now, is me!

Glad to read everyone's full life!
I am a cellist who has had an international if not checkered carreer playing everything everywhere and usually financially challenged...at age 53 I married my first husband and have found a life of the fullest with my new partner. Doug is a retired aerospace scientist and 23 years my senior. Since our courtship we have given monthly dinner parties ( I had to introduce him to all my friends) and after the wedding ( where most of our wedding presents were concerning dinner party supplies) we have continued growing our entertaining vocabulary - to birthday parties, "Mid-summer Night Dream " party , holiday
(Christmas) Party and Valentine's Day Party. It's a labor of love for me as the house has been redone largely due to my insistence that it's more liveable and fun for parties. BUt I still play cello and my husband built me a wonderful 2nd floor abover our garage that serves as a guest bedroom, office, teaching and rehearsing music studio.
We have a spiritual life that has been expanding with new groups and people dedicated to peace, inner and outer which feels fulfulling to me for our life together.
WE have managed to travel as budget allows - many times to Puerto Vallarta ( for cheaper dental work - for me) and a western mediterranean cruise that I surprised my husband with during the ending tedious stages under construction of the new garage.

Doug enjoys the Blues and I like it ok. Mostly I read chamber music and love learning new literature. Doug is an excellent cook and is learning Paul Bocuse recipes. Last night we ate veal kidneys in a cognac sauce - very tastey!
These may well be the best years of my life. I cannot speak exactly for Doug but he tells me he is happy to have me around!

No, I'm not living the fullest life. However, I am living a fuller life thanks to Eons. I've made many friends on here, joined a few groups, learned a lot, and helped some others learn some new things. Is it the fullest life? No, not what I would have dreamed for myself at this age. My disabilities and resulting lack of funds keep me from living the full life I would desire. To be honest, if I had that full life, I wouldn't have time for Eons, and I would miss so much, and not meet the lovely people I have met on here. What would that full life be? Travel, and lots of it, enjoying the beauty of the world with my own eyes. Meeting new people, learning new things. Since I can't travel, I'm still able to meet new people and learn new things thanks to Eons, so Eons is giving my half of what I desire, that's more than anyone or anything else is. Thanks, Eons.

Living my life to the fullest is transformational is many areas. Everyone knows the old adage “if you don’t use it you will lose it”. I have watched my mother lose so much by not using it, it made me decide that I will not follow in those steps. I am caretaker for my mother who is only 83 and has dementia. What that means to me is to transform myself into someone who embraces health. I am exercising everyday and my new mantra is “exercise is now a happy part of my life”
Eons has given me the opportunity to join many groups that continue to enhance my life by transforming my attitudes. So much growth to experience with new friends and bright outlooks. Almost all of my groups have people that remind me every day of what is important, all those motivating and supportive posts. My “Secret” group is helping me manifest a magnificent life with an attitude of gratitude. Being grateful for my many blessings keeps me grounded in a positive atmosphere. The fun groups like “Unclebuncle and GOIM" keep me laughing every day, where else can you get benefits like that?
The political groups have shown me that the divided country is not because we are so different, it is because the perceptions held by people are skewed. When people post, it shows how they perceive the other side. This gives me hope that we can educate each other and lose those erroneous ideas and come together again to accomplish great things. I am so grateful for the caring I see everyday. I have retired from a satisfying but stressful life to this new and improved life of accomplishing much and learning new things everyday.
At home we have started a new company to upgrade the structures here on the ranch and where I can use my creative skills in design and use my brain in the bookwork. My life is full and happily transformed.

The Fullest Life. That's an interesting premise. Right at this moment I'm living in Bradenton, Fl. My children and I were separated for 27 years and in 2000 they found me. They have always been my joy and having an opportunity to know them in the last years of my life gives me great peace and contentment. I'm spending the winter with my daughter Deb and her hubby Andrew. Two of my grandchildren and one greatgrand live here. Life is full for the people I love the most are in it.

I find this to be one of the most interesting groups yet on Eons. I am in "awe" of these responses and I will do my best to describe to each of you how I feel my life has come full circle. Yes, I am now finally living my fullest life !

In my fifty plus years of age, I have been given a tremendous education, I was born and raised in a fabulous family, suffered some painful losses in my family, having lost my wonderful Mother, 39 year old sister and brother, all to cancer. I have been a professional cook for over 30 years and on my 40th Birthday, my only child was born. I have been given an opportunity to take care of my aging Dad and the rewards of having my Dad around is much more than I could have ever anticipated.

On December 29, 2007 I wrote a blog here on Eons titled "My New Year has begun". I hope you will have an opportunity to read it. In it, I explain how my son Ronald came to me back in November regarding a friend of his. She had made a poor decision and became pregnant at the age of 15. Her mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and the State of Florida was going to remove the two children from the home and place them in Foster Care. In my blog I go on to explain the chain of events and how I came to rescue these girls and provide them with a home with love and laughter,this is when I realized that I was now living not only my fullest life, but my best life!

I was able to provide these girls with love, love that they desperately needed. How did I come to that decision ? I am unsure. I sincerely believe it came from the tremendous love I have for my son and through this love I was able to set an example for Ronald as I was offering a new life to a teenager and her toddler daughter.

As difficult as life is right now, I have seen over and over again the absence of compassion within our children in America. Our children are products of their environments. They learn through example. Ronald will grow up to be a kind and compassionate man. If we set the bars high enough, our children will move forward in a positive , successful direction.

I am very happy with where my life is at and as long as I am surrounded by my children, I have nothing to yearn for. Without my children, I am nothing.

My husband and I have always dreamed of selling the house and buying a boat big enough to live aboard while we sailed the world. Kids and parents and life have kept us ashore. Now we are in a stage of our life that such a footloose lifestyle is possible.

Norman is a writer, editor and former management consultant. I'm a writer and editor. So what we are doing is developing a freelance writing and editing business. Given today's technology, we will be able to be out to sea anywhere in the world, and still maintain our livelihood.

Can't wait to buy the cats their kitty life jackets!