The recent sign off of Regis Philbin, 80, from an extraordinary reign in television that earned him a Guiness World Record for more hours on the air (17,600 and counting) than anyone else in history, has many people curious about what he’ll do next – which ultimately indicates the idea of retirement, as we know, it is definitely outdated, and frankly, has been for some time.

It’s been fascinating to watch this transition take place – not only how Regis viewed it, but the public and the industry too. Regis has been adamant in every interview that he is “not retiring – but rather moving on to something new.” And while no one, including Regis, is exactly sure what that “something new” will be, it’s interesting to see how we now seem to be viewing the concept of retirement -- as well as what an 80-year old who has worked 55 years, should do, or be expected to do … next!

As a gerontologist and longevity expert with a specialty in retirement planning, I can assure you that what we’re watching and experiencing with Regis’ transition to this new chapter in his life, is indeed what this new retirement actually looks like today. The challenge for most people however, including Regis, is we really don’t have a new word or term that truly describes what this new phase of life entails – nor do we have a specific set of guidelines to follow to ensure success and/or happiness in it.

While the concept of retirement is certainly different for everybody, the mere fact that we are living longer, healthier lives has created an entirely new perspective of this life phase. Additionally, this new longevity has opened up a plethora of opportunities and discussions about what we are actually suppose to do when we reach the “accepted” retirement age of 65 – let alone even older, and what does this new retirement really look like.

Perhaps the best news of all is there is no right answer anymore. In many ways, it has become a personal choice. And while a variety of issues come into play -- certainly health and wealth being major factors in the decision, it’s seemingly beyond just that because clearly, many people may not have the option of deciding when they will retire, and/or the health-wealth foundation they would like, yet they all still have the option to enjoy their retirement and make the best of these years.

So what’s the secret? It’s all about retiring TO something not just FROM something. And while not everyone may be prepared for it, when it’s going to come or what they’re going to do in it, the most important thing is to embrace this phase of life and all it has to offer -- make the best of every day and always live life to the fullest. Look forward to tomorrow and what you can do with it now that it’s completely your choice in how your days will be.

Additionally, it doesn’t matter what age you are when you experience this transition. While the traditional “retirement” age may be 65, many people are retiring considerably later – like Regis at 80, and still planning new adventures and looking forward to what’s next.

So as we watch Regis’ current reign come to an end, perhaps a pause is a better way to describe it as he transitions into a new role in his life – and hopefully in ours too, as we all look forward to what’s next. In fact, what lies ahead may ultimately be the best view of retirement today.

Kelly Ferrin, gerontologist, longevity expert and author of “What’s Age Got To Do With It? Secrets to Aging in Extraordinary Ways” has been studying aging and retirement issues for over 25 years. She was one of the first to ever receive a degree in this field from the prestigious Andrus School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, the top school in the nation for the study of age-related issues.

website: kellyferrin.com ••• email: ageangel@earthlink.net