For those of us who want to grow old happily, the key is trying something new. Or so say the experts – folks happily retired and facing new challenges daily.
Whether you call it Lifelong Learning or Creative Retirement, the message is the same – folks approaching or into their retirement years want to focus the second half of their lives on things cerebral and things new.
As well they should, according to Dr. Reid Johnson, former Winthrop College psychology professor. Johnson came out of retirement to become Director of Coastal Carolina University’s Center for the Study of Aging & Active Retirement. “The best way to stay sharp,” he insists, “is education and life-enhancing activities. Change is good,” he says. “New activities, association with folks who have different interests, learning a new language, honing computer skills.”
The Center’s 73-years-young Assistant Director, Rocco (Rocky) Cartisano, exemplifies the success of Johnson’s theory. A retired manufacturing executive, Cartisano also sits on the board of CCU’s Center for Lifelong Learning Studies. How does he maintain this energetic pace at his ripe old age? “I stay challenged,” says Cartisano. 
While UNC Asheville’s award-winning Center for Creative Retirement, with its brand new $4 million state-of-the-art Reuter Center, is the model for active retirement facilities, several other Carolina colleges and locales offer challenging, informative, entertaining and creative elder-folk activities.
Duke University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement boasts 1200 members. Born in 1977, the Durham ILR offers 60 different courses in 700 classes each year. They teach, for instance, about Passion and Prejudice in the Novels of Thomas Hardy, Belly Dance Fitness, History of the U.S. Movie Industry, and Photo Editing. “More and more people think of learning as part of their retirement, “explains Sara Craven, Director. “It’s also a very good place for people who have moved to town. They meet friends. Otherwise it’s not easy. Friends are typically made through jobs and kids.” Craven is excited about the growth and change prospects of the aging of baby boomers. “We expect incredible increase. Baby boomers are going to want all kinds of things. They might be working or intending to have new careers.”
In a city noted for its equestrian and senior focus, USC Aiken has developed its Academy of Lifelong Learning as a retiree resource not only for education but also for fellowship and entertainment that includes brown bag lunches and day trips. Rossie Corwon, Director of Continuing Education, says there has been a significant jump in Academy membership in the last 3 years, and, like Duke, they anticipate the climb will continue. “Baby boomers will be more literate,” says Corwon. “Computer classes, for instance, will have to be more advanced. Right now we actually offer classes that teach you how to turn on a computer. We will need to expand on that.”
76-year-old Bill Scott, in his 9th year as editor and publisher of the Academy’s Spiral newsletter, is a vibrant multi-faceted former design engineer. Along with his responsibilities to the Spiral, Scott, a Virginia native, serves as Treasurer of the local chapter of Retired Federal Employees. He’s also a gourmet cook. “ I cook all the time, “ he enthuses. “I sure do enjoy retirement. I often wonder how I had the time to go to work.”
USC is also the host for ‘things senior’ at its Beaufort campus. 680 members strong, the Beaufort Lifelong Learning Program’s executive director Pete Palmer says, “It’s not just about classes – it’s about fun and relationships, too.” Their courses, held in Beaufort, Hilton Head and Sun City, are - like those in Asheville and Aiken - taught primarily by volunteer members. The Program’s Learning Exchange is sponsor to several public presentations. “Setting America’s Course in the World – defining U.S. Policy in the 21st Century,” is an up-coming 6-week lecture series with such noteworthy presenters as Retired Brigadier General David Armstrong, and USC Beaufort faculty member Kent Harrington, a former CIA East Asia National Intelligence Officer.
69-year-old Pete Palmer brings varied skills to his directorship. CIA employee turned private investigator, Palmer says he’s “going back to work.” (Though it doesn’t seem like he’s left.) He and wife Susan, dubbed the Bead Lady for her creation of a necklace design business in Lima Peru, lived in Mexico City for fourteen years before retiring to Beaufort.
 Palmer loves Beaufort. “It’s just so attractive – one of very few places in the South where a non-Southerner can get involved.” In his spare time, between running the Lifelong Learning Program, starting his new international business intelligence firm and enjoying “retirement” Palmer is writing a novel –about hostage recovery and kidnapping in Mexico. “It’s a real story I fictionalized the heck out of, “ he says.
Not all Carolina retirees are flocking to campus to stay fit and have fun, however. Residents of Camden, the 7000 population Kershaw County seat, have more to occupy their recreation hours than many major metropolitan residents. South Carolina’s oldest inland city, Camden displays more than 60 historic pre-1865 sites. The 33-park county recreation department offers a vast array of creative and athletic activities for its 50+ folks. Program Director Deneese Davis enthuses about their senior programs: “We have good turnouts for line and square dancing, social activities and exercise classes – about 50-60 each class,” she says. “For senior golf we have about 80 competitors.” 
Kershaw County Medical Center, with its brand new 71,000 square foot, $14 million addition, partners with the recreation department on several events.  Its new Health Resource Center houses the 1000 member 14 Karat Club, for residents 55 or older. The club offers exercise classes, ice cream socials, holiday parties, ballroom and line dancing and other fun ventures. The 14 Karat Armchair Travel program provides video visits to exotic countries, followed by a sumptuous feast of native foods. KCMC’s Lunch ‘n’ Learn program serves up a sumptuous four course repast while doctors and others dish out expertise on topics as diverse as facial plastic surgery and public transportation. The 14 Karat Club just celebrated its eighth anniversary.
Many Carolina retirees stay active by sharing their management expertise. For the past five years Camden native Connie Lowery, 74, has spent each Thursday at Columbia’s Stevenson Correctional Institution - a teacher in the facility’s Shock Incarceration Program. Preparing inmates for a successful return to society, Lowery addresses issues such as interpersonal effectiveness, job hunt preparation, financial planning, and teamwork.
An MBA graduate of Winston-Salem’s Wake Forest University, Lowery began her executive career as a 1960’s manager of a Camden metalwork and machinist firm. “I knew more about welders than I did about lipstick,” Lowery asserts. “I was successful because I was willing to take chances.” Lowery sold the company and entered college for fashion design, only to discover, “I wasn’t really interested in fashion, but in constructing clothes.” She created her own computer software program for the garment industry, traveling to trade shows in Mexico, Bolivia, Egypt, India and Malaysia. Lowery now lives in Columbia near her daughter and son-in-law.
Grand Strand seniors Nancy Reynolds and Bob Goroski spend many hours each month as SCORE volunteers, helping aspiring entrepreneurs or small business owners create or expand their businesses.
A 67-year-old Maryland native, Reynolds relocated to coastal Little River, South Carolina after retirement from medical administration. She and husband John founded and expanded a baby furniture delivery franchise. Reynolds loves her life in Little River. “It’s perfect,” she says. “The area has everything I want – tennis, bridge, senior centers. I don’t know any of my retired friends that are not busy all the time.”
Goroski, 63-year-old Grand Strand SCORE director, former owner of an electronic manufacturing firm, says that ten to fifteen percent of their local clients are seniors not quite making it on savings and social security. “They start mom and pop things,” he explains. “Home repair, decorating, etc.”
Goroski tried several different ventures before he found just the right activity package for his senior years. He drove an EMS ambulance for a while but “didn’t like seeing all that trauma.” Now Goroski rides his bike from his Myrtle Beach home to the SCORE office, helping hundreds of local entrepreneurs. He also participates in tennis, golf, woodworking and water sports. His tips for successful retirement? Goroski put it simply, “To enjoy retirement, you’ve got to plan your life. You can’t just do nothing.”