Advice after a couple of years:

1. Turn your hands to something that you want to do, as Al Grierson said, but realize that outside of the group expectations of office life, you have to be your own taskmaster and starter.

2. If there are projects you feel are important to you, be alert to guarding the time needed for them, or it will be sucked away by others' needs and niceties.

3. In the US a spouse can qualify for 50% of their mate's Social Security payment without activating their own SS plan. Do not overlook this possible supplement.

4. If you need a reason to get out of bed in the morning, get a dog. They never fail to tell you when it's time! :D