Roseanne Salvo knew she would never retire in the traditional sense of the word. Always active and involved, Roseanne decided to combine her love of books, art and people to establish discussion groups around eastern Ventura County. Every week Roseanne facilitates groups at Barnes and Noble in Westlake Village, Borders in Thousand Oaks and the Simi Valley Cultural Center.

While the new crop of new retirees reports a desire to engage in meaningful activities, not everyone wants to make the time commitment Roseanne has chosen. The good news is there are an abundance of volunteer activities and paid jobs where retirees can make a contribution.

According to a recent survey of adults conducted by Civic Ventures, 78 percent of respondents were interested in helping others in need, 55 percent wanted to teach or support education and 45 percent were interested in working with youth.

With almost 2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, as well as public and educational institutions, there are plenty of opportunities to find the best place for your needs and desires. The key to finding the right fit is to think about what you want and do your homework.

Start with a self-assessment about your interests and skills. What kind of work do you want to do? Think about what topics you're passionate about? What do you rant and rave about? What would you like to change about the world? Now is the time to go out there and make a difference. As baby boomers reach retirement, they are more likely to seek out situations where they can have a direct impact. Today's volunteers are less willing to just stuff envelops and answer phones.

Once you've identified the type of things you'd like to do, think about what kind of time commitment you want to make. Are you looking for a few hours a week on an ongoing basis? Are you more interested in projects that require a commitment for specific duration of time?

Finally, take the time to research organizations of interest. Many organizations have a volunteer coordinator who will give you brochures, take you on a tour and answer questions. Find out what about their training programs. Spend time observing other volunteers in action to see if this is what you want to do.

Be willing to be flexible, but don't allow yourself to be taken advantage. Don't be afraid to get outside your comfort zone and try new things. See if you can start off on a trial basis, but be assertive enough to say "no" if it's not a good fit for you.

Finally, and most important, don't give up. If the first activity isn't a good match, keep trying others until you find the right place for you. People who feel like their life matters and are making a contribution are healthy, happy and live longer.

Cathy Severson, MS is a career counselor in Thousand Oaks. She is speaking at Camarillo Health Care District on Tues. December 4, from 6:30 8:00 on Creating a Meaningful Retirement. The cost is $10.00. Call 805-388-1952 to register