October 19, 2007 2:46 PM

Second acts
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 2:46 PM

Al Gore's naming as co-recipient of this year's Nobel Peace Prize has prompted Globe columnist Ellen Goodman to consider later-in-life career paths for the boomer generation:

. . .Gore is its poster child, the model for what Marc Freedman calls the "encore career." The head of Civic Ventures, a think tank promoting civic engagement as the second act for boomers, Freedman says, "Gore found himself by losing himself - literally losing - and being liberated from ambition, the idea that there's a particular ladder you have to scurry up and if you don't make it to the top it's all over. Essentially he found a different ladder."
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As a country, we are at the beginning of an enormous transition. Under the old compact, sixtysomethings were supposed to get out of the way and out of work. They were encouraged by financial incentives and prodded by discrimination. Now we are drawing blueprints for people who see themselves more as citizens than seniors.

As a boomer approaching the big 6-0 (well, I've got a couple of years) and as author of the Globe's Transitions column, I am pretty highly attuned to these issues. But it is certainly true that lengthening lifespans occasion some real soul-searching about "What the heck do I do with the rest of my life?", regardless of one's income needs: if you need money, you gotta work; if you don't, you still have to do something with all those years and all that energy and experience.

More anon - this is a big topic and an ongoing discussion. For now, you can start by reading (Pulitzer) prize-winning columnist Goodman's piece.