One of the biggest keys to having a happy retirement is creating a plan to do what you really want to do. After all, you’ve worked a long time to get to the point where you get to choose your activities. If your ultimate retirement involves a lot of R&R, and you’ve got the resources to do it, then by all means go for it. On the other hand, you may be one of the growing number of people who find that they still want to engage in some gainful and rewarding work during their advanced years. If you fall into that category, there are any number of positions that can be fun and challenging while putting some added dough in your accounts.

Start your own business
If you’ve had that entrepreneurial idea knocking around in your head for a while, now could be the time to best time to explore it. Make sure to research the industry and investigate the feasibility before you throw too much of your nest egg into it, though.

Consult or freelance
Freedom is one of the sweetest rewards of retirement (or semi-retirement). You get to decide how you want to spend your time, and that is a very wonderful thing. Maybe you enjoyed the work you did but would just prefer to devote less time to it or create your own hours. By doing similar work outside the confines of your previous employment, you can create your ultimate working set-up.

Blogger/writer
No matter whether the subject matter is related to your profession, a life skill or a hobby, there’s at least a few things that you know a lot about. Many, many people make good money creating and marketing blog about specific areas of their knowledge. Get enough visitors coming to your site and advertisers will shell out the money to be a part of it.

Online seller
What do you enjoy bargain hunting for? Clothes? Tools? Thrift store artwork? Websites like eBay and Craigslist give you a powerful tool for selling items you find at garage sales, swap meets and the like. The work isn’t too strenuous and you get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Craftsperson
Do you love the meditative task of carving the intricate pieces of a homemade birdhouse? Do your friends and relatives beg you to make one of your specialty craft items for them? If so, you may be able to turn your passion into profits. Etsy.com is a great place to test the waters to see what kind of market there is for your wares.

Teach/tutor
You’ve made it this far, so you’ve definitely got some wisdom and practical information you can pass along. Whether they are in school settings or one-on-one, explore options for expanding the knowledge base of a younger generation.

Fix-it person
Lots of folks have nagging little jobs around the house that they don’t feel particularly inclined to call in a full-on home repair crew for. By making your services known, you can stay active while picking up some extra moolah.

Guide
If your mental image of the best possible retirement involves meeting new people and talking about subjects you’re passionate about, consider opportunities to lead others. Whether it is on a hunting trip, in a museum, or on a history tour, being a guide can one of the most fun positions you’ll ever hold.

Pet care
There aren’t a whole lot of jobs out there that would cause you to say, “I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this!” But if you love animals, being a pet-sitter or a dog walker could have you singing the praises of your labor.

Coach
Many young people need mentors in their life. Beyond just diagramming plays, being a coach gives you an opportunity to positive influence the lives of kids who could use the benefits of your guidance.

Nonprofit work
Did you ever dream of a job that would allow you to help those in need or benefit your community, but you weren’t able to make the financial sacrifices to do it in your younger years? Well now is your chance!

Create your own job
Many people these days enjoy jobs that didn’t exist five years ago, or didn’t exist until that person invented it! If there’s something you love doing, brainstorm ways to get paid doing it. Think expansively and creatively.