Why on earth would you be career planning after retirement? Many reasons. You might need extra income. You might miss the social side of the office environment. You might be bored out of your mind. A routine of golf and gardening, gardening and golf, even if they're pastimes you enjoy, can pall after a while. Or maybe your other half is threatening to do you in if you don't remove yourself from underfoot, forthwith.

Whatever the reason, more and more people are resuming some form of employment after official retirement.

Career planning after retirement represents a chance to do work in which you are genuinely interested. Okay, so a career as a rock star may be out. But accountants can become party planners. And party planners can become entrepreneurs.

First work out the basics of what you want.

Do you want a full time career, or something you can work at part time? Do you want to work for yourself and by yourself or for someone else?

If your own business has been your goal for a while, you may already have come up with great self employment ideas. Do some indepth research. Go to your local library and look for books on entrepreneurship and setting up your own small business. Your local chamber of commerce should also have useful information. Do some brainstorming online and investigate the websites of people who are engaged in businesses that interest you.

If you're still struggling for ideas (or have just started thinking about self employment ideas), again, check out your local library. Roam the stacks with a pen and paper and write down the subjects of books that interest you. Pay particular attention when reading papers or magazines, and while watching TV. You can get ideas anywhere.

Does your ideal job seem too big? Maybe it would involve too much time, energy and money. After all, the whole idea of making money after retirement is to have more freedom, not less.

In that case, why not take it virtual? There are legitimate home based businesses to be found amongst the get-rich-quick online hype. If running a real riding school would be too much, why not set up a website about riding schools and stables in your area? If fly fishing is your thing, but the idea of a tackle shop or guiding operation seems like too much work, why not have a website that sells fishing equipment or promotes other people's guided fishing tours?

Try doing a search online for your dream job. Odds are you'll find an online version, with people making money writing about something they love to do.

Whatever you decide, do your homework, believe that you can do it, find something you love and you'll find career planning after retirement becomes a breeze.