When I retire June 1, I will be 74 years old, and  when I was younger that seemed to be like the end of a lifetime.

But now that I am here, it occurs to me that many people in my age bracket who have gone on after employment may not realize they still have value.

In a world where older ages represent a larger portion of society, we need to take stock of just what role the old timers like me may play. Sure, I have all kinds of retirement plans, but looking at my age in the social scene, how are we viewed as valuable citizens?

A large segment of volunteer work in this nation is performed by those who suddenly have time to be a greater part of good causes, and the seniors are fundamental to helping good organizations succeed. There is also a major role for retirees to teach youngsters about the crafts we worked within, to mentor and to lead, and to see that the example we set as professionals is reinforced.

Young society in large views retirees as those who have spent their worth and are now simply gathering Social Security checks and sitting in recliners watching TV, reading the obits, and going to bed early. I believe that perspective is changing now as we live longer and as seniors become a bigger part of population demographics. We have more "power" than the previous generation of old people, to be sure.

Senior voters, for example, are a major political concern.

But that doesn't guarantee us a respect among our youngsters, who are too quick to dismiss the slower generation as too far gone to learn to Google,  Skype or tweet.   It is the responsibility of the retired generation to establish its own beachhead on social value. Too many of us may give the now-in-control age the idea that we'd rather be left alone to grumble and shuffle without their help.

Our generation can play an important role in constructive social change. To do so we need to fight off the opinion that we are all a bunch of arthritic Alzheimer-stricken good-for-nothings aptly sent to the human discard pile.

Even as we did not earn the respect of others when we were young without good deeds and hard work, we elder cannot expect to be treated right without showing we're worthwhile. I think too many people get to the other side of 65 and accept the label of uselessness as the way things ought to be.

For me, I am not one to dwell on age, nor to hide behind the fact I have slowed down and can no longer shovel garden soil as fast as I did once. Certainly, things change physically when age accrues, but new challenges of the mind can renew our determination to make a difference.

The days of youth are but a faint memory of an old song tune I can't quite get right any longer, yet I'm learning new lyrics, counting my many blessings, and vowing to head straight into retirement with all guns blazing.

Dancing in the rain with my gal Sal.