DEAR ABBY: "Searching for 'Me' in Texas" (March 4) is not alone! A wave of 78 million baby boomers will soon leave 30-plus-year careers and are looking forward to an estimated 20 more years of life.

A vast majority of them are looking for meaningful opportunities for the second half of their lives. "Searching" should seek out a non-profit organization for a cause she's passionate about and offer her skilled services. If "Searching" doesn't need an income, she can volunteer.

Finally, instead of seeking a graduate degree, she could look at her local community college and find non-credit classes that interest her and participate without the pressure of credited course work. -- STEPHANIE IN PHOENIX

DEAR STEPHANIE: Your suggestions are all good ones. Second careers are becoming more common, and there are many opportunities for seniors to enjoy their "encore careers." Read on for more options:

DEAR ABBY: Your advice to "Searching" was dead-on. After a 30-year career in the insurance industry, I was forced into early retirement by a corporate buyout. At 59, I was stunned and unprepared. After some soul searching, I decided I wasn't done with life. I started reading, talking to friends and praying.

There were some false starts. I tried out for the Peace Corps but backed out. I got into an income tax class that was over my head. Then I got another insurance job and found myself back in the rat race.

I made ends meet by substitute teaching and began to realize that, eons ago, I had wanted to be a teacher. (I had been talked out of it.) So I started back to college for my master's degree in teaching.

Talk about scared! It had been 33 years since I had seen the inside of a classroom. But my experience was one of the most challenging, positive and enriching I have ever known. I met wonderful people along the way and was admired for my life experience, insight and work ethic. It wasn't all sweetness and light, but if I had to do it over again I'd do it in a minute. -- CATHERINE IN ILLINOIS

DEAR ABBY: "Searching" might consider volunteering with SCORE -- Service Corps of Retired Executives. Her skills are needed and would be appreciated. That way she can dabble in her old work and have a sense of accomplishment. -- CHARLES IN MARYLAND

DEAR ABBY: As a volunteer coordinator at a large non-profit, I have many volunteers who discovered us as a result of a retirement search. The AARP's volunteer engagement site is www.createthegood.org, and www.volunteermatch.org is a nationwide site for searching volunteer opportunities.

"Searching" needs to think about things she would like to do but couldn't while working, and dip her toe in the water. If she tries something and it isn't a fit, she has no obligation and can try another. It may lead to a paid "encore" career or fulfill her through volunteerism. -- JAN IN YARDLEY, PA.

DEAR ABBY: When I retired at 62, I decided to return to school for a graduate philosophy degree. My body may be weaker, but I like to think most of my mental faculties are intact. My first resume may generate humor, but I'll bring something to the classroom that may prove invaluable. That's 40 years of experience and 63 years of 20-20 hindsight.

I will call it a good day if I can communicate to any student that learning is fun and education has intrinsic value. -- CALVERT IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR ABBY: Between juggling the joys and challenges of home life and staying productive at work, it's easy for women to make quick decisions now that could affect their health later on, or to miss early signs of medical problems altogether.

To help women take control of their health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Women's Health and the General Services Administration's Federal Citizen Information Center have created the free Healthy Women's Action Kit. It contains tips that can help women of every age. The topics include: buying contact lenses online, mammograms, hypertension, cholesterol, Pap tests, menopause and hormones, and more.

Abby, thank you for sharing this information kit with your readers, and for faithfully introducing all of us to ideas and information to help make our lives better. -- MARSHA HENDERSON, FDA ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH

DEAR MARSHA: I'm glad to help get the word out to my readers during National Women's Health Week that the information is available for them at no cost.

Readers, among the topics Marsha didn't mention that are also included are a guide to help you quit smoking and facts about tattoos, osteoporosis, diabetes and health scams. The more we know, the better we can protect ourselves and the people we love.

The Healthy Women's Action Kits are easy to order. All you have to do is send your name and address to Healthy Women's Action Kit, Pueblo, CO 81009; go online to www.promotions.usa.gov/dearabby.html; or call (888)8-PUEBLO (that's (888) 878-3256) weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. You can also read the publications online in PDF format, download them to your computer and print them. Don't wait, because supplies are limited.

DEAR ABBY: The man I'm in love with, "Butch," is an alcoholic. He refuses to get help and has become verbally abusive. He got a DUI and there's a warrant out for him because he didn't follow through on his court orders. I threw him out after he lost his job.

Butch is homeless now and has taken up with a homeless woman. When he's sober he's a totally different person, and that's the man I'm in love with. I'm devastated by his actions and I want him back.

I am so co-dependent I cry daily about this. I do go to meetings and I'm trying to move on, but I have no friends and don't know where to start to get a life. Butch's behavior is out of control, and it's only a matter of time before he winds up in jail. Could you please tell me what to do? -- LOST IN LOVE IN MONTANA

DEAR LOST IN LOVE: I'm sorry you're hurting, but pleased to know you are going to meetings. At some point they will help you accept that as much as you love the person Butch was, for the sake of your health and sanity you must "let go and let God." Your next step should be to give yourself less time to brood. Fill your non-working hours by volunteering -- at a hospital, a library, a senior citizen's center. That's where you'll meet worthwhile, involved people and start building friendships with mentally healthy people. I promise you the more you put into it, the more you'll receive.

DEAR ABBY: Is there any medical reason why a man or woman needs to wear underwear? -- MICHAEL IN LADSON, S.C.

DEAR MICHAEL: There is no "medical" reason, but there is a sanitary reason, unless you are prepared to launder your trousers every time you wear them to prevent the accumulation of bodily secretions such as perspiration.

DEAR ABBY: One of my friends, "Max," cheats at golf. Otherwise he's witty, interesting and fun to be around. He moves his ball closer to the hole on the green and "improves" his lie when he thinks no one is looking. I have tried to overlook Max's transgressions, but others in our golf group talk and joke behind his back. How should I go about stopping the problem without stressing our friendship? -- FLORIDA GOLFER

DEAR GOLFER: What you have described is considered a terrible breach of golf etiquette. What it shows about Max is a serious lack of ethics. Because you feel close to him, take him aside and tell him privately as a friend that it's time to knock off the cheating because the others are onto him, and he's making himself a laughingstock.

DEAR ABBY: I have been part of a book club for almost 20 years. We began as a group of six teachers who wanted to share our friendship and love of reading. Over the years, members have come and gone, but five of the original group remains. We're now a group of nine.

Our dilemma is that many of the women don't bother to read the monthly selection but still attend the meetings. Granted, the meetings are very social. Everyone brings food to enjoy while we discuss books and anything else going on in our lives. However, the core group finds it annoying when some members don't even attempt to read. It happens month after month.

We have said on many occasions we expect everyone to read. Our discussions are livelier and more interesting when everyone shares her thoughts, but some don't make the effort or threaten to drop out of the book club.

We don't want anyone to drop out. We are all friends. Are we expecting too much because as teachers we regard it as a "homework assignment" not being completed? What can we do? I'd like your opinion so I can share it at the book club. -- PENNSVILLE, N.J., READER

DEAR READER: If certain members of your book club are no longer doing the required reading and regard the gatherings as social affairs, why not make some of the meetings -- say, every other month -- devoted solely to discussing the book you are reading, while the rest will be strictly social? There will be less disappointment for the readers, and you can still meet as friends without anyone being inconvenienced.

DEAR ABBY: I have a good friend, "Renee," who is Canadian and a permanent resident of the United States. We don't always agree on things, but one thing really bugs me about her. She's always saying how "nice" Canadians are and how rude Americans are.

On a recent trip we took to Canada, she commented about a cashier who was nice to us by saying, "That cashier wouldn't have been so nice if we were in America." When I try to point out evidence to the contrary, Renee shrugs it off and calls it an exception to the rule.

How should I politely ask her to knock off bashing Americans? -- LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

DEAR LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT: Do it by "politely" pointing out to Renee that it is rude to make comments that make others uncomfortable, and if Canadians are as "nice" as she says they are -- and that includes her -- she'll quit putting down Americans because you find it offensive.