need to be able to choose not have "employment" at the center of their lives. Other dimensions of life are important and relevant for elders. In other words, there is the danger that people are no longer allowed to be simply old or retired. RD: Debates about the abilities and rights of aging workers are on the rise today. Looking ahead, how do you see encore careers? MS: Encore careers have the potential to both enhance and diminish the contribution of elders in paid and unpaid roles. So, if encore careers are seen as a "luxury" or at the other extreme a "must" for older adults, then elders are at risk on not being seen as valued contributors to society. If, on the other hand, encore careers are positioned as an opportunity for the utilization of valued experience and for personal growth, then they have the potential to enhance the contribution of elders within the broader community.