When I started writing "RIPE," everywhere I looked, there were high-profile examples of people who had reinvented their careers in midlife. One day, though, I spotted something different.

Reinvention holds enormous appeal for Baby Boomers like us. Who isn't eager to try something new? Who doesn't have a dream they'd love to bring to life? Who doesn't want to be part of a world-changing venture?

To some, working beyond 65 may seem unnatural and carrying on into our 70s positively outré. But soon, according to the World Health Organization, holding a job on our 100th birthday won't be unusual.

A gap year is a tradition for students -- time between school and university spent traveling, working, "chilling." Why not introduce a similar break, a time to completely step away from our usual routines, for everyone who turns 50?