Meet Dennis and Linda Whittle.

He's a full-time professor at North Georgia College and State University, teaching future teachers. She's an adjunct professor there.

Bob Andres / AJC (ENLARGE)

Retirees Dennis Whittle, and his wife, Linda, manage 10 acres in Forsyth County — in addition to teaching classes and more.

Bob Andres / AJC (ENLARGE)

Whittle, a master gardener, prunes one of his apple trees on the property.

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"We team teach some classes, which is a hoot," says Linda Whittle, 59. "I'm glad these students are too young to know about George Burns and Gracie Allen."

Her 60-year-old husband takes the lead on working their 10 rolling acres in Forsyth County, which will be a featured stop on the Forsyth Master Gardener Tour on June 21. She volunteers with a number of organizations, including a women's shelter and Civitan.

One more thing about the Whittles: they're retired.

He's from the Bronx, she grew up on a farm in upstate New York, and they came south about three decades ago. They met in 1970 when both were in Atlanta doing volunteer work with an agency called VISTA (now AmeriCorps). Both are former Forsyth County public school educators who have gone on to second careers.

"We're just glad that now our duties do not include bus duties," says Linda Whittle. She retired three years ago, her husband, four years ago.

A 2005 survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Merrill Lynch discovered "the majority of boomers relate they plan to keep working and earning in retirement," but suggests they intend to have fun, too. Most said they'd plan to "cycle" from periods of work and leisure. Just 17 percent said they never wanted to work for pay again, the study found.

For many boomers, a second career is an opportunity to explore a passion or hobby — whether for profit, fun or both.

Lorraine Schmidt, a Cobb County school teacher who is retiring this year after more than 30 years, and her friend Patricia Bigazzi, a retired theater producer, have launched The Soap Cellar. The ladies, who have been friends for almost 40 years and have four grandchildren between them, make all-natural soaps, lotions, lip balm, body scrubs, and products for babies.

Ida Crook, 66, who worked for Delta Air Lines in the department of finance for more than 26 years, founded Christian Rites of Passage, a program that provides leadership and spiritual guidance to Atlanta youth. The grandmother of three is a community volunteer extraordinaire, having donated her time to a slew of organizations including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Kidney Foundation of Atlanta, Jomandi Performance Theatre, Women With a Mission, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. She is active at Cascade United Methodist Church, and is a member of United Methodist Women.

Alex Branch, the chairman of Branch Properties, launched a second career in Buckhead as the owner of Grey Parrot Gallery (www.greyparrotgalleries.com), which features rare maps, atlases and antique prints from the masters of the 16th to 19th centuries, Biedermeier furniture and Audubon prints. A collector himself, Branch he turned his hobby into a business; his inventory includes a 1936 signed copy of 'Gone With the Wind," a Truman Capote-signed copy of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," a James Lee Burke-signed copy of "Black Cherry Blues," and a 1748 map of Georgia with part of Carolina, Florida and Louisiana.

The Harris Interactive survey found that while 37 percent of boomers stayed in the game chiefly to make money, 67 percent cited mental stimulation and challenge as reasons to keep at it.

Linda Whittle, the Forsyth County educator turned adjunct prof and versatile volunteer, says she and her husband have taken skills gleaned from the corporate world the first time and put them to use this go-round.

"Flexibilty is the key," she said. "We just kind of go with the flow."

By the way both she and husband Dennis point to the other as leading the more demanding schedule.

"She leads a more interesting life," he says, as he rattles off his wife's long list of volunteer posts.

Says Linda: "Hyperactivity is only undesirable in school age children. In middle-age men, it's quite desirable."