Welcome to retirement (I retired in 2007). Find 2 - 4 events that you'd like to do in 2012 and "train" for them. Could be anything from a century to an organized "tour" (RAGBRAI, BRAG, BIKE FLORIDA, etc.) or a weekend/holiday event (here in Florida we have The Tour Of Sebring and Mt. Dora weekends) where you stay in one town and do day rides. If you haven't already, hook up with a local club - they usually have the inside info on events and riding with others is more fun than riding solo.