I've hit the 50 totem limit, but I keep my islanders working on mastering at least 3 skills. once they've reached that, I dress them in white like my titled "Esteemed Elders," set their skill preference to Healing, and just let them do whatever they want, so to my mind's eye the ranks of Elders are still growing, even if they are no longer receiving the totem and the actual title.