Oh, you're not working, why not

Actually, my brothers who are doctors do not want to retire at all. They thoroughly enjoy their work. That is why they could not understand when I wanted to retire, but then I had to explain it to them, that being an office support worker, at times, was hell on earth with horrid bosses to work for.
Doctors can be at the bad receiving end of patients and families I'm sure. But they may not understand, and I'll speak for myself only here, the working life of the lower people. I consider myself a powerless flunky though my job would be considered important to some.

It can be hard out there.
 
Why work? Quite simply because some people enjoy work, it gives them a sense of purpose, engagement with others and a pleasure in doing what they do.
I am working, not just to make a living now but to have more in my superannuation when I do retire - And I like my job and I am good at it and I would not be easy to replace

But again, just as people don't have to justify why they are retired - neither should people have to justify why they are not retired.
Agree with both of these posts.

DH & I continue to work part time at our small business, pretty much on our own schedule, and from home. We could retire at any time but choose not to. The extra money is nice, but it's not our sole motivation and we could get along nicely without it.

Game changers were shedding the warehouse, employees, retail component, and a couple of wholesale customers who were more trouble than they were worth. We've established a very nice rhythm with two large wholesale customers we've supplied for several decades, and we have no desire to add more business despite being approached.
I feel as if I'm living in life's sweet spot - a good balance of work, play, relaxation, family time and travel/vacations.
 

Actually, my brothers who are doctors do not want to retire at all. They thoroughly enjoy their work.
Meet 91 year old truck driver Brian Wilson. Watch him climb up onto the platform of his truck.
At the grand age of 96, meet Bill Parton, still clocking in five days a week at the sawmill business he founded himself 42 years ago, and he has no plans to quit working.
A man from Leicestershire says it is "a pleasure" to still be working four days a week at the age of 98.
Ivor Ward said his job in the company's production department gave him purpose and helped combat loneliness.

Mr Ward, who lives alone, said his colleagues were "like a family". "It's a pleasure to come, otherwise I'd just be at home sitting on my own doing nothing, ageing fast," he said, adding,"In here, we have a laugh."
 
Meet 91 year old truck driver Brian Wilson. Watch him climb up onto the platform of his truck.
At the grand age of 96, meet Bill Parton, still clocking in five days a week at the sawmill business he founded himself 42 years ago, and he has no plans to quit working.
A man from Leicestershire says it is "a pleasure" to still be working four days a week at the age of 98.
Ivor Ward said his job in the company's production department gave him purpose and helped combat loneliness.

Mr Ward, who lives alone, said his colleagues were "like a family". "It's a pleasure to come, otherwise I'd just be at home sitting on my own doing nothing, ageing fast," he said, adding,"In here, we have a laugh."
People are nuts. This confirms it. :)

But to each his/her own.

I’m looking for work but I certainly don’t want to be working after 65. If I live that long in this economy.

Sheesh.
 
People are nuts. This confirms it. :)

But to each his/her own.

I’m looking for work but I certainly don’t want to be working after 65. If I live that long in this economy.

Sheesh.
You might out of boredom but keep in mind does not mean you have to do what you currently do if tired of it .

I retired from Albany moved to Florida but still do plumbing and this week had 6 jobs but light stuff no heavy lifting or digging .

I still could but do not want to .
 
I was retired at 65. I loved my job and I can say that I excelled at it. When DEI took a hold of HR and recruiting things got dicey. I get an assignment. I deliver. That is it. My personal life is mine. Thank you SO is doing fine. About half of my department at a national bank was cut. Noncompete contracts and severance packages were niche and tight. The first sentence read "contact your attorney". It never hit the news. At that time SO had major spinal surgery.
 
I would get a job if it was something I could do remotely with only email communications. I don't know what kind of work that would be, though. I don't like dealing with people. I hate people. Not all people, but enough to not even consider going back to work. I have plenty of hobbies to keep myself busy, and financially, we're doing okay, so why would I? The only way I would consider it is if was something meaningful, but I don't know what that would be.
 
I know 2 people past 80 who have plenty of money, but still work. They seem to need to stay employed to retain their feeling of value, or as one of them said to me, "to feel like a contributing member of society." I don't share their sentiments.

I worked in accounting with numbers and spreadsheets all day. The work was fine - in fact, I enjoyed it for the most part, but the new department manager made it miserable to show up every day. I wanted out, so I retired, and never looked back. I wasn't influencing lives or bettering the world at large for being there - it was a paycheck; nothing more.
 
I know 2 people past 80 who have plenty of money, but still work. They seem to need to stay employed to retain their feeling of value, or as one of them said to me, "to feel like a contributing member of society." I don't share their sentiments.

I worked in accounting with numbers and spreadsheets all day. The work was fine - in fact, I enjoyed it for the most part, but the new department manager made it miserable to show up every day. I wanted out, so I retired, and never looked back. I wasn't influencing lives or bettering the world at large for being there - it was a paycheck; nothing more.
'' it was a paycheck; nothing more''

PLENTY echo your words but like many who get bored do something different after retiring .

A friend here who was in the pharmaceutical field , he has a Masters wants to do a food truck with me and another guy who is also retired . Buy a used one of course , fix it up . It's like his dream .

I honestly do not see this working out . Food trucks are popular here by the beach but none of us know what we are doing as far as that would go .

He WILL do it soon whether with or without us .

 
People are nuts. This confirms it. :)

But to each his/her own.

I’m looking for work but I certainly don’t want to be working after 65. If I live that long in this economy.

Sheesh.
Are you saying that people are nuts for working in the latter years of life? Fulfilment in retirement can take many routes and one of the most popular is work. So popular is it that many thousands do so for nothing. Charity shops, animal shelters, heritage railways, there's lots of volunteers, hardly surprising given the tedious drivel that is daytime television.
 
Are you saying that people are nuts for working in the latter years of life? Fulfilment in retirement can take many routes and one of the most popular is work. So popular is it that many thousands do so for nothing. Charity shops, animal shelters, heritage railways, there's lots of volunteers, hardly surprising given the tedious drivel that is daytime television.
Agree I still do local light plumbing jobs and subject people to the worse jokes going while laughing at them myself .
 
Are you saying that people are nuts for working in the latter years of life? Fulfilment in retirement can take many routes and one of the most popular is work. So popular is it that many thousands do so for nothing. Charity shops, animal shelters, heritage railways, there's lots of volunteers, hardly surprising given the tedious drivel that is daytime television.
I’m saying that people are nuts for trying to diminish others who don’t want to work in their elder years. If a person chooses to work until they’re dead, that is his or her choice. No one should feel bullied or pressured to work at all. It appears that freedom and value are defined differently for different people. Neither choice is wrong as long as the individual is content with it.
 
I retired for the first time at 50 to take care of a series of elder peeps. Mine and the husbands.
Taking care of them became my full time job. I started a part time cleaning business for the exercise and to get me out of the house.
After they passed away the husband was next. Another full time job. He passed away in 2022.
I only work 1-2 days a month now so I guess Im semi retired now. :D
 
'' it was a paycheck; nothing more''

PLENTY echo your words but like many who get bored do something different after retiring .

A friend here who was in the pharmaceutical field , he has a Masters wants to do a food truck with me and another guy who is also retired . Buy a used one of course , fix it up . It's like his dream .

I honestly do not see this working out . Food trucks are popular here by the beach but none of us know what we are doing as far as that would go .

He WILL do it soon whether with or without us .

I’ve often wondered how they handle water hookup to clean everything properly for health codes. Do they fill the water tank each day off site somewhere? I haven’t ever seen a water hose attached to a food truck.

Sanitation is my only concern with food trucks.
 
I’ve often wondered how they handle water hookup to clean everything properly for health codes. Do they fill the water tank each day off site somewhere? I haven’t ever seen a water hose attached to a food truck.

Sanitation is my only concern with food trucks.
Food trucks have water tanks now the poly types .
 
yE
'' it was a paycheck; nothing more''

PLENTY echo your words but like many who get bored do something different after retiring .

A friend here who was in the pharmaceutical field , he has a Masters wants to do a food truck with me and another guy who is also retired . Buy a used one of course , fix it up . It's like his dream .

I honestly do not see this working out . Food trucks are popular here by the beach but none of us know what we are doing as far as that would go .

He WILL do it soon whether with or without us .

Yes, I understand that, if a retiree gets bored, he may miss the human contact, the getting out each day, and so on. I don't, but we all have different needs and comfort levels with these situations.
 
I’m saying that people are nuts for trying to diminish others who don’t want to work in their elder years. If a person chooses to work until they’re dead, that is his or her choice. No one should feel bullied or pressured to work at all. It appears that freedom and value are defined differently for different people. Neither choice is wrong as long as the individual is content with it.
Well said, and Amen!
 
I’m saying that people are nuts for trying to diminish others who don’t want to work in their elder years. If a person chooses to work until they’re dead, that is his or her choice. No one should feel bullied or pressured to work at all. It appears that freedom and value are defined differently for different people. Neither choice is wrong as long as the individual is content with it.
I'm with you now and I echo your sentiment. Your earlier comment came across as nuts for working. Such is the ambiguity of the English language.
 
Are you saying that people are nuts for working in the latter years of life? Fulfilment in retirement can take many routes and one of the most popular is work. So popular is it that many thousands do so for nothing. Charity shops, animal shelters, heritage railways, there's lots of volunteers, hardly surprising given the tedious drivel that is daytime television.
At 82 I'm not really employable anymore but I can contribute at a lower level as a volunteer or serve on a committee.

I have committed to Friday mornings doing light work in the church community garden, followed by morning tea and chat. More recently I have become "resident granny" in the childcare centre, or more accurately, the early learning centre. I'm just there to be a benign presence and interact with any children who may approach me. I can read stories or help with craft.

If I cannot attend for some reason, it doesn't matter but I do find the engagement with other people stimulating and satisfying.
 
Fact is, there those who simply cannot just mind their own business.
What truly frustrates me are the incessant questions from people who constantly inquire about our travel plans, our next trip, or when we'll visit our children. The reality is, I dedicated over 40 years to an incredibly demanding career. I was perpetually on call, and during vacations, my work simply piled up, waiting for my return. To manage this, I often carried my computer and phone, even while on holiday or vacation.

Additionally, for the last seven of my final nine years of my career, I endured the tyranny of a monstrous boss. I vowed never to return to that life. Now, every day feels like a Saturday, and I have never been happier embracing my hermit-like existence.
 


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