Of course, many cannot for financial reasons, but that is not what I am referring to. Because that is easy to understand: you don't have enough money, so you keep working.
What I find more curious -- even as I struggle with my own decision about how much longer to work -- are those who can never retire despite having plenty of money.
We have a number of people in my office, in their 80s, who come in every day. We no longer pay them anything and they don't really do anything. But every day. there they are -- sitting in their office, chatting on the phone, reading, napping, etc. I guess there is literally nothing in the world they would prefer to do, as an alternative to sitting in their offices and doing nothing. These are very smart and accomplished people, by the way. But they have no other interests or goals?
Then there is the guy I spoke with, who is in my occupation but at another company, last week. He is mid 70s, I guess. I asked him if he ever thought about retiring. (He has, I am sure, plenty of money). He said "guys like you and I love this too much to ever give it up." Clearly, that was projection, since he could not possibly have any idea whether I love it or not. And I do not. But his view was that intelligent people who do a good job at their work (which he does, and I do, I think) could never retire.
I just don't understand that mindset. Then again, there are lots of people who don't understand my mindset either (early to mid 50s, enough money, don't enjoy the work any more, find it stressful, but cannot pull the plug).
The mind is a strange and complex organ.
What I find more curious -- even as I struggle with my own decision about how much longer to work -- are those who can never retire despite having plenty of money.
We have a number of people in my office, in their 80s, who come in every day. We no longer pay them anything and they don't really do anything. But every day. there they are -- sitting in their office, chatting on the phone, reading, napping, etc. I guess there is literally nothing in the world they would prefer to do, as an alternative to sitting in their offices and doing nothing. These are very smart and accomplished people, by the way. But they have no other interests or goals?
Then there is the guy I spoke with, who is in my occupation but at another company, last week. He is mid 70s, I guess. I asked him if he ever thought about retiring. (He has, I am sure, plenty of money). He said "guys like you and I love this too much to ever give it up." Clearly, that was projection, since he could not possibly have any idea whether I love it or not. And I do not. But his view was that intelligent people who do a good job at their work (which he does, and I do, I think) could never retire.
I just don't understand that mindset. Then again, there are lots of people who don't understand my mindset either (early to mid 50s, enough money, don't enjoy the work any more, find it stressful, but cannot pull the plug).
The mind is a strange and complex organ.