As I get closer to retirement, I am more and more amused at all those writers trying to convince us how miserable we will be in retirement. Like this gem:
If you’re over 55, take this job and love it
"People go into mourning when they retire," she said. "Your whole identity is caught up in who you are and what you did. Continuing to work provides social benefits, including feeling relevant," Hannon added."
Who are these people she refers to? By now, I know plenty of retirees. I can't think of one - not one - that went into mourning. Most are ecstatically happy, and I'm not exaggerating. They are all healthier, mentally, physically, and emotionally. They are all contributing to a better world in concrete ways.
And most are finally able to be their true selves, and LOSE the identity they had at work - and work slots us into a limited number of identities. I will NOT mourn writing reports that are not read, going to classes for new "systems" that do not work (and then trying to learn work-arounds), such as the one that had me online for 45 minutes trying to create numbers to get a broken piece of office furniture thrown away. Going back again and again and again to nail down bosses on details they just don't want to think about.
Oops, better stop, this forum is about early retirement, not work! Suffice it to say, I enter every weekend feeling energized and excited - I call them Delicious Days - and I exit leaving dozens of interesting things undone. Retirement is going to be wonderful, I hope. Mourning work? I'm just planning to slip out quietly and have it my rearview mirror right away.
If you’re over 55, take this job and love it
"People go into mourning when they retire," she said. "Your whole identity is caught up in who you are and what you did. Continuing to work provides social benefits, including feeling relevant," Hannon added."
Who are these people she refers to? By now, I know plenty of retirees. I can't think of one - not one - that went into mourning. Most are ecstatically happy, and I'm not exaggerating. They are all healthier, mentally, physically, and emotionally. They are all contributing to a better world in concrete ways.
And most are finally able to be their true selves, and LOSE the identity they had at work - and work slots us into a limited number of identities. I will NOT mourn writing reports that are not read, going to classes for new "systems" that do not work (and then trying to learn work-arounds), such as the one that had me online for 45 minutes trying to create numbers to get a broken piece of office furniture thrown away. Going back again and again and again to nail down bosses on details they just don't want to think about.
Oops, better stop, this forum is about early retirement, not work! Suffice it to say, I enter every weekend feeling energized and excited - I call them Delicious Days - and I exit leaving dozens of interesting things undone. Retirement is going to be wonderful, I hope. Mourning work? I'm just planning to slip out quietly and have it my rearview mirror right away.