Refiring

        I do not believe in retiring!  Adjusting one's course or refiring might be a better ways to phrase it. When I think about the word "retirement", I think about taking a permanent vacation.  I think retirement is very much the wrong word for the productive work of the the last third or fourth of one's life. Repurposing, renewing, refocusing or rewinding would be better words. It should be a time for even greater fulfillment and finding a deeper commitment to your life's purpose!
        Until the industrial age, was retiring even, ever possible? Within the family unit, jobs may have changed as one got older, but retirement?  Kings were kings until they died. Farmers were farmers until they died. I do think that there is a time to teach younger people what you have learned and maybe your role will change as you age. There is a time when your health may not permit you to do the same kind of work you could do as a younger person.  But retiring from productive work?
        Retirement was a term countries used as an enticing socialist reform beginning in the late 1800's, when industries used retirement to remove older workers with stronger, younger workers. It was first instituted in Germany in 1889. Companies would use retirement to move someone out, when that someone was no longer useful to the company. It was eventually considered a right of workers to have a pension on which to retire and many worker looked forward to relief from the tedium of their dull, routine jobs.
        My father idealized retirement, as many of his peers did.  Social Security was enacted in 1935 and  retiring with a pension seemed glorious. The age of sixty-five was chosen as the typical retirement age, because that was the average life expectancy at the time. Some began to think that they did not have to think or plan their own life pathways. Uncle Sam did that for them.  My father would always talk about what he would do in retirement. Having the time and money to travel and enjoy life was a big part of that dream. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to do much of the traveling he hoped to do.
         We baby-boomers are rethinking retirement.   Our younger friends are saying how much they wish they could retire; yet people I know who are actually approaching "retirement" age, are not wishing it so much. If you are not happy, of course, you should change your job. If you can live on part-time pay and choose to work part time that is great. If you can afford not to work for money; and that is what you want to do, go for it.  Just do not have the mistaken notion that a life without meaningful work or activities would be wonderful.
        Work is not a bad word.  Work is one of the greatest sources of joy and fulfillment.  David Bogan and Keith Davies wrote a book called Avoid Retirement and Stay Alive: The New Retirement Revolution. Though I have not read this book yet, I have read enough reviews to recognize that I heartily agree with the premise. Work keeps us alive. There is a difference between your job and your work. Your "work" would be closely aligned with your passion(s) and the purpose for your life, as you see it.  Work as an activity is a good thing, too.
         As you approach retirement age, think of firing yourself up with renewed purpose and focus. Think of making this time of your life the best of all.  Don't retire, just because that is what 65 year-olds do.  Don't make the mistake of thinking that lots of leisure time would be a good thing.  Make interesting long and short term goals for your life and, if you have not done so until now: learn to love work. (Of course, I preach to myself!)