I’m starting to think retirement is not really “American” or biblical.
I don’t read much of founders era folks retiring, they seemed to keep right on working in one capacity or other until truly unable to work, or death. many gave all they had during their life to fund the start of USA or colleges or such, didn’t ever think of just playing golf or such all day.
I think retiring is a man conceived desire, but I think it’s really rooted in selfishness. I know so many in”retirement” that are living in nice homes but rubbing pennies (so they say) to keep afloat. What is the point of that? Definitely able to work in some capacity.
Years ago as a teen I worked with senior citizens who worked seasonally/part time. They liked the extra income and interaction with people and were so less stressed than average workers trying to work toward retirement.
Where I live now, i see huge billboards for luxury retirement - their catch phrase:
“retire like you mean it” LOL I got news for that builder:
God doesn’t ever tell us to retire, except maybe when He calls us home.
The USA is different. It s a dog eat dog world here in the states. By the time you start to hit 60 and yo aren't feeling a bit burned out then you haven't really lived.
It’s not about “retiring,” really. It’s about becoming unable to care for yourself. I agree, why retire from work if you can still do it, or something? But people are ending up with neurodegenerative diseases at what can only be called epidemic rates. Then they can’t work. What about money for however long you live when you cannot work and possibly can’t do anything much?
And don’t say “Then it is time to check out.” No one who knew and loved my dad these last seven years would have wanted to kill him. He was like a child and then a baby, and he was very hard to care for, but you can’t kill a beautiful person just because he’s infirm. So we all need to prepare for times like that.