FWIW, I’m 52 and don’t ever plan to retire. I love working, and my jobs. Another ten years firefighting and running my photography business, then slide out of firefighting and do photography full time. Life’s to good to retire.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-10.pdf
Well my hubby retired from the military, and then retired from the post office...neither job, is something he could or would want to continue in..
However, he does plan to indulge himself in the one hobby that he has neglected for way too long, by working so hard...he loves to paint, and already has all his supplies in hand, ready to be artistic again...he really is a fine artist, he hopes fine enough to be able to say he could sell some stuff...
I can understand why many people wish to continue working, even tho eligible for retirement...we have chosen differently...to us, driving the backroads in our RV, stopping along the way, meeting new and interesting people along the way, setting up beside a creek, cooking our dinner out of doors, painting the easel, all this is for us, the way in which we chose to spend our retirement...
I guess decades and decades ago, people did not really consider what they might do in retirement, because they were not sure of living that long...fortunately today, with folks living longer and longer, and being more healthy while living longer, we have many more choices...some chose to continue working way past retirement age, some chose to retired before retirement age, if they can afford it, and others just retired at the normal retirement time...
But I am glad we are retired...especially since my husband just went through successful surgery for malignant melanoma in January...he saw his own mortality flit before his eyes, and realized how grateful he was that he was no longer in the daily grind, so that he could spend the years he had left, doing what he wanted...
Everyone has different plans for their ‘older’ years, and thats great...