Will you work when you're eighty?

If I am physically and mentally able to I will... I don't see why not, even it's a part time job or only a day or two a week... I think having something to do gives people a purpose.

I am 80 years old and am director of a Visitor Center. I love my work
and meet a lot of interesting people. I work because I like and because
I have to have to have the money with the economy the way it is. I hope
to keep working for a long time!!

After 30 years of working I retired from my full time job about five years ago. However I continued working at a part time job that paid three times less than I earned at the full time job from which I retired. The part time job has turned into a full time job and I ask myself why work for three times less an hour if money was the answer to why I am still working. The answer eludes me and I continue to work even though I am eligible for social security. With the high costs of Health Care Insurance to supplement Medicare, cost of housing, real estate taxes, federal income taxes, State taxes, and the general cost of living, it appears that one will just have to keep working if one wants to continue living.

I took early retirement last year because I thought I could find another job less physically demanding. I've been an RN for 40 years and have never been without work except now. I've been on interviews, but no job offers. I still want and need to work, but I'm getting discouraged. I try to remember that I have helped lots of people, but sitting home alone makes everything seem pointless.

I do a fairly physical job right now and I'm semi-retired. I have recently been thinking of what else I can be trained for so I can earn the needed money in a less physical way. I like to stay busy but doing building maint. is more than I'll be able to continue for much longer. I know we have to be prepared to support ourselves, but that wasn't as obvious to me growing up, as it is to the younger people of these times and I didn't make the right choices for retirement,(and of coarse I was never going to be too old to work)HA!HA!.

Why not? I found having to be home due to unemployment was awful enough. I can't imagine not having a job for years on end.

From the time we are small, we are on a schedule. First, there's the elementary school bell schedule. Then there's the high school schedule including after hours jobs or sports. Then there is, for some of us, the university schedule followed by years of a work force schedule.
At some point, we all need to say " NO MORE" and take time to smell the flowers or just lie in bed all morning.

I would not want to be obligated to work at that age to support myself. But I can't see myself ever being fully retired. I think I would just get bored. So most likely I will keep up some kind of part time work as long as I am able.

I will soon be eighty-one.I RETIRED as a Coordinator/Adm. for two church preschools after age seventy.I,then went on to come out of retirement to be a substitute Instructional Aide in the public school for the preschool classroom.I retired once again due to a temporary heart problem.A defibrillator was placed and again I was back to the preschool scene where love abounds for this snowy-headed busy Great-Grandmother-five adult children of my own,thirteen grand and great-grand children.I am still volunteering at lunchtime and in the classroom for our public preschool program.I,myself, have been in the classroom so I understand that a SMALL gesture of help(cutting and pasting) for the teacher is a LARGE gesture of help for the child.In a child's life each moment is a teaching moment.There is no retirement as long as there is a child who longs to learn.No matter where you are or what you do in life---there are needs of others to be met.Rise up men and women of faith___any faith! As Robert Frost stated:"Come grow old with me."

Well, I am a retiree now going on 61 of age. I have got so much time on my hand so much so am at loss at what to do!. I dont feel like working but I could do social work. Problem is I cant drive. That tie me down cos had to rely on children who r bz too. Now m more into after life. Going back to school to better understand my by religious belief and fulfil my obligation to myself as I believe in after life. Any comment e-mail me! Tq

I hope not. Want to be painting more and selling my work.

This is a great topic point. I had a neighbor who was 93 and mowed my yard. He would do anything that he was asked, but you had to be specific. In other words, if you want an elderly person to do something you must give them the rules and guidlines. They can do anything that you want to get done and I encourage you to use them because they need the interaction and value of being useful.
Stephan

I am fascinated to hear that your grandma works even at the age of 94. She seems quite hail and hearty. God bless her.
In my opinion she does not get stagnated by the growth-retardation rhythm of nature.She is able to adapt with all the changes that are taking place within and outside her.That is the spirit every humanbeing should have.Only then will this world be a better place to live in.There will be less illwill and hatred towards eachother because people would be busy updating and upgrading themselves.
All that one seeks should be to move along with time and not to be left behind. When we
do not keep up with time we become a burden to others, we hinder their growth. So let us all learn from this great grand mother to remain active and enthusiastic about learning.

I think I'd settle to be happy living that long in the first place, working or not.

I WILL BE 80 IN AUGUST. I HAVE WORKED PART TIME FOR THE LAST THREE YRS AND PLAN TO KEEP WORKING. I AM FAMILIAR WITH COMPUTERS AND THAT WAS A HELP IN FINDING WORK I WORK WITH AND FOR PEOPLE MUCH YOUNGER THAN ME AND THIS KEEPS ME THINKING YOUNG.

YES I LIKE TO WORK ALL MY LIFE. EVEN WHEN I RETIRE DO SOME VOLUNTEER WORKING LIKE PEACE CORPS OR RED CROSS WORK. I THINK EXERCISE, EAT RIGHT AND GOOD MINDSET U CAN LIVE VERY LONG LIFE........

My plan is to retire from my current career/job and do something less taxing, more fun. Most likely I'll have to supplement my finances. I see my own parents with very little to do....no social clubs, hobbies, church connections.....they have each other but I see that that is not enough. I'm single so being active and engaged will be even more important since I won't have a partner close by. It does take effort to stay involved but I don't want to be a burden (haven't we all heard that)...but it's true...I still want to be able to know and talk about current events, travel if possible, take care of my own personal needs such as banking, etc. Work or volunteering will keep me involved with others...that's so important. It's not too early to start thinking about what we want in our futures. I see a lot of people in my industry retire and take what I feel is the old-fashioned mode of retiring....they just stay home!! Now that scares me!!!

People who are in their 20's will not be able to get Social Security until age 70. We also have a recession every 20-25yrs, so the answer is yes I will probably be working at 84. The job will be less taxing but I will still be working.

My mother worked until she was 85 years old and probably would have continued working but she fell and broke her hip and could not drive any more. I plan on working until I cannot work any more because it kept my mother young and active. I want to stay young and active for my family. I am 66 years old and have two more years before retirement where I work. I hope to find a job in another field that interest me. I am in the process of earning my second masters in Administration Science in Justice and Security. I love going to school and learning new subjects.

My grandfather was a rabbi and attended to his congregation -- giving sermons, classes, leading prayers, the whole works -- until a few months before his death at age 94. He was a widower and had lived alone for decades, but was never lonely. I was working as a corporate lawyer when he died, and I remember asking myself whether I'd still want to be practicing law in my 90's. The answer came back loud and clear -- I don't even want to be doing this at age 30! And that was that for my legal career.
Now I love what I do and hope I'll be going strong a half-century from now.
Thanks Marci for all the great articles!