Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
For a lot of people, work is a crucial source of purpose in their lives. Take that away and it's easy to see why they would become depressed.
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
I don't think there is any doubt that retirement can mentally change a person. It's also an age when, if a person has not taken care of themselves, health issues can start to manifest themselves. It's also a time when dementia can start to show up.
I am not of retirement age, but everything I understand about the perils of retirement are summed up right there. 1) You tie so closely what you DO with who and what you ARE. Then what you DO stops abruptly and you may not have prepared yourself for the massive change. For a man, at least, I cannot imagine a larger personal change-of-life; when you have to accept that the "productive" chapter of your life, where you were to make your mark, is over. 2) You're getting older and you're no longer being driven by your occupation. The healthiest and most robust groups of people in the world who thrive into old age are those who remain active and vital deep into old age.
You have a warped and depressing perspective of retirement. I have given most of my adult life toiling for a large corporation in exchange for a good living and secure retirement. I can't wait to retire and use that time and effort in pursuit of my own interests. I could walk away tomorrow but can't quite afford to yet. When the day comes, I'll walk away with a huge smile on my face and no regrets whatsoever. I can't wait to spend my mornings gambling on the stock market and my afternoons gambling on the golf course. You youngin's keep working hard so those social security checks don't bounce, OK?