Article in the New York Times saying life expectancy is greater and many “knowledge workers” could keeping working to age 72-75. Most of the comments to the article say that’s nonsense. “If I have a longer, healthy lifespan, I want to spend that anyplace but work.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/03/well/live/retirement-age-health.html
intercst
You mean all those people in France protesting the increase in the retirement age to 64 could keep working for another decade?
DB2
No. Only the white guys in cushy office jobs with WFH (i.e. “knowledge workers”)
intercst
Amen to that. Sure, I, pushing 70, could probably do the job I had when I retired (at 58), just as well as I did then, but who the heck would want to put up with the daily garbage, if they do not need the money?
That is probably why we hear all the counter-narrative from the “JCs” and their water carriers in the media and politics: blather about “the dignity of work”. Keep telling people there is no reason for their existence, if they don’t spend every waking moment working to make a “JC” richer. There is no “dignity” in putting up with degrading treatment by a “JC”.
Steve
If you plan active retirement, sooner is better than later. People go RV travelling, hiking, bike riding, etc.
Eventually it gets challenging to walk a few blocks. Better do it before then.
And at age 77, I keep hearing from those with eye problems. Maybe even blindness. Can be limiting for all sorts of activities–including reading, internet, etc.
I just herd of a friend of a friend facing blindness who chose hospice instead.
Keep your chin up. Aging can be depressing. Not fun!!!
Exactly!
My job was incredibly fun at first. Then came years of changes and it was no longer fun. Instead of orchestrating teams from various groups to solve problems, it devolved into meaningless studies and checking boxes.
No sense hanging around longer than necessary. I retired after 17 years in that area of the company.
Rob
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
But someone may have said something like, “I wish we could have gotten away from this miserable town and its weather.” Which is related to money, which is related to work.
DB2
Re: noone on their deathbed.
I disagree. Some are very proud of their accomplishments. And wish they had time to do more of the same.
Some do like their work. Even enjoy the challenges.
Some do not look forward to retirement.
Dad loved being a general practitioner in a small town and reluctantly closed out his last estate when he was about 85. I happily gave up my stressful trial practice at 62 and would have quit sooner if I had saved more and invested more wisely. Tomato/tomahto .
That is what the coal miners are saying about West Virginia and Kentucky? That is true for most coal miners around the world.
That is what the oil workers are saying about the tar sands drilling/mining in Alberta Canada.
Many lousy jobs around the world for money.
Nothing wrong being proud of your accomplishments. I enjoyed the work I did, but it came at a cost. When business was strong, I worked 11 to 12 hours a day Monday through Friday. Another 6 to 7 hours on Saturday. I look back now and see how many family activities and events I missed because work was so demanding. I can’t get that time back to spend with the family.
Fortunately, I have a great wife that filled in for me. Because of her our family ties are great. Financially we were blessed and we both retired early, 62 and 60. We are now able to spend time with the grandkids and help our kids out financially.
I’m not complaining, but I wonder if what we have now was worth what I missed.
I wonder what Warren Buffet will say on his deathbed?
Mike
That got me thinking about someone like van Gogh. Before he died did he wish he’d done more paintings or fewer? (Yes, I know he died by suicide so it was probably neither of the above.)
DB2
I’ve been thinking about what I wrote earlier. Working in your later years is not the same as maintaining a healthy work/life balance. I should have balanced my work obligations/life obligations better.
Warren said he regretted selling part of BRK’s Apple stake a few years ago.
Also interesting that he hasn’t been to BNSF’s office in 10 or 12 years.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/06/berkshire-hathaway-annual-meeting-live-updates.html
intercst
Buffett is well known for his hands off style of management. Subsidiaries are given free rein to manage their business. And are left alone as long as they perform.
Non-visit implies he is satisfied with management. I think their sponsorship of PBS Newshour is excellent public relations. Their spot is well done and very professional. They are a western railroad with lots of potential. They are reasonably efficient and seem to have sidestepped the derailment problems. Not overplaying precision railroading but probably adopting efficiencies without lots of fanfare.