One of the main reasons I left my job was because I was tired of being in charge. I don’t really mind working though I’m happy enough not to be full-time anymore but I love not having all the responsibility of leading a department and supervising other people. I have friends who love what they do and don’t plan to retire anytime soon and I have friends who retired before I did. It’s all good in my book!
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This will probably be the main reason I leave. I’m not enjoying this part of my job at all. So much time gets sucked up in admin etc related to this.
I don’t really understand why anyone would brag about either of these, same as I don’t understand why some people brag about either being working moms or SAHMs. People should just do what they want (assuming they have the luxury of choice) and let others be.
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My neighbor is always talking about her extensive travel plans. She has trip on top of trip.
That’s great if that’s what she wants to do.
I find it all exhausting.
Do what you want and don’t judge what I’m doing.
Which apparently is posting on CC today 
I find I want retirement to be leisurely, my neighbor is on the go all the time.
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I would not assume that someone I know who is still working at 65, 70, 75 is doing so because they want to work … they might not be in a position financially not to work. But they might actually enjoy what they do & have no interest in leaving their job … or they might be lonely & need the human interaction afforded by their job. Regardless of the reason, unless they share it with me, it’s not my business (and if they share the reason & don’t ask for my opinion, they don’t want my opinion). I can’t imagine my parents would have asked any of their friends (or family members) why they retired or why they kept working. I think in real life, most of us would not ask, either. We may come off as nosy or even judgmental here, but I’m betting most of us are neither. 
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If all goes as planned, I’ll be retiring at 53 at the end of 2027 when all 3 kids are out of the house and the oldest will hopefully be employed! DH plans to work another 5 years after that. I’ve always worked - did a short stint as a SAHM twice - but always came back to the corporate job. At this point in time, I find it hard to keep up with my younger colleagues and not really sure that I even WANT to be using the latest AI and software tools to do my job. I’d rather be gardening, reading or doing yoga! I’m not sure how I’ll feel once I retire and once I have more time to consider other things. I could maybe see myself doing something part time that has zero to with my current career until my DH retires.
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I agree with so much said above. Most of all that no one should judge either way (as @FallGirl says “not my business “) and that many people don’t have the means to retire at a desired age.
I actually have had quite a few people ask me why I’m still working. Or why don’t I want to be fully retired. Neighbors. Family. A couple friends. I also have a few friends who get the “why” behind NOT retiring.
Do I enjoy the days I’m not working? YES. Would I have gone still crazy this winter not working? YES. 
But also understand I might have a totally different opinion if I had a high stress job or job conditions that were undesirable.
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Most of my friends and my husband have retired but because my job is very flexible I’m not ready. Financially we are in very good shape but I’m very “bougie”. I want to fly first class and go to really nice restaurants. Rent a home in a warm climate in the winter ( where I work remotely). Have a small city apartment. Could I easily afford those things if I retired? Yes. But I feel entitled to them when I’m working. So that’s one reason I do. My husband thinks I’m crazy but is supportive.
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I retired from my full time job when I was 60…my choice. But I worked short term positions for 10 years after that. DH retired mostly at 68 but did some per diem consulting work for a year after that. Again…his choice.
Everyone needs to make their own choice about when to retire…or not.
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My husband always tells people we are retired, but in actuality, he is retired. I work an extremely flexible, work from home, part-time job (about 15 hours a week). The work is fun and not at all stressful. I don’t foresee stopping any time in the near future (I am 65).
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OP, what have you thought of all of our thoughts? @lia_b
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Jumping in to say all these perspectives have been super helpful to me (not the OP but great to hear all the different paths!).
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Friends and others constantly ask me when i am going to retire. I also think one reason is that I worry that even though we have saved enough to be comfortable, if there is a large market correction things might get tough (for a lot of people). I also worry about the AI revolution and my kids - will they need help if AI or robot workers eliminate their jobs? I keep thinking I will just get to the point where I don’t want to do this any more!
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I have really enjoyed hearing everyone’s thoughts on this thread. As I said earlier I have drawn my line in the sand and will retire next year at 67. I am using this year to find out things that I would like to try once I am retired. D2 introduced me to a new friend of hers that is very involved in a cat rescue. This is something I could see myself helping with in retirement.
We hired a young accountant that started this week so my goal is to teach him everything that I do and let him run with it. It was my 11 year anniversary with the company on Monday. I found this job at 55 when the company I had been with for almost 30 years was laying me off. When I started this job my hope was that I would get to stay for at least 10 years.
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These are all valid concerns. Easy (easier) for some to not worry about or take up mind space, harder for others - we are who we are!
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My widowed cousin, and dear friend, wants to wait and retire after her 70th birthday, and a work anniversary date. She is so worn out, and everyone thinks she needs to retire now. She always complains how tired she is, and some day barely can function.
Unfortunately, she is afraid if she retires, she will stay in bed all day and do nothing. I don’t know the right answer.
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I can’t say enough in favor of getting involved in something local that you actually care about, and that actually needs your help. It is a great way to continue feeling like you are contributing, often in a very direct and immediate way.
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My grandfather (math professor) kept coming out of retirement to teach one more job or two into his 90s! I think about my chances to retire “soon” every morning waking up at an ungodly hour which is needed to do everything I need to do before my long commute, and I’m 53.
One worry I have, and I’ve seen this in other couples, is that if the person who did “less” around the house also retires but doesn’t pick up more slack, then it will be a lot to discuss and renegotiate.
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This is related to my worry. My spouse is nine years older than me and will likely retire before me. He loves working in the yard, and I know that the things he does are valuable to him because he gets joy from being outdoors and it’s good for his mental health. But the things he does are no value to me. For example, he’s weeding our lawn - the grass, not the beds - by hand. He’ll sit out there for hours to pull clover or onion grass from a 2’x2’ square. To me, this is a waste of time. There are so many other things where I’d really like his help, that are chores I do because he’s busy in the yard - but the thing I’m doing gives me no joy (washing pots and pans, laundry, cleaning bathrooms). It currently makes me cranky, but i let it go because I get time to sit and read, which is my mental health time. But if he stops working and spends all his time in the yard pulling clover, and I’m still doing all the drudgery chores, I’ll be very cranky.
I’m trying to balance the competing facts that (a) everyone is an individual and gets to do what brings them joy and I shouldn’t value judge the chores as more important than other and make him choose what I think he should do with (b) the reality that it drives me nuts that I do all the cooking, he says “I’ll do the pots and pans” and those pots and pans may sit for 2-3 days until I do them, because he’s outside weeding and I can’t stand to leave them there any longer.
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As someone who did the less for a while–absolutely. I feel like I have stepped up appropriately, although I guess you would have to ask NiceUnparticularMom for her opinion on the subject . . . .
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I do think it’s interesting that she’s NU-Mom and you’re NU-Man. I’m going to assume that’s not a patriarchal thing. 
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