Quote from 'Quora': My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. He retired at 50 from being an electrician. He was eligible for his pension, there was a huge economic downturn and he thought that if times got better he could just unretire and go back to work.

There was a huge perception at the time of Freedom 55. You could retire at 55 and live a good life. So…50 was not that far away. I went back to work as a part-time teacher which eventually turned to full time. I thought I would only work 10 or so more years and then retire with my husband.

But a funny thing happened. The good times really did not come back in Alberta…not for a long long time after that. My husband worked part-time but people did not really understand the effects of long term inflation and the importance of a purposeful life. Golfing as a hobby becomes much different when you have hours and hours of time to spend on an activity that can cost quite a bit of money for a pension that does not keep up with inflation.

We just happened to luck into my keeping on at work. It was not my desire to keep working past retirement age…but I found out I loved my job, and when I turned 55 I went part-time. I was able to work half time for 10 more years. That really made my choice a smart one because working provided my family with a good pension and a hedge against inflation.

Retirement is so different for so many people. I know people who retired from stressful jobs at 60 and said they should have retired sooner. I know people who are in their 70 ’s, still working and loving it. People work for the money, people work for a purpose, people work because they need the benefits. There are as many reasons for working as there are for retirement.

I like my security. I know I would never choose to retire early because it leaves too many years open to chance. The chance you might run out of money. The chance you will be bored. The chance you will not have the resources to look after yourself as you get elderly. Ah…there is no guarantee of anything in this world. I think you just do the best you can with what you have. I am 67 and still working part-time as a substitute teacher. For this year. I am going year by year. Working is good for me this year. Next year I might change my mind. It is good to have choices and that is what I worked for. I want the ability to choose how I will live my life…and so far I have been lucky to be able to do so. Knock on wood.

At MunnFTSE.eu we say ‘Life is Work and Work is Life - Don’t leave anything to chance, don’t even talk or think about it, Just Do It!! (That’s what you think is right for you never mind what the ‘System’ thinks).