Retirement provides happiness

Re: “Enough with pep rally on later retirement; Age 65 good cut-off for making most of life after work,” The Journal, Feb. 2.

Naomi Lakritz quotes Brian Lee Crowley, managing director of the Macdonald-laurier Institute, from his blog on the institute’s website where he writes basically that the elderly should, and should want to, continue to remain on the job for as long as possible.

“Age 65 and the moment when one can no longer reasonably be expected to work have long since parted company,” Crowley writes. “We live longer and are in better health. Much of the work in our increasingly service-based economy is not physically taxing. Many conditions associated with aging can be controlled by medication or corrected by surgery, with new breakthroughs daily. It is only a modest exaggeration when some say that 60 is the new 40.”

Some five-and-a-half years ago, my wife and I took early retirement at age 63. The years since have been the best of the almost-45 years of our life together. We have had the time, which we didn’t while in the workforce, to find anew why we love one another; renew our faith journey; volunteer; continue our education; expand our horizons through travel; revitalize old friendships; grandparent; and otherwise provide the needed help in the lives of our children and their families.

Crowley claims it’s work that provides happiness and fulfilment. Having the time, at last, to look after my own needs, and to care for and about those whom I love most, is what I find fulfilling; that is what makes me happy.

Kenneth Fredrick, Edmonton