How long should I work for?

I'm a twenty-something who drinks like a fish and has cancer in remission. Even if I made it to "retirement age", I make a considerable sum of money for a twenty-something, but with healthcare costs on the rise (along with everything else), and the complete absence of pension and retirement plans short of what you hide away in your Roth or 401K, odds are I'll never see "retirement" in my lifetime.

Fact of the matter is, I really don't think there's an acceptable retirement age anymore, nor is there a stigma surrounding people who retire early or late compared to others. Again, assuming I live to see "retirement", I've got expensive hobbies and a hatred for sitting around doing nothing, so odds are I'd keep working anyways, whether that be through hobby work that doubles as a side income, or a traditional 9-5.

 

One of my careers was one where I could work till I died, on the job if necessary; unfortunately, the jobs tend to be short-term and irregular. Makes for a hard time with the medical benefits, so I moved on to more stable stuff, but a whole lot less interesting and rewarding.

If Congress would simply extend to the rest of us the same benefits they give themselves, we wouldn't have this question, and we could take those less-regular jobs without worrying about the medical bills so much.

 

Exactly. I wouldn't mind trying to be an entrepreneur, but I don't have the financial security to buy health insurance if I fail. Well, I might because I am healthy for now, but I am worried about the whole pre-existing condition thing if I go without it for a while.

The thing is, being a successful entrepreneur is about the best way to be able to not have to 'work' anymore.

The next thing is if I could do a job like nature photography that I enjoy and don't consider 'work', even though the hours suck and living in a tent isn't as nice as what I have now. But, the money wouldn't be close to what I make now probably. Now, if I could reduce my expenses enough...

 

I agree with the two posts above. Having health insurance tied to employment in this country is a huge drag on our economy because it ties people to jobs they aren't thriving at, inhibiting them from ingenuity and risk-taking.

 

Sobering article about how some baby boomers have no choice but to continue to work.

My wife's job has no benefits and due to some minor health issues, she can't get private health insurance - at least not affordably. Consequently, I'll need to continue to work until she qualifies for MediCare at 65. So regardless of financial ability to retire, I won't even consider it until I am well past the age 0f 65. At least by that time I'll be eligible for full Social Security benefits. Although I do not relish working that long.

 

Absolutely correct. It is a huge drain on creativity.

Beyond that, it is a huge drain on our manufacturing base. Most manufacturers in the US have to add health benefits to their cost of doing business simply to get a viable workforce. That cost has to be added to the cost of the products they produce. That cost has to be competitive in the world market if the producer is to sell his product. Very few products are so original, or so efficiently produced, that the cost isn't cheaper elsewhere, even absent any differences in real wages, taxes, currency differentials, etc. It is one of the major items that drove GM to bankruptcy, and one of the prime reasons so many jobs that are not service related have moved offshore. So, ignore the social-engineering and ethical questions, we need to fix health care simply to be competitive. Obamacare is a start, but there are so many compromises as to make it virtually useless on a world stage. We need a system that is fair, easy to comprehend, no matter who pays for it, and NOT tied to employment in any fashion.

 

It's days like today that I wonder why I endure my cubical 'prison' sentence... What is the point to working, working, working?

 

I retired at 62 and after about 8 months I got bored and took a job working about 20 hours a week delivering auto parts. I don’t work Friday though Monday and I made it clear to my employer that I would be taking about 4 weeks off during the year to travel. I don’t require any benefits or insurance. It gives me something to do and I’ve made some new friends.

 

I'm basically going to work until I die or just can't. I will 'slow down' to maybe 3 days a week at some point.

But I find some joy in my job and a purpose in life beyond me. If I didn't I'd retire and find something that did. My guess is I'd just play a lot of video games instead so better keep going.

 

im sure i will work until i die. i have plenty of retirement we will see.
even if i did retire im sure that i would find something to do. im not one for sitting still