When are you too old to work?

If I answered this question from the bottom of my heart, I’d probably say it’s around about the time the nappies come off. Let’s face it, age is irrelevant when the inclination to never clock a time card, lift a shovel, educate the young, enter nonsensical data or stitch up cuts is forever in the forefront of our lazy minds.

It is a rarity indeed to meet someone who actually enjoys pulling time at a nine-to-five. Work is merely a consequence of existence, a way of life we humans have propagated since the time of bartering and monetary exchange. There is no such thing as a free ride and work has simply become a fact of life.

So the question of what age is too old to reel in an income really comes down to personal choice. Obviously there are physical factors that come into play: disabilities, declining function of limbs, vision impairment or mental faculties fading. These all play very relative roles in whether or not you are simply too old to go on making a contribution to society through paid exchange of work.

However, there has been plenty of research into the decline of the elderly post retirement and these studies have actually proven that as human beings we require purpose in order to function. So even if you have decided to throw in the proverbial work towel because it’s becoming a drag to tote your colostomy bag around, make sure you stay active—both physically and mentally. You don’t want to kick the bucket weeks after you finally decide to enjoy your retirement only to find your children will spend the inheritance on booze and cheap strippers.

Needless to say, work as long as you enjoy it, as long as you are physically and mentally capable and then make damn sure you spend all your hard-earned cash on yourself and partner. Don’t leave an inheritance and don’t worry about what happens when you’re gone, because life will almost certainly always progress forward whether you work yourself to the bone or live a life of relative happiness.

Kristy