Retirement? I'd advise against it

I'm writing this as someone retired for five years, retired with a luxury most retirees don't have; a pension that affords a reasonably comfortable retirement. It therefore seems near-blasphemous to declare against retirement. But here's the thing. Once you're retired, you gain an appreciation for all the good stuff you got from working, far beyond the paycheque that paid your bills. As regular readers will know, the Farm Manager keeps her day job at the school board. She spent three hours this evening telling me about her day at work. As an Ed Assistant in a good-sized high school, her day involved multiple dozens of interactions with staff, students, and admin. It's really hard to hold up my end of this conversation, because spending eight hours on the computer ain't quite the same! Work forces a degree of collegiality on social misfits that you won't find in the virtual world, and that seems to be where everything is heading. When those nerds retire, where will the next generation find its North Star? So, even if you're fortunate enough to afford retirement, remember all the daily interactions on the shop floor, or the sales floor, or in the staff lounge. They are the routine interactions that together weave the social fabric. Make sure you have a plan before you walk away from that.