Even If You Retire, Work Doesn't Stop

So even if you do retire, work doesn't stop. As we put it last time, even if our income stops, our work does not. Indeed, when you think about this, it's kind of obvious. But we'll get to that.

First a re-cap We've seen how some of us may not retire at all from our active and income-earning work. On the other hand, we've seen how many of us will cease earning income from our work, or have already reached that point. Either way, we've suggested considering jettisoning the whole "retirement" thing altogether. 

Just the mere fact that (as we discussed previously) "retirement" is a concept that only descended on us in the 20th century, there's no need to make it a central focus of our working lives, as some seem to do.

But, more importantly, we should jettison it simply because it can imply that we've reached a point where we stop working. When know that work is a fundamental part of our human nature, there's not question of our somehow "stopping" our work. Just because we no longer actively earn a steady income doesn't mean we no longer work. Again, our recent posts get into this in greater detail.

Even on a purely practical level, work continues past the point where we perform work for pay. Cardinal Wyszynski put is this way:  

...(Work is) the indispensable means for the maintenance and preservation of life. As a result of this, everything by which man is served is prepared by work for direct use.  

So if this indispensable means were to cease, we would cease maintaining and preserving our life. 

If we saved up our money, and put our financial life in order in anticipation of the day when our steady income ceases, we must anticipate that this in not a "one and done" thing. Just on a financial level, we've got to be on top of our finances, see to it that our money is deployed prudently to fulfill our obligation to maintain and preserve our life until the day that God calls us home. And even then, we want our money to continue to serve those who might rely on us now - for example, our spouse, maybe even our children to some extent.

And all this takes work.

But more than being good stewards of our money, we cannot stop working at ...well, something. What might this something be? Frankly, the list is endless. We'll list a few items in a moment. But first, let's remember that all we do is done for the greater glory of God. And all we do should therefore be done diligently, even (as Father Willie puts it) with fervor and exactness, down to the tiniest detail.

Within this spiritual fold, much of our active life can be turned into work for the greater glory of God.

Even our domestic duties can be performed in this light. Indeed, when we were working for pay, we still had domestic duties to attend to. And these were indeed part of our work. This doesn't stop when we stop making money in some form of employment.

If we have families, especially if we had children, we continue to pay close attention to their lives and, whenever possible, lend a hand to them. We can give them the benefit of the skills and experience we've amassed over a lifetime. The drop-down box of these items is extensive, depending on our particular skills and experience. A short list: advice on their own domestic challenges, work challenges, helping with grandchildren (if we are so blessed), handyman helper work, sometimes financial help, in a prudent manner. 

I've known more than one spouse that had to physically care for their husband or wife, sometimes for years. This is work. If you've ever been in this position, or know someone who is, you know just how arduous such work can be. Indeed, it can become a "full-time job."

Volunteering to lend your skills and talents - perhaps your money - to charitable organizations can be part of your work. 

Then there are those of us who begin a whole new career, perhaps one we tried to make our income-producing work many years ago. For example, there's apparently an extensive roster of folks who are building amateur careers in some form of music. We know more than one once aspiring writer who after a business professional career, now spend the bulk of their time dredging up their dormant creative juices. Music, writing, painting, photography, and so many more creative endeavors that might have been their full-time career if only they could have made money at it way back then. Or even if not once as aspiration, now a new fire in their creative belly.

Yes, work never ceases. 

To sum up: To the extent that "retirement planning" means prudently arranging our finances to support ourselves after we stop earning regular income, it can be useful, even necessary. Otherwise, there's no retirement in our future.

Makes sense, no?