We live in a culture that cherishes the dream of early success followed by early retirement. We read of a retirement utopia awaiting those who can afford it.
In truth, most retirees base their identity on their career and yearn for the activity and responsibility their work life provided.
For eighty-one-year-old Vincent, a lifelong New York resident, retirement after sixty years of work has not been a dream come true. “Some people seem so happy to be retired, but I feel lost. A sense of fulfillment is missing.”
But by serving on the local community board, which makes decisions on zoning and land use, he has found a way to keep himself engaged. “The community board keeps me moving,” Vincent says.
The board, which is unpaid, often has to deal with contentious issues pitting neighbor against neighbor. Vincent tries to help everyone stay calm, and he keeps his own comments to a minimum. “If I say something, it has to be worth saying.” But when the time comes to take a vote, he calls on a lifetime of experience. “I’ve run more organizations than I now have hairs on my head. I think, ‘What did I do then?’ That helps.”
The single biggest factor in shaping a retired person’s identity is career history, outweighing even family life.
Szinovacz and DeViney 1999