[Schaumburger]

If I could afford to, I would cut back to working 25 hours a week. Alas, unless I win the lottery, I will have to work full-time for probably another 7 or 8 years, but I'm just 57, so that is to be expected. I'm sure hoping by the time I turn 65 I can just work part-time, for the supplemental income and to stay busy.

A former co-worker of mine worked full-time until a month before her death in February. Pat had just turned 74 a few days before she passed away. A couple of years ago, she was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and her doctor ordered her to go to the hospital to get her blood sugar under control. She said "I can't go to the hospital, I'm too busy at work." I told Pat that she had to listen to her doctor, otherwise she could end up dying at work. Well, she half listened to her doctor's advice, but work was her #1 priority up to the end. Pat didn't need the income from her job, but she had never developed any outside interest, hobbies, or volunteering experience. Her "retirement" lasted all of 4 weeks before she passed.

Working full-time in today's economy, where most employees are seen as expendable, is not the way I want to spend my golden years, but to each his or her own.