What to consider when making the decision
By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
“I retired in 1977 and have worked ever since,” Orland Johnson says in what seems like an oxymoron. But it’s not.
Two months after retiring as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America, he began his seven-year employment with a savings and loan company.
Then, Johnson and his wife began volunteering at their daughter’s hearing aid center in Eatontown, but even volunteering was not enough. “I became so interested in the business that I got my hearing aid dispenser’s license and began working at the center,” he says.
Today, Johnson still drives from his Seabrook home to the office every weekday and works from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “I get bored easily, so this is the perfect outlet for me,” he says.
Staying active and other pros
Johnson is among a growing group of Americans choosing to re-enter the work force because they desire to stay active. But while the majority of people in a recent AARP survey said their definition of retirement includes some form of work, that word’s definition differs for everyone.
At Seabrook, where people participate in the community’s many events, clubs, and programs, volunteering is often defined as work.
Yet, some people prefer the extra income of a job over volunteering. In fact, when AARP asked 2,001 full- or part-time workers between ages 50 and 70 why they do it, the leading response was financial benefits.
Other pros of delaying full retirement include possible health insurance coverage, sense of community, mental activity, and bigger Social Security benefit payments.
Consider the cons
But with pros come cons, and working in retirement has its share.
Age discrimination is one of the most discouraging factors for most people, as claims have risen 40% from 1999 to 2002. Combat this barrier by keeping your skills fresh and up-to-date.