I am 66 years old this morning, and so am officially an old age pensioner.
So too is my twin brother, with whom, rather unsurprisingly, I have always shared a birthday.
I have never thought any previous birthday, at least since those when I was 18 or 21, to have any great significance. Those round number birthdays that other people seem to think of consequence I let pass by. In that case, I have pondered on why this particular birthday has been one that I have prepared myself for over a number of months now.
The reality is that this birthday is not numerically significant. After all, for much of my working life, I presumed that I would reach official old age on my 65th birthday , and the fact that it has happened a year later is, at least for me, given that I enjoy good health, a matter of relatively little significance. The fact that I do, however, now have a status as an officially old person does appear to be of consequence .
All of life is understood through the stories that we tell ourselves. Our understanding of who we are, how we fit in, how we relate, and what we identify as all depend upon the narratives that we tell ourselves, and which others will tolerate. The last point is of particular significance to those who are concerned with the equality, as I am, but we should not ignore those stories that we tell ourselves.
I now have society's permission to treat myself as old. I can say that I am retired, and so not work, without anyone expressing surprise about that choice.
I could spend my time on a golf course, or cruising, or by simply sitting in a café watching the day go by before filling in the relentless void in the rest of my day with endless television, and nobody would suggest that I was wrong to do so.
They would say something very different if I was young and did those things. In that case, the difference in society's expectations is what really matter to me on this birthday.
The trouble is that I am not willing to think of myself as old. Or retired. Or as non-working. I am assisted in doing so by the previously-mentioned fortune of good health, although I do wish that my knees would not ache as much as they did when I got up this morning.
I am also assisted by having something to do. I am still employed. I still enjoy grant finance. I still have this blog to write. With regard to the last at least, I am hoping that this will not change for a long time to come. I can be, and usually am, at least as busily engaged in work now as I was forty years ago. I would not wish it any other way.
However, I am already sensing three things as a consequence. The first is confusion. Many people just do not seem to understand why I do not want to put my feet up and do nothing.
The second is bafflement. People presume I must have made no retirement provision and so have no choice but work. That's not true. I could retire, and no doubt one day will. I might also get no choice on the issue, so of course I have provided for the need to retire if that necessity arises. It's just that it has not.
Third, there is a sense of being abnormal. I am not planning to conform to societal expectations. Much as I enjoy my hobbies, and as much as I could do some volunteering, what I actually want to do is what I have done to date. You might call it work. I just call it what I have chosen to do. And I still want to choose to do it, but I already sense that I am going to have to increasingly explain that I actually enjoy working.
That, though, leads me to the obvious question as to why it is that so many people so obviously hated their work so much that they never want to do it again, although they did it for many years. I have always believed, to abuse a Noel Coward quotation, that work should be much more fun than fun. I have always made choices to achieve that goal as best as I have been able to do, usually reducing my earnings from those that were possible to achieve that goal. I have never regretted doing so.
Nor have I regretted that cost if it has let me be honest with myself as a result. To misquote George Bernard Shaw this time, I have never thought life is about finding yourself, but is instead about creating yourself. My work is what I have created, and I took the opportunity to do that. Why I should want to stop creating now I do not know.
What I do know is that a great deal of work does deny people such opportunity, and it does therefore squash wellbeing. Leaving such work behind does make sense. I get that. But why is it so hard for those who do fully retire to imagine that my work did not crush my spirit, meaning that I can willingly choose to still do it given that I still have the chance to do so?
Is it having that opportunity that makes me feel like a bit of an outsider now I am officially old but still very much wanting to work? Or was it having that opportunity to work as I wanted that always created the schism between me and those of broadly similar age who already tell me how odd I am to want to carry on? I do not know. But I wish we could provide meaningful work for everyone that wants it. The world would be a much better place if we could. The chance to work on ways that increase the chance of that happening is another reason for keeping on working.
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Happy birthday Richard. Please carry on for as long as you feel able. You keep the flickering flame of hope alive, that things might change, for the rest of us.
I suspect this blog will be the last thing I give up in life
Congratulations. You will notice a difference in people’s willingness to give you grant income, high pay or just opportunities. Psychologically panels favour those of working age and assume pensioners don’t need finance for personal projects.
I am ware of that. Indeed, I anticipate that.
Happy birthday and keep up the good work
Thanks
I’m almost 6 years older so had more time to adjust. From age 54 I was self-employed and as time went on gradually stopped hustling for new work (I was a techie writer). Eventually when my income was low enough I told HMRC I was retired but there was never a ‘last day’. My bugbear is people assuming that being over 70 and not using, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram means I’m tech-illiterate. The fact is I tested FB for a computer mag about 20 years ago then a few years later researched and wrote about the security and privacy issues around Facebook and detailed how to leave it.
Happy birthday! Very nicely written and well put. I’m a year ahead of you and I work part time for an organisation campaigning for an economy in service for people and planet. In many ways it’s the most meaningful work I have done. Yes I am fortunate enough to be able to choose to do this, but feel angry that for some working beyond retirement age is a financial necessity and that for so many work is so totally unfulfilling. We all should have the right to fair, decent satisfying work that enables us to live well within planetary limits.
Agreed
Happy birthday! Quite the week, with the funeral on Monday. Life is for living.
So, what are the benefits of reaching pension age these days? The right to the state pension (or to defer if you prefer). No need to pay National Insurance if you continue to work. Free bus pass. Anything else?
Those three, for sure. And Senior discounts (this evening). Senior railcard and no prescription charges. Any more? Not sure, yet.
Happy Birthday.
You’re certainly not alone in your outlook. Many of my friends claim to be retired and seem to be happily occupied. But many of them are still actually working, though not in the corporate sausage machine. Another would like to, and he is technically very skilled, but can’t find suitable part time work. Sadly my employment ended last year and, despite copious qualifications, it is hard to find suitable employment. I am fortunate that I can pursue personal projects. It seems crazy to not use the expertise I have gained over the decades. The government would like a greater participation rate, but do nothing to make it viable for more senior persons.
I remember Issac Asimov in an interview when he was in his 80’s claim to be in “late youth”, a sentiment with which I heartily agree.
Enjoy your birthday.
I like ‘late youth’ a lot
And have you tried consulting?
Thanks for the thought. I thinking I might do some contracting, but first I have a personal project to finish. 🙂
Happy Birthday, ‘old boy’. 🙂
May your flame continue to burn brightly.
Enough of that!
Happy birthday
May I wish you a long and happy non retirement
Thanks. I like that
Happy Birthday, Richard. Have a good day.
Craig
Thanks
Happy Birthday Richard.
Enjoy your day.
Thanks
Happy birthday.
I’m happy for you that you have the luxury of choice.
I always enjoyed working, and indeed it was ‘respite’ from my caring responsibilities. In that environment I was ‘me’ rather than an adjunct to someone else. The pandemic, combined with society’s ‘return to normal’ have compelled me to retire and live, more or less, like a hermit. I know I’m very lucky to be financially able to make this decision but it is definitely my ‘least worst’ option rather than a positive choice. I feel less than half the person I was and my cognitive abilities have definitely declined. I know I am needed, but am struggling to build a fulfilling life within the limits considered safe by the person for whom I care.
All of this is a long-winded (and cathartic) way of saying my experience convinces me that continuing with employment you enjoy is definitely the best decision. I greatly value your work and hope you have many fulfilling years ahead. Thank you for all you do. (Enjoy your chocolate!)
Thank you
And I have real sympathy with your situation. Being a carer is, I know, hard and not terribly rewarding on occasion (or even often). Good luck.
Happy 66th year on planet earth Mr Murphy. Thanks for so much educational and compassionate benevolence. May your journey through life continue along its tracks and find plenty more coal in the tender to power its engines
Happy Birthday, Richard. My friend/neighbour Betty will be 90 in a few days’ time; my old friend and student, Terri, will be 98 next birthday, and still drives her little car around the village. Me? a youngster of 78 in 3 weeks’ time. It’s inevitable, I’m afraid – but you inspire us, and others, to continue enjoying what we do best, until we are finally no longer to do those delights of later life.
Thanks Jeni
Happy Birthday.
Keep on doing what you love. It’ll keep you young at heart, if not in body.
I hate my ctreaking knees. The rest is in good order….and I can still do 10k without problem so right now they’re not really an issue
Happy birthday young man!
Being ‘retired’ is not conceivable.
Continuing to feel relevant, to have something one is trying to do – to have some influence, to work, to volunteer, to care, to create…many, or even most, people generally try to do these things.
This blog is more or less unique – and looks as though it will continue to be so.
You can take inspiration for good or ill, from Rupert Murdoch, David Attenborough, Michael Caine, Noam Chomsky, George Soros et al and my grandma who continued to exercise an iron grip at 101
My Dad was in good form until he was in his late 80s. I hope to be so!
As we say in Derbyshire ‘ Happy Birthday Me ‘Ode Duck’.
🙂
Ole duck is the local version here
Happy pension day, Richard.
I know your wife is a doctor, but I offer this advice in the fairly sure opinion that she would say the same thing, and probably has. You really should do something about those knees. See a physio or similar, and do the bloody exercises. I speak as someone who is x years older than you ( I subscribe to Oscar Wilde’s view ‘Never trust a woman who’ll tell you her age, is she’ll tell you that she’ll tell you anything). I have no knee or hip replacements and do not anticipate needing any before I kick the bucket, unlike most of my friends of similar age. I do yoga and swim and ride a bike, other options are available.
It is the exercises that I fail to do, even when reminded…
The phsio gave me a routine and I know it works but there is always something more interesting during the day
I regret it at night
Happy Birthday! Keep on keeping on. I’m 72 and still teaching 24 periods a week to 6th form. Meaningful work and a dollop of anger keeps us going! KBO!
Well done! RThat takes stamina
Many many happy returns
May the blogging force be with you to the very end of certainties of life …
Happy birthday, Richard. Many more of them, I hope!
Thanks Ralph
Happy Birthday to you and your brother on this ‘milestone’ birthday. There’s a logical reason why you’re not realizing a dramatic sigh of relief from daily toil. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that you forged a path in life that provided a consistent level of satisfaction throughout your working years. This is vital for personal happiness. As stated in an earlier reply, I advise young people, those who are just starting out, to focus on a career in which they are certain they will feel driven to engage with a real passion. Job satisfaction is not only the key to a good work/life balance and personal fulfilment, it will lead to greater respect through growing expertise and professionalism.
Throughout my working life I spent the majority of my time doing things I genuinely enjoyed and got great satisfaction from. I was primarily driven by a desire to learn through enriching experiences and extensive travel; money was only for the basic necessity of survival not accumulating wealth. On my orientation day at Johns Hopkins in the US, we were all asked what was on our personal ‘bucket list’. Most of the staff detailed things I had already done or goals I had already accomplished. Too many of us put off such aspirations until retirement, when we no longer have the physical ability or desire to chase our dreams. I am glad I wasn’t one of them.
I think that retirement should not be dictated at a set age in life, but become a gradual shifting of priorities with changing roles and shorter time commitments. When the physical requirements of work become more difficult, this necessitates a shift into a role instructing others. Staff should be able to shift from a demanding full-time workload to part-time employment in a higher paid supervisory or mentorship role that will take advantage of their experience. When you set your own timetable it can follow this natural progression in exactly the same way.
Welcome to the OAP club. I was depressed by the implications of that at first, worried that people’s attitude towards me would change. Thankfully that has not happened as I am still generating new concepts and innovations. You are highly respected in your field and I doubt that you will lose your professional status any time soon, despite now being considered ‘retired’. For me the security of retirement has opened up new possibilities to pursue a set of different goals that are not as physically demanding, but are a lot more mentally challenging.
Raising a family is a very important social responsibility that personally I never felt up to, but I don’t regret that decision. I believe that having children with an expectation that they will complete your unfulfilled ambitions is also unfair. I am glad I didn’t postpone sailing across oceans until retirement as I now require a wheelchair to get around. I feel I have reached the ‘Leave a Legacy’ part of my life; I don’t want my ideas and innovations buried with me! I think you will remain respected and content in your retirement as you continue to complete the tasks you love. We all wish you well.
Happy birthday Richard
As a 69-year old fellow knees sufferer, I sympathise
I spent £70 on a single physio session and asked for an exercise programme.
When I follow it it’s really effective
In fact, even when I only do some of it it is much better than it was. Two years ago I found stairs tough and now rarely think about them.
Yes, I’m seeing a physio soon to get some help. They’ve really deteriorated in the past 3 years – during the pandemic I was able to join in Joe Wicks exercise classes with my daughter – but no way now
I’ve had numerous operations over the years as a resulting of sporting injuries and unfortunately I fear arthritis may now be taking hold
Sorry to hear that
There has historically been a lot mo arthritis in my family, but no one is suggesting I have it
Richard,
Very best wishes for today and for many more happy, healthy and productive years.
And count your blessings. Will Hutton echoed your wish for everyone to have access to meaningful work in his article at the weekend when he wrote that work “ which offers a sense of self-worth and control, is the privilege of a minority.” What a waste of human energy and talent that represents.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/17/dont-believe-the-right-britain-doesnt-have-9m-shirkers-they-just-want-better-work
I agree
Happy Birthday, Richard! I am overjoyed to hear that you intend to keep blogging for a long time yet. I found volunteering was my salvation and it has kept me sane. Keep up the great work you do!
Thanks – and good luck
Happy Birthday Richard. I am a bit ahead of you, but still working, though I admit being self-employed makes it a lot easier to scale back a little to what I can cope with. Still with my own knees and hips and feeling a lot happier and healthier than neighbours who have retired and just ‘sit around’ all day. The main thing I have found is to leave my curtains open, so that the sun wakes me up and then , having read your blog and drunk some coffee, I set off outside to check my sheep!
I should think having sheep helps!
What breed? I am a bit of a fan of Southdowns
There are, I believe, over 40 pure bred sheep breeds in the UK and they all have their own fans! Plus all the cross-breds that inevitably happen…… I have ticked all boxes with a continental breed-Roussins, from Normandy, and a Welsh native breed-Hill Radnors, so whatever the weather or market I can be sure of a sale! BTW, Would you agree with me that a livestock market does show the classic features of a free and competitive market?
I will be looking them up
And yes, live stock markets are close to true markets
Many happy returns, Richard.
In base 16 you are now 42; perhaps there’s a question for an answer in there somewhere.
🙂
Happy birthday, youngster!
Thank you
Many, many happy and healthy returns of the day for you and your twin.
Thank you
Best wishes Richard.
I hope your 67th year is happy and productive.
Thanks
Happy Birthday! Thank you for this blog – long may it continue.
That’s the plan
Many happy returns, Richard: of the day, and of your blog which I greatly appreciate. I’ve learnt a lot from you through it and I look forward to continuing to do so for a long while to come. Thank you
Thanks for saying so
Penblwydd hapus.
Perhaps your path will follow the Neil Young lyric, ‘I won’t retire, but I might retread’.
Diolch
And 🙂
Happy Birthday Richard.
Thank you for enriching my life, ( and many others) in a way that enables us so many possible futures. Futures I only dared to dream about from the day i first saw the earth in all its glory from space.
Bernard.
Thanks
But all I do is write a blog….