Question 

My father, at 65, retired from a very intense job about a year ago. He has a heart issue, so we are all grateful that he is taking a much needed retirement. Dad does not seem willing to slow down though. Since he retired, he keeps picking up part-time jobs. Right now, he has two of them and he is talking about a third. The jobs are not hard, but why work at all? 

I am concerned that he is taking on too much. I am quite sure that he does not need the money. I think he should be spending time with family, mother, and resting a bit. Instead, he seems busier than ever. 

It is rather hard to ask him about his jobs. He is not the kind of person that you question about his decisions. I just do not understand what he is doing.   

Answer 

It is not uncommon for people to work part-time jobs in retirement, so your father is in good company.   

Times have changed and most individuals retire with 10 to 20 or more years yet to live. That was not true in the 1950’s and earlier. Before we became an industrial society, we were primarily an agricultural based society, people simply worked until they physically could not, then died. Social Security did not exist before 1935, and Medicare was not in place until 1965. Retirement was not possible for many without those two benefit programs for the elderly.   

Now when men retire, usually 65, they are still quite able to work. Most individuals are retiring because they have reached that magic number of 65 when Medicare is available to them. Those that retire earlier, and many women do, either need to have a spouse working or scramble to buy health insurance in the market.  

Your father is retired technically, but still needs the stimulation of a job. There are so many pluses to work and your father is drawn to the aspects of work that are not present at home. The stimulation of meeting new people, the defined schedule, a paycheck, moving about in the community, and doing something productive are facets of work that come with most jobs. 

Not everyone craves large amounts of unstructured time, and it sounds like your father does not. Being with family is important and rewarding, though can lose its appeal. Children are usually working and in those busy child raising years. Providing childcare is not for everyone and not practical unless you live very close by.

Your father is simply doing what he knows, what he wants to do, and likely enjoying it in the process. It is probably best to simply step back and let him live his life the way he wants to. His body will tell him when he cannot. Sometimes, we think we know what is best for someone else.  We may be right, or we might not be, it is not always that easy to tell.