Future Here Now: The Meaning of (Long) Life

My father retired the day he turned 65. He died at 68, 22 years ago.

My father in law retired when he was 55. At nearly 80, he still walks and bikes and reads voraciously and works on a B-25 for a warbird museum. Last year they rebuilt an engine.

What does later life mean when we live far longer and more healthy and vibrant? And what does that mean in a transitional time betwen the Industrial Era and the Fusion Era? Should we still expect people to ride off into a golden years of golf and canasta? Or do we expect them to keep contributing?

Given this history, and the fact that my own husband recently retired, this is a question that hangs large in my mind these days. That’s probably why