My wife’s 72-year-old brother was “written up” at work recently

[FlaGranny]

62. When I was younger

I couldn't imagine being able to work for another 30 years or another 20 years or even another 10 years until I was 65. It seemed like torture. Now that I'm 73 years old I can't imagine not working until I either die or cannot do the job any more. I do part time office work. My husband is 74 and works for himself. He has a small janitor service - no employees. He works 6 to 7 days a week. He has slowed down over the years to about 6-8 hours a day instead of 10 or more. We see no pathway to "retirement," even though we are both "tired." We made a living all our lives, never had to rely on any kind of help, and managed to put two boys through college. It was always financially tight, but at least now we have no mortgage to worry about - we downsized from our nice, average home to an older mobile home. Never saved any money because every time we tried there was some emergency that took it all.

At this point I've finally accepted that we'll always be working until we are dead or mentally unfit. I don't feel sorry for us because we are way, way better off than millions of others and there other millions just like us. I guess I just feel fortunate to be independent. In 2014 we turn 75 and 74. The bones are getting weary.