Do you think men should retire at 65?
By mipen2006
@mipen2006 (5528)
Australia
February 5, 2010 10:46pm CST
In Australia the pension age is being increased form 65 to 67. This will be introduced gradually, but will eventually be the official retiring age. I am 69, and worked as a teacher in Thailand until June last year. Now I’m back in Australia, and getting the pension, however, I am working a few hours a week to supplement my income. I still feel I am fit enough to work, but will not do anything when I return to Thailand, except walk and swim. What age do you think men should retire?
1 person likes this
14 responses
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
I totally agree. Unless you have health problems you should be allowed to work on. Thanks for your input.
@chiumee (850)
• Philippines
6 Feb 10
i agree. i believe it should be like voluntary. but setting an age is something else. i cannot make a clean cut between the age and being voluntary. because if it is age, then some people still can manage to work at their prime. if it is voluntary, then i want to retire at 50.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
One problem is many people aren't prepared for retirement. Suddenly you have to occupy many hours that you previously spent working, it's not easy. Many retirees get bored, and that's a problem.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
10 Mar 10
hello mike, glad to know you were a teacher, i retired at 60 after teaching in colleges for 44 years, well here in india for some job it is 58, some 60 and some 65, it is really disgusting, some friends of mine retired in 58 age, some are still working
thanks for this post
bhuwan
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Mar 10
Hi Professor, and welcome. I wouldn't have retired if I didn't have to return to Australia to get the pension. I loved my job. Thanks for joining the discussion, Mike.
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
7 Feb 10
I think the decision to retire should be up to the person that is retiring. Some people are very active when they are in their late 60's-early 70's. So why waste that energy doing nothing. If they want to work, let them.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
7 Feb 10
I have a friend who is 76 and still works as a psychologist and a darn good one at that! She loves her job she would be a loss to a lot of people if she retired and she would not be happy not doing what she loves. She has had some health issues but fortunately not serious enough according to her to stop working. I do think it should be an individual choice; it does depend on the person and his or her line of work. Some people are in their forties counting the many days until they will retire and some, like my friend is way past the customary retirement age, still going strong and loving it. By the way I don’t agree pension age should go up to 67, men should have their choice much younger but it is an ageing population I guess...
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
11 Mar 10
Hi paila, sorry for the delay responding, but I've had tech problems. I loved what I was doing in Thailand, but can't do the same here, so I'm cleaning twice a week, and doing some volunteering other days. It is far better doing something, the time moves quicker. I think a choice is a good idea also, but the government is looking to the future when the people on benefits will put extra pressure on the tax payer, so I think introducing 67 is a good idea. If one wants to retire earlier, they could plan accordingly.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
7 Feb 10
I think a lot of young people think they will have had enough of work by the time they reach 60/65. However, when you reach that age, you realize you are still enjoying work, and are in good health, so you would like to work on.
@jamesjin1982 (6)
• China
7 Feb 10
I think the age of retiring depends on his or her economic status.If he is very rich,he can retire earlier.But the guys, who are very poor and cannot support themselves without working,have to work in spite of old age.For instance,my father is 66 years and still work as a bricklayer.I sympthize with him but don't have a way to prevent him from working because my family is still in poverty.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
7 Feb 10
You are quite rught, money has probably as much to do with the decision as health. Your father is lucky he is fit enough to continue working. Bricklaying is a hard job.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Feb 10
My father used to work part time till age of 73. He was retired and decided to work to supplement hit income. I know many people working much longer than retirement age.
I can not judge, because I don't know how well people are doing in that age.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
Hi pola, one problem is filling in your time. Because I'm living alone, and the funds are limited, the day dragss, and becomes boring. I do have have a part time job, and do some volunteering work, without which I am sure I would be driven crazy. Take care, Mike.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Feb 10
Hi my friend Mipen. In my home country people tend to retire before they reach age 65 years old. My mom worked as a reference librarian and she was sad to retire. She felt active enough to keep working. Some 80 year old are more able to work than some 60 year olds. Each person is different. I know that you are living in Australia to get a pension. You are probably counting the days down until you move back to Thailand. I think that ladies and men should retire at any age they wish after age 60. I imagine I will work until age 65 and then I will have a fairly active retirement.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
Hi max, you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned 'counting the days.' Life for me in Thailand is far superior to here, I can live exceptionally well in Thailand, but it's a struggle here. I was still contracted to teach over there when I decided I had better get the two years out of the way before I am too old to enjoy life. If possible, I will do some relief teaching next year. I am so looking forward to being back in Thailand with my wife.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
Exactly what I believe. Some are forced to retite early because of health reasons, others can continue to work, if they desire.
@smukherjee_on_line (578)
• India
6 Feb 10
I don't think so. I think the ideal age should be 60. It may help someone if you increase the retire age but the problem of unemployment will rise up. I think the ruling party or the Government should decide carefully according to the financial and market of their Country.........
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
I don't think you can just draw a line and say you have to retire here. Unemployment is a different issue, and if older people comtinue to work there is more money being spent, which helps create jobs, and the government don't have to pay out social security for them.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
If you had a manual job you may want to retire early, or at 55, but ir is a long time out of work. Who supports the men after they retire?
@calai618 (1773)
• Philippines
6 Feb 10
I think around 60 would be fine but I totally admire and respect men like you who keeps on working despite the fact that yoou can just simply retire. There are really a lot of men who feels weaker when they dont get to continue what they have been used to doing. As long as they are happy and able, I think they should be permitted to work :D
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
Hi calai, I agree. I don't think it's something you can just draw a line abd say you must stop here. We are all different, and fortunately, I have good health, and would like to do more, even at 70. I still have my Thai teaching license, so will try for fill in work when I return there.
@lxxiao2009 (5)
• China
6 Feb 10
it all depends whenever you have the energy and the passion
in my coutry the age of the retirement for is 55
i think it is also depends on your working areas
my tip to you is if you like just going on,never stop until you really feel tired
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
6 Feb 10
Hi Ixxiao, and thanks for your response. I agree with you, but I believe 55 is too young unless you have worked manually, and have means of support.
