[wildleaf]

Have money to be independent in your final years so that you can be cared for appropriately without burdening your family.

[melling]

That could be a decade or more. For instance, some people are living longer because of medical advances. Alzheimer’s might be more of a problem as more people live into their 80’s, 90’s...

https://www.livescience.com/59261-alzheimers-deaths-increase...

[ghostbrainalpha]

That's true but it doesn't effect what GP said.

Many of us on HN are in professions where we are able to save enough money to live without being productive after the age of 65.

But also many of the people reading this will be 50 years old and have the option to purchase a second (vacation home), or a boat, or a fancy sports car, OR completely secure their retirement. Many of us will choose one of these luxury items and hope everything works out rather than saving for a retirement that could last into our 90's.

[matte_black]

And many still might forego those luxury items and instead save for retirement, only to be dead, buried and forgotten at 71, all the same.

It’s a balance.

Money, Age, Enjoyment. Most can choose two, some can choose all, and some can choose none.

[jcadam]

I'm 37 and am counting on effective anti-aging treatments to come along before I'm too old to work. Then I won't need to retire and can continue working for the man until the end of time.

[dh-g]

And for those who don't have that option / affluence?

[wildleaf]

Then you'll have to rely on your family. I have an elderly neighbor with no money/family and it's quite depressing. She often can't feed herself or clean her apartment due to chronic pain. She's bipolar, suffers from COPD, and lives in filth. She can't afford any kind of assisted living, and has to rely on her rapidly diminishing friends (who're old and dying) to help her get through the day.