People have been known to commit suicide, when they have been let go.
It's really easy to be dismissive, and project our own society's norms onto others, with a "That's so silly! Why don't they just..." modifier, but that's just so silly.
I've been to Japan a lot (Tokyo, mostly). I used to work for a Japanese corporation, and traveled there regularly. I had/have many Japanese friends.
Personally, I could not live in that society. There's a lot of stuff that would be far too grating for me, but there's also some really awesome stuff.
Moreover science seems to agree that keeping on moving, no matter at what age, is related to lower stress levels and higher lifespan. In other words: not wanting to retire might actually keep you alive longer and with a higher quality life compared to for instance a sedentary lifestyle. I mean I understand where these 'oh poor people still having to work makes me sad' comments are coming from, but also for me personally I'd rather be doing something (something, not anything, that is) I somehwat like at that age than having to spend days mostly sitting down.
> Being without work, and without family, means being nothing, means abandoning yourself and dying.
No it doesn't. Or at least it doesn't if you refuse to accept that attitude. If you have enough income to live and a little left over you can take charge of your life.
I was afraid that I would be at a loose end with nothing to do when I retired at 62. But now like many of my friends I just wonder how I ever had time to hold down a job. Of course I am slightly privileged because I had a reasonably well paying job and have accumulated enough money to be comfortable.
It's not lack of work that makes life difficult, it is lack of money.
Exactly. These people keep working at 80 because their pensions are shit, not because they enjoy it. Well, some of them do enjoy it because they don't have any hobby and don't know how to enjoy their retirements, they just know how to work, which is equally depressing.
I live in Japan and heard the same story from Japanese people, so sadly it seems not to be a myth. It is not super common either, but it is pretty sad that it happens at all.
At least in my culture, older people feel productive by focusing on their family and friends. I prefer that to working until you die, but to each their own.
In Japan, your vocation is a really big deal.
People have been known to commit suicide, when they have been let go.
It's really easy to be dismissive, and project our own society's norms onto others, with a "That's so silly! Why don't they just..." modifier, but that's just so silly.
I've been to Japan a lot (Tokyo, mostly). I used to work for a Japanese corporation, and traveled there regularly. I had/have many Japanese friends.
Personally, I could not live in that society. There's a lot of stuff that would be far too grating for me, but there's also some really awesome stuff.
The same can be said for any society.