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> Not everyone's lucky enough to love their jobs

I agree, but I know a whole lot of people who are no longer working but who struggle to fill the gaping void in their lives once filled by a job and ameliorated by a paycheck.

So they do often turn to the shiny objects, and are doubly disappointed when the expensive things they do or buy fail to produce lasting satisfaction.

Sadly, I can report that more than one person in my life who retired at the top of their field is usually to be found bent over their phone, playing weird videos from Facebook at full volume.

There may be a correlation between excellence in a highly competitive career and failure to connect with other seniors at the community kitchen, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for growing old _contentedly_.

[ripply]

Some people just never learned how to enjoy life and just exist, be it because of their demanding job or responsibilities or the toxic work cultures they spent decades in.

[trilbyglens]

Or simply being a product of their culture. Americans are renowned for not knowing how to just _be_.

[DonnyV]

This just sounds like they don't know how to find hobbies to do, so they just go back to working. Since its the only thing they know. How lacking in creativity do you have to be to need work this much to regulate your life.

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Your comment is judgmental but my observation is that this is how many people live their lives. How much of this is a function of their personality vs the society they must live in is an open question.