I love this. It describes a reality that I think exists into the present day. Regardless of our passions, real life is always there, filling ashtrays and picture frames whether you want it to or not.
Indeed and the last part "And you realize this is what happens when you keep coming to work years after you’ve mentally retired. This terrifies me." A worrying and yet some how sobering thought once you realise, we all get older, less agile physically and mentally in different ways.
It's interesting how paralysed by <insert reason here> most people really are when it comes to pursuing whatever it is they want to pursue. And I count myself within that group; for now.