No; of course not. Some people choose to continue to work full-time after reaching what many would consider retirement age, such as 65. And more than a few people have to work. But others look forward to the absence of daily work. One of my co-workers told me she would be happy to sit on her front porch with a cup of coffee once she was able to retire. But others like at least some aspects of their working life, and want to continue it. An article in the New York Times of Sunday, March 5, 2017 offers examples of people who view continued work as a healthy and enjoyable thing. Most of them, it appears, are not working full-time. The article cites two economists from the Munich Center for the Economics of Aging of the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy, who say that having disliked colleagues and a bad boss are better than the social isolation that might occur at retirement. That's clearly wrong. Retirement need not lead to social isolation, unless that is what is desired, and social interaction can come from a variety of activities other than work. So that is not a fair statement of the choices at retirement (except perhaps in Munich)- working with unpleasant people or staying at home alone. It's instructive to consider, though, that retirement, or what the American Bar Association calls the Second Season, can involve some work, if that is the choice made after considering the possibilities. But those who choose to retire and stop working should not feel they are slackers or quitters, especially after perhaps 40+ years in the workforce. If you don't have to work, and you have activities to occupy your time (as every retired person I've spoken with has), then you should not feel that you must continue to work because others do.
