'You Can Only Play So Much Golf': The Retirement Experiences of People Who Really Love Their Work

This research was an investigation into the retirement experiences of people who reported that they really enjoyed (or continue to enjoy) work. A brief history of retirement and a literature review of theories of human development relevant to retirement were provided. Myths about retirement were addressed. A new definition of retirement was offered. Retirement was found to be, for most people, a desired and positive experience. Outliers were identified for whom this was not the case, among them, those who really liked or like their work. This project investigated the retirement experiences of these workers when they retired after a primary career, and when they decided never to retire. Many of those who really liked or like their work were found to prefer their working lives to retirement.