swill453 wrote:Watis wrote:I recall when I worked for an engineering company back in the 80's & 90's, how many men (it was always men) - died suddenly and unexpectedly - either just as they were approaching retirement or in the year after retiring.
But then people approaching and getting just beyond retirement would be the oldest people you would encounter in the course of your job, so it's natural that cohort would be the most likely to die.
Scott.
It's also more memorable, as it underlines our own fear of early death, as well as being more noticeable, in that that group (about to and just retired) are probably the most widely connected individuals in the organisation (compared to their peers in the same roles). As the retirees survive each year of retirement, they become less and less "connected" with their previous employer, such that even relatively young deaths are not widely noted after a few years.
I think there was a study that demonstrated "sudden retirement mortality" for those who had a sudden switch of lifestyle, especially if their sense of identity was embedded in their job, and not redirected after retirement, but it's confounded by lots of other factors (retirees retiring due to failing health, rather than health failing due to retiring). Could have been a myth 'though.
In any case, I recommend retiring with a purpose, unless that purpose is to watch daytime TV...
VRD