Trevor Laffan: My friend’s still a painter at 80 - he vows he will never retire

You know how sometimes a smell can take you back in time? You can’t identify exactly what the smell is, but it just reminds you of something from your earlier life.

You’re transported there for a few seconds and that’s all. It’s gone again in a flash.

Well, I was driving out of my estate around 9pm the other evening when I had one of those moments.

It was a nice, balmy night, and I don’t know if it was something on the radio or the smell of freshly cut grass or a combination of all that, but for a split second, it felt like I was going on night duty.

A little strange given that I’ve been retired for the last 11 years, but it reminded me of those occasions back then when I’d have to forfeit a family gathering to go to work. Or abandon a barbecue just when everyone else was settling in for the night.

I got a warm, fuzzy feeling when I came back to the real world and realised I wasn’t actually going anywhere important. The time of the day didn’t matter either because I am no longer governed by the clock. I am a free agent and I love it.

Retirement isn’t for everyone though. I have self-employed friends who have their money made but refuse to retire. They love what they do and want to keep at it.

I met one recently doing a painting job, and I was surprised to hear he is 80 years old. He doesn’t look it. He told me he has no intention of retiring because he’d find it too difficult to sit still.

Another 80-year-old did a job on my fence. He was digging holes and pulling and dragging with the energy of a guy in his twenties. He enjoys it. You can see it on his face, and more power to him if that’s his wish.

Others don’t have that option. The decision to retire is made for them when they reach a certain age. Like it or not, when that time comes, out they go to face new challenges.

There was a time when retirees didn’t live long, but that has changed. Barring ill health, retirees these days could have another 20 years ahead of them, so they need to be prepared.

According to one website offering advice on early retirement planning, it’s important to be aware of the reality of what retirement entails. To know the key differences between expectations and reality, and how to thrive post-retirement with purpose, structure, and happiness.

Most people work 30 to 40 years dreaming of retirement as their ultimate reward. But when that moment finally comes, it doesn’t always feel like paradise.

Retirement isn’t just about freedom and leisure. It’s an emotional and psychological shift that many don’t see coming.

Many envision retirement filled with travel adventures, lazy mornings, new hobbies, and reconnecting with friends. And while these dreams are common, they often don’t match reality.

A study revealed a striking gap between what retirees anticipated and what they actually experienced.

When it came to travel, 76% expected to travel more, but only 59% did it.

In relation to exercise, they found 71% expected to do this more, but only 59% did, and while 44% expected to take up new hobbies, in reality, only 29% did.

I found it particularly sad that the study revealed 83% of retirees listed watching TV as their primary daily activity, and 31% of retirees reported feeling lonely.

Clearly, retirement life can differ dramatically from expectations so having a positive attitude is hugely important.

Some see retirement as a sign that the ageing process has well and truly kicked in, and they are nearing the end of the life cycle. Certainly, in times past, that was a popular view. Once they stopped working, they were assigned to the scrap-heap and life was effectively over.

That’s understandable because, in those days, life expectancy was lower than it is today. Health care wasn’t as advanced, and people weren’t as health conscious as their modern counterparts.

Living conditions have improved too, all of which have increased our average life expectancy.

In July, the Central Statistics Office published The Changing Nature of Life Expectancy and Causes of Death in Ireland 1922-2023. It showed that Tuberculosis (TB) related deaths decreased substantially over that time. The number of deaths dropped from 4,614 in 1922 to 14 in 2023.

However, deaths from cancer have grown greatly over the same period, from 2,523 in 1922 to 10,221 deaths in 2023.

Life expectancy greatly improved from approximately 57 years for males and 58 years for females to approximately 80 years for males and 83 years for females.

These improved figures are down to advancements in medicines and medical procedures, developments in disease prevention and hygiene, and better diets.

So, a healthy retiree can reasonably expect to live for 20 years after putting away the tools for the last time, but people can react differently to this change.

Some embrace it, some fear it, some thrive, and some just find it difficult.

A friend of mine in Cyprus will be 80 next year and you wouldn’t think it to look at him.

He goes to the gym three days a week for some light exercise and spends a few hours at the beach soaking up some vitamin D, and he looks great.

People say he’s lucky, but it’s not all about luck either. He has chosen this lifestyle.

Having a positive attitude is very important.

According to one piece of advice, the happiest retirees share three habits: they prioritise their health, they maintain social circles, and they find purpose beyond work, like volunteering, mentoring, learning something new, or creative pursuits.

Alternatively, just embrace it and be thankful for the opportunity. Many of our friends didn’t get that chance.