A neighbor who lives directly below me in my condominium building wakes up before 6 a.m. each morning, gets dressed, skulks outside and on some days begins looking for parked vehicles of neighbors he doesn't like.
Under the protective cloak of a cover of darkness, he removes a key from his pocket, walks alongside those cars, and ensures the key he's holding gouges a line six to nine feet long in the finish. If he really doesn't like someone, while strafing the long line in the paint job, he will dig the key in with such force that the paint on either side of the furrow literally stands at 90 degrees off the surface.
For a change of pace, he's been known to plunge a jackknife into one of the tires of folks he doesn't like, or rip their car's antenna from its moorings.
That this psychopath is on the far side of 70 would surprise many people. This isn't the kind of behavior one expects from a senior citizen. But ironically, I can attest this was a much better guy when he was younger -- and had a job.
Since retiring, though, he's had nothing to do all day. So he apparently sits around from sunup to sundown, imagining enemies and ways to get even.
Just think. At the hour most people are getting ready to head off for another productive workday, this guy who spends every hour of every day not working is out making their lives even more challenging by vandalizing their cars.
This isn't the first time I've seen retirement leave an older person much the worse off. Anger, depression, domestic problems and social isolation are a few of the pathologies I've witnessed in folks who have "hung 'em up for good," presumably so they can spend every day dwelling deeply on negatives.
Good state of mind?
If it sounds like I'm not a huge fan of the retirement concept, you're right as rain. I think retirement is one of the worst ideas anyone ever devised. That someone should spend her life in productive work where she is socially engaged and rewarded for her labors, then chuck it all to start a new chapter with vastly diminished challenges and social engagement is absolutely loony.
Sure, some people hate their jobs and can't wait to grab the gold watch and walk away. But that doesn't mean they can't wake up the next day and start a new vocation doing something they love. There's nothing about reaching your mid-60s that should consign you to the hell of afternoons with "Maury."
So you can imagine my eyebrows arching heavenward when I came across an article two weeks ago entitled, "Retirement: A Good State of Mind."
"Is retirement good for one's mental health? The evidence is all over the place," the report discloses. "A new study of the United States and 11 European countries finds that it improves subjective well-being, measured both in terms of satisfaction with one's life and the incidence of depression.
"The study is based on two comparable sets of surveys of age-50-plus Americans and Europeans taken in 2004, 2006 and 2010."
Based on preliminary findings across a dozen countries, the study concluded that retirement reduces depression, has a significant positive effect on life satisfaction, and that incomes have relatively little effect on retirees' levels of depression or their satisfaction with their lives.
The entity that funded this research? That would be the U.S. Social Security Administration, through the Retirement Research Consortium.
Hazardous to health, wealth
Again, based on what I've seen of a good many retirees, a more accurate picture might've been painted in a June article by Paul Irving called "Retirement is bad for your health, and your wealth." The article's message? The retirement years aren't what they once were, and that might be a very good thing.
"It's clear that the old model of retirement -- days of decline and disengagement, a period of withdrawal and mass leisure -- is thankfully on its way to being retired, as our goals and values change with the times," he wrote.
"As the world moves toward its largest-ever population of older citizens, both scientific and financial opportunity offer an encouraging new path."
In the article, the author cites research that shows working longer confers substantial health benefits. Older folks who stay mentally and physically active give themselves an immeasurable gift, Irving writes. "Those who work and are active are less likely to develop diseases associated with aging," he adds. "They have a greater possibility of living longer lives, mostly free from disability."
Engaging, enjoyable and purposeful work after age 66 can mean income, and that in turn spells less worry about outliving savings, which in turn is likely to bring enhanced health and longevity. "Work is good for self-esteem and for purposeful, financially secure and healthy aging," Irving concludes.
I'm not surprised the downstairs neighbor in my building hasn't gotten this message and found something to keep him busy. Why am I not surprised? Well, he has never impressed me as the sharpest instrument in the drawer.
The same can't be said for his key and switchblade.
