Working in Retirement
Minnesota resident highlights adults' desire to work, learn in retirement
While it is certainly not uncommon for adults to work past retirement age or go back to school, it may be more unusual to see someone doing both at the same time. However, such is not the case for 64-year-old Pamela Harris. Not only is the Minnesota resident pursuing a master's degree in library and information science but she is also working at her law practice full time, according to U.S. News and World Report.
What's unique about Harris' position is that she is not planning on working into her 70s because she has to, but simply because she wants to. She hopes that if the time ever comes for her to retire from her job as a lawyer, her master's degree will give her another option to continue working.
"Some friends think [pursuing a library science degree] is a ridiculous idea," she told the publication. However, she added that by the time she's 67 she believes she'll have plenty of ways to stay active.
Harris is certainly not alone when it comes to wanting to work into her 70s. Though some may feel pressured due to financial constraints, others are looking to embark on different careers that give them more personal satisfaction than their jobs in their earlier days may have. In particular, positions in the health, environmental, and non-profit fields have proven to be the most popular.
Del Webb Celebrate offers boomers in Virginia the perfect opportunity to take a page out of Harris' book and go back to school. The community is located in close proximity to the University of Mary Washington which not only has a center for graduate and professional studies but also has an elder study and lecture series designed to stimulate the intellectual curiosity of older adults.
You might also find these articles interesting.
Companies offer 'phased retirement' for boomers - 05/31/2013
There's no denying retirement is different than it used to be. In years past, it wasn't unusual for workers to leave their job all at once and settle into a relaxing life after employment. That's not the case anymore, as many people found it difficult to jump from a fast paced work environment to the more relaxed atmosphere of retirement.
Gallup: Three quarters of workers plan on delaying retirement - 05/24/2013
Not long ago, it seemed unusual for older workers to stay on the job past the traditional retirement age, but that expectation has changed considerably more recently.
What you can learn from a retirement test drive - 02/03/2013
The concept of a retirement test drive has become popular over the last several years.
Employers should prepare for influx of older workers - 01/23/2013
There has been a considerable amount of news lately highlighting the fact that adults may have to wait longer to retire. It can be easy to see this as bad news, especially if you're of the mindset that retiring early is the ultimate goal.
