Retirement, whether by necessity or intent, is no longer a time for sitting on a porch in a rocker.

People used to view retirement as a time when they would be rewarded for their hard work and could relax and do what they wished. But we live in a time when the retirement years have taken on new meaning, with new opportunities for those who see them. It is not a time of being put out to pasture but a time of great promise that each of us can use as we wish.

Of course, retirement comes with the achievement of a certain age, and that, too, is being reimagined. Old age is relative, and now we divide it into at least three categories: the young old (60 to 69), the middle old (70 to 79), and the very old (80+). But, like everything else, these categories also include subgroups, one of which refers to those over 85 as the oldest-old. I would call them work survivors. Yes, sometimes reaching a retirement plateau feels like having successfully negotiated the "wars" of work.

Can anyone ever accept being referred to as "old?" The word itself connotes incompetence, dependence, and a lack of usefulness in society. This notion could discourage people who see older age as a chance to be creative, travel, explore, and positively impact society. After all, who fills the volunteer slots in organizations meant to help the underprivileged in our society? Of course, they are the older citizens and those who have retired from some job or profession. Many groups depend highly on these volunteers, who carry out tasks for which there is no funding.

I recall an elderly neighbor in her early 80s who rode the local bus to a hospital. There, she volunteered, bringing people from their rooms to treatment units in the building. Fitted in her hospital volunteer pink smock, she would pick up patients in wheelchairs, wait for them, and then return them to their rooms. When it came time for a free lunch for all volunteers, she refused. He once told me, "I don't do it for a free lunch like the others. I do it for the patients."

The Japanese recognized the importance of older people by designating them as "Living National Treasures."

I'm reminded of a very successful and highly regarded worldwide researcher who refused to give in to retirement. He questioned what that would mean because his life’s work was his enjoyment, and being denied that work would be like a prison sentence for him. He worked until the day they found him slumped over his desk in his office, dead.

He loved going to that office daily, even into his late 80s. He trained and supervised young residents as they conducted medical evaluations for research protocols. Having his name on your manuscript was one of the greatest goals in the lives of researchers. The hospital had offered a very generous retirement package and even an office and clerk for his use after he retired. No, he did not want to retire.

Another physician I worked with kept at his task of evaluating health records until he was almost 100. Even though he knew he had stomach cancer, which would eventually kill him, he started every day with a salami hero sandwich. I remember him sitting at his desk very early in the morning, munching away as he reviewed the records. He was a delightful, engaging, and brilliant man, and we all felt a terrible loss when he died.

When it comes to older adults, there's one remarkable finance expert who serves as a guiding light for many, including Bill Gates. Who is it? Of course, it's the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, the 93-year-old billionaire investment wizard. If you need an example of his acumen and expertise in investing, look up Berkshire Hathaway, which he has guided to preeminence in the stock market.

Society is changing, as evidenced by the fact that white hair is now considered trendy. Hairdressers are even getting requests from young women to dye their hair gray.

Also, we are looking at examples of older individuals who may have started their second career when they were over 60 or 70. Many of these people had incomes that enabled them to seize these opportunities. So, while everyone wants to be productive, it has to be within their means. Some countries prioritize supporting their older citizens, but unfortunately, we don't do the same. A day may come when that is possible.

In the meantime, why not look at a list of people who were contributing to the arts or some aspect of culture in their later years? Let's remember Michaelangelo was 88 when he designed the Dome at Saint Peter's. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York City at age 91, I. M. Pei designed the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame at age 78. And then there is Grandma Moses, whose artwork commands impressive prices at auction and began painting at age 78.

One move that our society is currently making is the idea of aging in place. Older adults no longer wish to spend their final years in a nursing home. They wish to remain in their homes, with their social networks and familiar neighborhoods, where they can continue to enjoy their lives. In 2021, the AARP found that 77% of people over 50 would choose to age in place if they could. Sometimes, this can mean moving back in with family or families and building a small adjacent home for this family member.

I remember a friend buying a home in Maine with a principal house and a smaller building connected by a covered walkway. The smaller building used to be an apartment for the previous owners' parents. It was a touching sight and, in some ways, a return to what had been "normal "in the prior century. Now that tiny house architecture is becoming popular, we may see a return to this living situation.

Living with people of different generations has become popular in tiny home communities in the last few years. People of all ages and stages of life live together in the same tiny home community, which helps them meet, get help, and live beneficially for the environment.

I recall visiting a planned community for older adults in Connecticut years ago. The homes were lovely, and you could walk everywhere. A large "barn" on the premises was a shopping center. It seemed ideal, but one resident told me, "All I ever go to are funerals."

Children under 18 could not live there, and anyone older than 18 had to have permission from the community council. Was it a great way for these people to live? Not according to what that woman said.

Looking forward to our "retirement years" is taking on new meaning, and all of us need to consider how we will use that time.