By Wendy Brown

Last updated 11:22, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Why is it, I wonder, that some people can’t bear the thought of others retiring? If they’re younger, maybe it’s jealousy, but contemporaries puzzle me. The Germans have a delightful phrase for retirement: “im Ruhestand” which translates literally as “in a state of peace”. And surely that’s exactly what it should be.

In the early years of my own retirement I grew very tired of people saying: “Why don’t you go and do supply teaching?” And of agencies assuring me: “Many of our best supply teachers are well into their 70s.” Well fine – if that’s what they want to do. “Evening classes,” I heard next, “they’re always looking for people to teach those.” Or “How about taking on some coaching?” I wonder whether office workers or carpenters receive the same treatment? Or do people imagine that, having spent 20-odd years in a classroom, you simply can’t face life away from it? Most of us genuinely can.

I do realise that for some people, who really love their job, enforced retirement can be a problem. And many do choose to go on working if given the chance. I did, in fact, go on to do some freelance tour managing for a couple of years – and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. But eventually – for whatever reason – there does come a stage where you think: “No. I’m not going to work anymore. I’ve done my share.”

I do a fair amount of voluntary work now – which I really enjoy – and in between, thanks to that wonderful institution the U3A, am learning lots of new skills, meeting some interesting people and making new friends. And why shouldn’t I be allowed to do just that?

You never know how many years of retirement you will be granted and I believe you should be able to make the most of that time – without being made to feel guilty. I’m lucky to have had five years so far and hope to enjoy several more. We live in a work-orientated society