RETIREMENT AND PLANS THAT NEVER REALLY RETIRE

A Korean friend of mine — a senior legal expert at a major bank — recently sent me a long email, sharing all sorts of life stories. But in the end, everything came down to one simple point: his contract has just been extended for another year. What happens after that is uncertain, because he has already turned 66 — an age at which many of his peers retired more than ten years ago.

His wife, on the other hand, was very straightforward: why not just retire properly, stay home, and take care of their lovely granddaughter? The main task would be picking her up and dropping her off at school, with a bit of help here and there. In return, their daughter would provide a monthly allowance sufficient for daily living.

It actually sounded quite reasonable. Being close to the grandchild, having some income — not a bad deal at all.

But there’s one problem: he is a true workaholic. So he came up with four plans, and every single one of them still revolves around… working and earning money:

• Plan A: if the contract is not renewed at the end of the year, move to another bank.
• Plan B: if it is renewed, happily continue working.
• Plan C: open a home-based consulting practice.
• Plan D: stay home and take care of his granddaughter, as suggested by his wife.

Listening to him, I felt a little wistful. Past 65, yet every plan was still about work. Retirement, it seemed, had not quite begun. If Plans A, B, and C failed, only then would Plan D be activated — still responsibility, just a change of “workplace.”

I replied, half serious, half joking:

“You already have four plans for life after 65, but it seems none of them is really about… resting.

Over the past decade, many people have begun to think differently. Grandparents now “visit” their grandchildren rather than “raise” them. They spend time on each other, on their health, and on the trips they postponed their entire working lives.

Life is short.

Why not consider a Plan E? Pack a suitcase, travel with your wife, and enjoy old age — no obligations, no KPIs, no need to count the days.”

Thomas replied immediately, also half joking, half serious:

“You are wise. Buddha must have sent you to me, since he was busy elsewhere.”

I smiled and wrote back:

“If Buddha truly sent me, then it must have been a very short assignment.

May you find a path that brings both peace and joy.”

—

Mr. Old Man

17 January 2026

At Traditional Café