The Three-Time Retiree

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Once, twice, three times a pension.

My grandfather retired from three different careers, and lived to be 100 years old.

It started with the Air Force (or technically, the Army Air Corps). It took a lot in post-WW2 America to do the full 20 years, but he did it. What I mean is that with so many active service members, and peace time following the war, let’s just say that military leadership was less-than-encouraging to those trying to stay in and make retirement.

After the military, he continued on in the civilian world, working 2 different careers eventually ending with a more conventional retirement in his 60’s.

That was the grandpa I knew as a child. House paid off, always home, low key lifestyle. Life on his own terms. Financial independence. The “FI life”.

But I guess it just wasn’t that interesting.

So, he picked up a part-time retirement job at a museum. After a few years he switched museums, and stayed with that job into his 90s.

By the time he retired (again), he was the longest tenured employee at the organization, with over 25 years under his belt. At his retirement job!

The people close to us have a big influence on how we see the world.

My grandfather is no exception.

What I saw from tagging along with him to work was that you can find meaning and enjoyment in work, no matter what job you’re doing.

He got to meet strangers from all over the world, tell off-colored jokes to his coworkers during slow periods, and look at world-class artwork. He had a Rembrandt at his place of work, for crying out loud – not every job is exactly like that, but he also didn’t have to leave the leisure of his paid-off home and low-key retirement life to put on a suit and tie, pack a sack lunch, and hit the bricks like a working stiff again either.

He did it because work gave him a regular rhythm, like a heartbeat in his month-to-month to keep him steady. It gave him something to look forward to, a sense of purpose and importance.

It probably didn’t hurt to feel confident that he could quit any time, either.

It’s easy to chase the Financial Independence dream and think that’s the end goal, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be the start of the next chapter of work, too.

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