Why all this complaining? (Pace, those who have dull jobs and no financial security except work or pension).
For over 100 years women have fought long and hard to have an education, to be able to work, to have independent lives, to get closer to having the same rights as men--so why now complain about having to work until 63,65 or 66--or 68? Most jobs have paid holidays attached--and days off during the week--what's the problem?! Why do women always, always seem to have to find something to whinge about, we're just never satisfied.
We have the benefit of living in a society where we know how to take care of ourselves and our health so we have a good chance of living well into our 80s or longer. But are we never happy? Maybe I'm just lucky, but I had to develop a career after having my 3 children--and a divorce which meant I had to earn my own living,
I worked hard, and studied hard--but overall it was worth every bit of midnight oil I burned.
I have just retired from the NHS 6 months after my 70th birthday--(although I was asked to stay on). I loved my work, and my work seemed to like me. I consider it a privilege to have been fit and bright enough to hold a responsible job for this long.
The only reason I retired was because I still have so many things I want to do, and I need to get on and do them! (and my grandmothering skills and time are needed.)
I reckon that work actually helped keep me feeling --and looking-much younger than my chronological age--but the latter gave me the experience to value and appreciate my real age.
And just in case you are thinking "It's ok for her, she's obviously got a really good pension". This is not true--I was not working for 15 years, when bringing up my children before divorcing, and it took me a while to be in pensionable employment. I also had to take time out to care for my mother after a stroke. But I learned to be careful, and choose how to spend any money I had--I think it's called 'taking responsibility for oneself'.
Sorry, this all sounds incredibly smug--it's really not meant to be, I just get sick and tired of people thinking 'someone else' owes them a living. As a taxpayer for 40 years I realise taxpayers can't support everyone all the time--there is no pot of gold for any government to use--their only pot, has only what we taxpayers put into it.