Hi,
It’s odd to think of retirement as something that was invented. But it was – and it could have been invented quite differently or not at all, like in Okinawa in Japan or the Hunza valley in Pakistan, where the concept simply doesn’t exist.
This week I’m delving into the history of retirement (did you know it sparked one of the worst military disasters the Roman empire ever faced?) and trying to spot those ideas from history that might give clues as to what lies ahead for the pensioners of the future. Bismark, for instance, had some interesting ideas about a flexible retirement age. You can read the article here.
I’m looking forward to talking to readers online about this piece, so please get involved. Soon I’ll be writing about the caring responsibilities that come with ageing: pensioners caring for their parents, as well as their children and grandchildren. If you’ve got something to say about this, please drop me a line.
All the best,
Amelia
