I had that question once. Then, I found myself on the bandwagon of people who want to retire early without actually understanding what retirement was all about. I once set myself a goal that I wanted to retire by age 30. I spent a lot of my time thinking about the emergency funds, savings, all the things that would enable me to “retire”. Whereas, I grew up in a society where retirement should be somewhere in their 60's and it’s only for people who worked in a corporation or some sort of government position. Sometimes there are people who retire at age 40 or even 50 where now it’s becoming more and more common.

The want to retire early made me choose a life that helps me save up just to do that. I got stressed out thinking that I should really not be working by the time I got into my 30's but things have slowly changed when I started learning what retirement was all about.

By definition, within the western culture, retirement is the act of leaving your job and stopping working, usually because you are old. If we attach those definition, it means we shouldn’t be working at all and just “enjoying” life just when we are “old”. It’s similar to where I am from where the government and companies set a certain age for “retirement” but often here, despite those people still working for many reasons after passing their “retirement” age. That’s where it got me thinking, will I be happy just doing nothing at all only when I am 30? What is it about “retirement” that’s appealing?

I talked to older people, observed them, and even learned from my own grandparents. My grandparents despite comfortably receiving pension and passive incomes, their life did not simply stop. They found another job and occupied their time with many things. So, essentially they have not stopped working and just choosing something they care about and are passionate about.

This whole retirement thing also by definition does not seem to exist within an entrepreneur family, like the one I have. My grandma still works as a cashier in her 70’s and she still socializes and lives an active life. And she doesn’t seem to show any sign to stop working at her shop.

When I ask my mom about retirement, she simply answers that she didn’t want to stop working. She just wants to take things easier. She wants to remain active because not only is it good for her physical health it’s also good for her mental health, that’s what she told me. She told me that many people simply stop doing things and it makes them ill and even depressed. My mom didn’t want that when she’s much older.

Then, just three days ago, we met a petite old lady seemingly in her 70’s offering us a “porter” service. Basically she will carry our bags on her back to either our car/ our motorbike. These old strong ladies are known in the city and despite their age, they still continue to work lifting heavy things. People are also still using their service but my mom when offered, politely declined and just gave her the money. Once she left, it left me feeling a slight shame. How could I, relatively young, already think about retirement? don’t I have something more to do?

My mom was even impressed with her tenacity and feeling inspired that she’s firm in her choice, if she can, why can’t I? It was the same too when she saw an old Australian couple carrying their luggage in the heat of Bali. She told me, “ I want to be like them, even when I am old, I can still travel in a place where I don’t speak the language”. In the end, it left me thinking that maybe not retiring can be a good thing too. That retiring doesn’t mean simply stopping working rather pursuing something that we’re passionate about.