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Show THEY WANT TO WORK Only One Out of Four Actually Want to Retire When He Is Old I In the face of social security requirements re-quirements and expanding business I programs for retirement at 65, only one American breadwinner out of four actually likes the idea of retiring re-tiring to a life of complete leisure I when he grows old. Three out of I four want either to keep on working work-ing at their present jobs, or at least to "do something useful" in their sunset years, according to a survey sur-vey of male policyholders by Northwestern North-western National Lite Insurance Company. Of the 3,000 men covered in the survey only 24 per cent want a life of ease when they reach retirement age; 39 per cent want to be financially finan-cially able to cut their working hours or shift into , some lighter occupation, while 37 per cent would keep right on working at their present pres-ent jobs if permitted, and would only fall back on a retirement income when physically or mentally unable to hold their jobs any longer. Retiring to the life o' Riley appeals ap-peals to more of the younger men 28 per cent of those under 40 said they would like complete freedom from work when they reach retirement retire-ment age. But only 23 per cent of those aged 40-49 want complete re tirement, and of those in the 50-59 bracket in hailing distance of R-day R-day only 20 per cent want complete leisure while nearly half of this group 45 per cent would like to keep on at their present jobs as long as they can "pull their weight." The remainder (35 per cent) of the older men would like to ease up a bit, or shift to some lighter occupation occupa-tion or money-making hobby, but they still want to be useful. Results of the survey would indicate, indi-cate, the report says, that a modest supplementary retirement income would fulfill the future desires of most Americans. But the fact needs to be faced, the report adds, that many who don't want to retire may have to do so when the time comes, because of inability to maintain the peace necessary to "deliver" satisfactorily satis-factorily on the job, even though they may think they are "just as good as ever." Therefore, instead of the usual rigidity, flexibility is a vital need in the retirement income program of the average man, so that income payments can be "turned on" earlier if needed, or can be postponed while his fund continues to build up, as long as he is able and wishes to keep on at a gainful , occupation. APPROXIMATELY half of those in the survey who want partial retirement re-tirement would use some of their increased leisure for community service such as general charity work, religious work. Boy or Girl Scout work, child welfare activities, etc., the report shows. Among the part-time money-making activities planned for retirement retire-ment years, small-scale farming is the most popular objective; operating operat-ing some form of small business such as a few tourists cabins is the next most frequently named plan: Hunting and fishing are by far and away the favorite hobby to which the full-retirement advocates look forward; next come gardening, woodworking and photography, in the order named. Three out of four plan to do some traveling when they retire; four out of five of these future fu-ture travelers want to do their sightseeing in the U.S.; one out of five hopes to do some foreign travel. Twice as many would prefer to spend their sunset years in the country as would choose the city. Among the survey group who do not care for a life of leisure is a 28-year-old architectural engineer, who observes in his response, "Too many who retire are dead 12 months later. I'll stay in harness." A 52-year-old mechanic agrees with him: "Would rather wear out than rust out." The 60-year-old president of an iron works declares, "Tried to retire after the last war. Nearly went crazy. Started new business with son as manager now very contented." A builder remarks, "I note that most of my friends who retire are poorly adjusted." The manager of a wholesale grocery, 60, says, "Have money enough to retire but am unable un-able to decide what to do with my time." An independent oldster who drives a pickup and delivery truck declares, "Seventy-two and still going go-ing strong; I do not ask for old age assistance, thanks." A 44-year-old, however, who yearns for complete leisure to enjoy en-joy travel and a life of ease in the country says, "I might change my mind later, but after 25 years of being dominated by an alarm clock, I doubt it." |