82 and working at McDonald’s
My publisher, David, sent me an article that intrigued him and is connected to the work I have been doing. The story at the center of this article focuses on a delightful person named Edward Eubanks. What caught David’s attention and prompted the forward to me was that Edward is an 82 year old McDonald's worker that says he cannot afford to retire.
If you’ve been paying attention to anything I have been doing lately you know this type of story stands at the heart of The Future Poor, retirement and the connected issues. He is a Vietnam Vet, worked for 3 decades at Nevada National Security Site and currently does restocking, sweeping and mopping at a McD’s outside Vegas. Something he has done for about 15 years. The article cites AARP data that 1 of 4 seniors has no retirement and that “Mr. Ed - the hamburger man” (hence the hat!) hopes to retire someday.
Going just off the article title of an 82 year old unable to retire strikes a nerve, but why? The obvious is that retirement starts at 65 and he is 82! The other obvious reason is the depressing idea of working that long - especially McDonald’s. No way!
But is that the reaction this story should elicit or is that a projection we are putting on “The Hamburger Man?” A little closer examination may show us something important for our future self and thoughts about work after 65.
Eubanks is quoted as saying "If you laugh a lot and keep moving, you got it made." Quite the opposite of a disgruntled old man I had in mind when starting the story. While McD’s at 82 is probably not your retirement goal his quote shed light on the other side of the coin and we must take note.
Work after 65 is not a death sentence and is actually really good for our humanity. We keep social connections, stay active and keep our minds sharper than the alternative benefits we think a life of leisure will offer us. I am often inspired by stories of people that continue to work by choice or because they just don’t have enough saved to retire. In many of these cases it is happiness that is found rather than a dismal existence.
If you have a story of a senior continuing to work I’d love to hear it. I think these can be part of inspiring a new perspective, or an old perspective for what is best for us as we age.
Here is the link for the article
As always, if you come across a financially related article you’d like to send my way please do!
Best place to send them is to me.
More next time!
J