The other day I was interviewed by an 80-something Professor of Management Emerita (I love that word) at MIT who’s involved in a research study on retirement.  (I am struck by the number of academics who propose research projects on retirement just when they are considering retiring.  But I digress...)

The questions she asked me were on point.  Did I retire because I was tired of my job?  No. Was I pushed out? No.  Why did I leave?  Because I knew I would never want to leave a job I loved so much and it would never be “easy” to leave.  Plus, I was 75.  How did I manage the transition?  Not so well.  Am I happy with what I am doing now? Yes, I have a full life with a variety of satisfying activities.

And then I answered a question she didn’t ask.  As happy as I am, as satisfying as the things I am doing are, nothing has replaced the joy of working for thirty-three years for an organization whose mission resonated so completely with me.