Lately, it seems like more and more people are asking me the same question: “When are you going to retire?”

Sometimes it feels like people believe there’s an expiration date on working—as if at a certain age you’re supposed to step away and call it a day. The truth is, I’m fortunate. I genuinely enjoy what I do, and I see no reason to stop anytime soon. I worked hard to get where I am in my career, and I still find joy and purpose in my job.

My dad worked well into his mid-eighties. And when I say he was good at what he did, I actually mean he was superior. He was sharp as a tack, and people relied on his expertise. Work wasn’t just a job for him—it gave him purpose. Watching him showed me that work doesn’t have to be something you rush to escape from.

Now, I’m not saying I’ll never want to retire. Maybe one day I will. But that day is not today.

My daughter always jokes that I would be a terrible retiree. Honestly, she might be right. I often wonder—what does someone do all day once they retire? I like staying busy. I like going to work, cooking, working out, and spending time with family and friends. Work fills an important part of my day. If you take that away, what replaces it?

I work at a college, so I’m surrounded by people of all ages. I even have several student workers. Just last week one of them said to me, “You sure do keep yourself busy.” And it’s true—I do. But the interesting thing is that I rarely feel overwhelmed.

There was a time when I did.

Years ago, I was a single parent raising two children. Back then, many days felt overwhelming as I tried to balance work and their schedules. Life was busy in a very different way. Now that my kids are grown, things feel calmer. Instead of juggling responsibilities, I get to simply enjoy the time we spend together.

These days I’ve found a balance between my work life and my personal life that feels right. One of my friends once said something that stuck with me: “One day we might not be able to work, so we should keep going while we can.” I think there’s a lot of wisdom in that.

I know many financial advisors say you should retire as soon as you’re able. That’s great advice—for someone who truly wants to retire. But right now, that isn’t me. I’m also not at a place financially where I could live the retirement lifestyle I’d want. Working allows me to do things I simply couldn’t do otherwise.

I know retirement will come eventually. It comes for everyone. But for now, I’m content waking up each day with somewhere to go and something meaningful to do.

Will I be like my dad and work into my eighties? I honestly have no idea. What I do know is this: as long as I still find joy in getting up and going to work, I plan to keep doing it.

I don’t have grandchildren yet. Perhaps if that changes someday, my perspective might shift. Then again, it’s possible to enjoy time with a grandchild and still work. Life doesn’t have to be one or the other.

One thing I have learned about myself is that I don’t enjoy sitting around the house all day. I’ve even downsized my living space because I prefer living simply. I don’t want a lot of things to maintain or keep up with. For me, a smaller home and a full life feels like the right combination.

For now, I’ll keep doing what I enjoy—working, staying active, and spending time with the people who matter most.

And when the day comes that I’m ready to retire, I’ll know.

But today isn’t that day.