There is some irony in the things you're saying:

> Retirement is the golden carrot dangled in front of us for all our working lives ..

And then:

> .. and the average lifespan was 64 years (1 year before retirement)

Wouldn't it be more rational to try to get as much happiness and fullfillment from the years you spend working and healthy, instead of waiting for those few years you might have after your retirement? And maybe, if you don't have much money to spare, it would also be more rational decision to spend your money now instead of saving it for an age which you might never even reach ..