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Comment by alkonaut | Hacker News Reader

That was the biggest shock to me when visiting the US. Not seeeing tip choices 15,20,25 or bars with parking lots, it was seeing people clearly over 70 working jobs you rarely see anyone over 25 doing elsewhere. Even physical and/or poorly paying jobs (mailmen, cleaning, fast food).

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You should have talked to them instead of assuming it was out of necessity. My parents retired in n social security ten years ago. Most of their friends are doing fine with savings and retirement, but they get bored and take a job at Walmart or Applebees. For the most part they enjoy it.

I friend of mine retired, but decided to do some consulting on the side.

Even though he didn't need the money, he charged his normal rate, because he didn't want to depress the market.

If the friends of your parents are willing to work for birdseed because they don't need the money, then it drives down the salary for those who need a job.

"Didn't want to depress the market seems deeply un-American. They have that religious belief in the market magic hand that auto-regulates everything whatever you do. Me first, the market will solve it.

He's British. English to be precise. So yes, un-American.

I have done some fine work for people for free and some average work for people for expensive fees.

People value the work by how much they paid for it.

I could see that, but I think the second half of that statement is pretty interesting too. Why might American seniors enjoy working more than foreign 25 year-olds?

Some people’s identity and occupation are one and the same. A portion of these people fall apart in retirement. They don’t have hobbies, pursuits, or pastimes.

So I’m challenging you. Why is it jobs, not volunteering at church or hospitals, where I often see senior citizens in droves

can only speak for myself but church isn't my thing and hospitals are filled with sick people

Sure, but there are plenty of other places to volunteer outside of those options.

Compared to the rest of the western world, american identity bonds strongly with employment. It's just an unfortunate fact. People find more spiritual grounding with their job than anywhere else. This is just personal anecdata to me but with the eradication of community/third places, people probably look to employment as something to at least do to past the time rather than rot/be lonely.

yea that is like 0.000000076% of them… be real mate

There’s no shock in seeing an old person enjoying a job. The shock is when you see someone who obviously isn’t, who looks like they’re in pain, doing physical jobs.

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