Another Perspective on Retirement
This is an e-mail from Seattle trial lawyer Jan Peterson which I would like to share with you because it is insightful and gives another perspective:
Paul, I was at that meeting you refer too and was somewhat stunned to be included in the group of old founders by the younger bucks in our group as I have always thought of myself as a youngster mentored by 
the likes of my old employers Schroeter and Sullivan, and Art, and you, and etc. You are the only old lion with much roar left and suddenly I feel OLD. Aging gracefully, both professionally and personally, is ever a challenge and your observations are apt. I always admired my dad’s decision to hang it up at age 57 because he wanted to quit on top and not sully his career by hanging on too long like some great former champions who became punching bags for up and coming challengers. So long as we have undiminished skills and the fire in the belly there is no reason to quit what we do. But what we do also requires certain physical and mental strength and endurance because it is tiring, stressful, and intense. To that extent it is a young man’s game and our advantage of experience, savvy, and learned skills can only compensate so far. A delicate balance that you have achieved more than most in my observation. Aging gracefully, it seems to me, includes knowing when to quit rather than just failing or fading away. The trick is doing so with grace and good humor, sharing ones skills, wisdom (if any), with those who want to gain from it, and/or changing one’s role in life professionally and/or personally. Moving on, in other words, rather than "retiring". If you are interested in Walker Percy read The Moviegoer.
the likes of my old employers Schroeter and Sullivan, and Art, and you, and etc. You are the only old lion with much roar left and suddenly I feel OLD. Aging gracefully, both professionally and personally, is ever a challenge and your observations are apt. I always admired my dad’s decision to hang it up at age 57 because he wanted to quit on top and not sully his career by hanging on too long like some great former champions who became punching bags for up and coming challengers. So long as we have undiminished skills and the fire in the belly there is no reason to quit what we do. But what we do also requires certain physical and mental strength and endurance because it is tiring, stressful, and intense. To that extent it is a young man’s game and our advantage of experience, savvy, and learned skills can only compensate so far. A delicate balance that you have achieved more than most in my observation. Aging gracefully, it seems to me, includes knowing when to quit rather than just failing or fading away. The trick is doing so with grace and good humor, sharing ones skills, wisdom (if any), with those who want to gain from it, and/or changing one’s role in life professionally and/or personally. Moving on, in other words, rather than "retiring". If you are interested in Walker Percy read The Moviegoer.