In old age work is a necessity to keep the mind and body young.
There is scarcely a more miserable spectacle than the man of fifty or sixty who has retired with ample fortune. He loafs around the house. Goes from one club to another. Gets lonely. Feels blue.
He tries to kill time in the day looking forward to the meeting of his cronies in the evening. The cronies are busy in the day time and they have engagements and pleasures in the evening, so that our retired friend seems to be in the way.
He finds that the anticipation of retirement was a pleasure, and that the realization is a keen disappointment.
"There is nothing," says Carnegie, "absolutely nothing in money beyond a competence."
When one has enough money to buy things for the home, for his family comfort and enjoyment, when he has sufficient income to take care of himself and his family, surplus dollars do not mean much.
The business man should prepare for his future so that if ill health overtakes him he may have the where-with to surround himself with comforts, travel and the best of care.
The man who enjoys pleasures of the home and friends, who trains up young blood to take hold of the business, who travels and enjoys himself as he goes along has the right idea.
We must learn to enjoy life now instead of waiting for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.
The man who cashes in, puts his money in bonds and retires from all work goes down hill quickly, and feels he is of no use in the world.