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Poll: Freelancers need never retire if they don't want to.
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 8, 2020

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Freelancers need never retire if they don't want to.".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 11:24
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Agree Jan 8, 2020

Some, like me, start freelancing full-time after retiring from an in-house position…

Jean Shearer
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 19:24
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
I don't know Jan 8, 2020

I presume death will force most freelancers to retire against their will.

Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Miranda Drew
expressisverbis
Justin Peterson
Mariana Passos
Kaisa I
Maria Simmen
 
Astrid Elke Witte
Astrid Elke Witte  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 12:24
Member (2002)
German to English
+ ...
The question is wrongly phrased Jan 8, 2020

Most freelancers are obliged to keep on working, as they cannot afford to do otherwise. That is not the same as wanting to, or wanting to be accorded the luxury (?!) of continuing to work.

Slama-Clauzel Traductions
ipv
expressisverbis
Alison Jenner
Alexandra Speirs
boostrer
texjax DDS PhD
 
Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 12:24
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Sooner or later... Jan 8, 2020

ProZ.com Staff wrote:
Freelancers need never retire if they don't want to.


Sooner or later your mind will start to go, and then you would have to stop, even if you don't want to. You can also develop physical ails (I mean specifically due to old age) that prevent you from continuing. And for some, these come sooner than expected.


Clément Dhollande
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Paola Giardina
Alison Jenner
Laura Bissio CT
Mariana Passos
Rachel Waddington
 
expressisverbis
expressisverbis
Portugal
Local time: 11:24
Member (2015)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not death only Jan 8, 2020

Lincoln Hui wrote:

I presume death will force most freelancers to retire against their will.


Or a disease.


Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Paola Giardina
Alison Jenner
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Daryo
 
Nilton Junior
Nilton Junior  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 11:24
Member (2009)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not sure Jan 8, 2020

I am not sure if I completely follow this poll. If your skills are still in demand and you want to work, it is a good thing there isn't an arbitrary age limit for freelance translators.

However, as others have said and money matters aside, health issues (which can come at any time during one's lifespan) may sometimes force a professional to retire against their will.


Liena Vijupe
Josephine Cassar
boostrer
Katya Kesten
Christine Andersen
 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 12:24
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Others Jan 8, 2020

"If they don't want to", implies that they can keep on working for as long as they want to. What about if they would love to keep working but can't for, let's say, health reasons? This cuts off the "want to" portion.

[Edited at 2020-01-08 14:55 GMT]


Liena Vijupe
Kay Denney
 
Kevin Fulton
Kevin Fulton  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:24
German to English
Are there any retired translators? Jan 8, 2020

I've never met one.

mk_lab
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:24
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Not nec Jan 8, 2020

Samuel Murray wrote:

Sooner or later your mind will start to go



Not necessarily. I know many old people who are 100% mentally fit.


mk_lab
Josephine Cassar
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Daryo
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 19:24
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
. Jan 8, 2020

Tom in London wrote:



Not necessarily. I know many old people who are 100% mentally fit.

But do you know any dead people who are 100% mentally fit?


 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 12:24
French to English
. Jan 8, 2020

Tom in London wrote:

Samuel Murray wrote:

Sooner or later your mind will start to go



Not necessarily. I know many old people who are 100% mentally fit.

And I know plenty who are not. We just need to suppose that Samuel didn't mean literally all translators will lose their minds at some point, but that losing your mind is a thing that can happen.


Dan Lucas
Katya Kesten
 
Jean Dimitriadis
Jean Dimitriadis  Identity Verified
English to French
+ ...
It depends Jan 8, 2020

You can "retire" (become financially independent as in not "have" to work anymore) and never retire (stay active: freelancing, freewheeling or whatever floats your boat), if you don't want to.

It is also about redefining what work and retirement means to you, on a personal level.

[Edited at 2020-01-08 20:19 GMT]


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Delphine El Khassawneh
Christine Andersen
Daryo
MollyRose
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Only slaves must work to death Jan 8, 2020

If a person has been working hard for 5-10 years but still has not enough savings to retire nor Plan B/C/D, then he is but a slave--or any cute euphemism.

It's ok, when an elderly person really wants--not must!--to work a little more. No problem.
However, in developing countries rather many people die before the retirement age (60-70), so it's not a problem either. Little wonder some freelancers pretend to be fond of working, whereas some governments try to increase the requir
... See more
If a person has been working hard for 5-10 years but still has not enough savings to retire nor Plan B/C/D, then he is but a slave--or any cute euphemism.

It's ok, when an elderly person really wants--not must!--to work a little more. No problem.
However, in developing countries rather many people die before the retirement age (60-70), so it's not a problem either. Little wonder some freelancers pretend to be fond of working, whereas some governments try to increase the requirements for eligible pensioners. What a win-win!
Collapse


Max Chernov
 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:24
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Age Jan 8, 2020

Kay Denney wrote:

.... losing your mind is a thing that can happen.


Yes- at any age.


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Daryo
Muriel Vasconcellos
 
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Poll: Freelancers need never retire if they don't want to.






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