To ask WHY you work

I was a SAHM for years, and began working a fulltime job 18 years ago. I have found work to be overrated. During my years at home, I had no trouble finding "purpose" and things to do. Now it's time to retire, come January, and I have a long list of things that I've been putting off at home. We also have places we would like to go, as our son lives very far from us, and he also has a list of things that need done on his property. I am working now, for money and to accumulate a larger pension. Here in the US, it's rare to have a private pension that pays monthly AND our monthly Social Security, which is a government pension. As I said, work is overrated. Once I retire, nothing I did will be memorable for future employees, and like everyone else at work, I will be replaced. Only DH and DS see me as irreplaceable, and that keeps me grounded.

Purely for money. I have a senior professional role with lots of perks and autonomy but I’d much rather be pottering about at home with the kids and animals. There are millions of things I’d love to do including more volunteering that I just don’t have time for.

For money, no other reason. I’d stop work tomorrow if I could. I’m not lazy - I’d do voluntary work if I didn’t need to work for cash. I think it’s different if you have a career as opposed to a series of jobs.

Because it's frowned on to let my dc starve.

But being as how I have to work, I picked a job I believe does good in the world, cheesy as that sounds.

Simple - money. To allow me to live in a nice cosy house, eat high quality food, see the world, own fairly new maintenance free cars, make generous payments into a private pension plus work placed pension, save for a rainy day and generally buy whatever and whenever I want for my various hobbies.

Finally, if i don't end up in a care home, I will hopefully have a decent pot to leave to kids and grand kids.

For money and for money only. I'd gladly stop and wouldn't work a day in my life. It doesn't give me any joy or 'sense of purpose', I'm perfectly happy and content not working. But my passion is traveling the world. Traveling the world requires money, and I don't have generational multi-millions behind me. So..

I took it to mean why work harder and longer to get the bigger house, bigger car etc, just do enough to live, and have time to sit and enjoy nature/the sea etc

We work part time, we can afford our bills, food and have low cost hobbies that we have more time to enjoy. Once the mortgage is paid we will reduce hours more. We like our work but really enjoy work life balance.
I'm with the fisherman.

For the money mostly, as my job is incredibly stressful (I’m an GP) and I find it hard getting through the day sometimes. But every so often I make a huge difference to one person (a cancer diagnosis or helping someone in a desperate social situation).

To have independence and choices. I can pay the bills and have fun. Free time is great but worrying about money, never being able to go anywhere or do anything is rubbish.

Edit: what on earth is that gif?! I definitely didn't add that on purpose and can't see how to get rid of it either

Why "and apparently"? Are you saying you feel others should pay for your kids?

For money only, i would give up work tomorrow if i had enough money to still do nice things. Work tomorrow live not vice versa.

For money definitely. Agree with others that I need to do something but if I didn’t need the money I think I’d find other things to occupy myself with: or retrain in a job I’d enjoy more.

I am lucky enough to work in a job where I have daily contact with lots of very interesting and intelligent lawyers and medics. The cases we work on about complex interesting legal issues. And if I didn’t have this job, I wouldn’t have access to all of this wonderful intellectual stimulation. I was utterly, entirely mind numbingly bored on maternity to leave without all of this. I didn’t realise I needed it so much until it was taken away for six months.

When I had a period of unemployment, the loss in self respect was harder than loss in income

Of course money is the top one

but also

fun
challenge
self worth
pride and satisfaction
Independence
role model

I don't work. My wife does. I do pretty much all childcare, including home education, all the housework, cook all our meals, shopping, kids taxi, and I've literally built our house, and small holding from the foundations up. I often feel judged for not being at work, by both men and women. It pisses me off because I'm up at six, and on with something until ten at night. It was definitely easier being a full time software engineer in my twenties.

Your parable only works for the tiny percentage of jobs that consist of things people also do as hobbies. Substitute working in call centre, for example, and it becomes nonsense.

Most people work to live and can't turn their hobby into a job - any jobs like that have enormous competition and you either have to be exceptionally good at it or have the right connections, or both.

With your fishing example, most people who make a living from fishing are out in all weathers on trawler boats, not leisurely floating round with a fishing rod. The fishing industry has a very high accident and fatality rate.

Just for money!

I actually like my job but I'd still quit tomorrow if I could. I'd happily manage to find things to fill my unstructured days, thanks!

The parable of the fisherman doesn't really work because surely most people, once retired or if they won the lottery, don't then spend their increased free time still driving buses/operating on people/behind a till etc., i.e. doing the same job they were before just without being paid for it. They'd pick up a new hobby or go travelling or spend more time with their family or just watch lots of tv!

I have to be working and paying into the NHS pension at 55 to claim it without penalty. Otherwise I would go tomorrow. Reducing my hours soon. Fifteen months to go.

Strong work ethic, probably through socialisation as a child, I feel that I need to be working and contributing to society.
I enjoy routine and structure.
I like to be stimulated and achieving things, I think I'd be bored if I wasn't working.
I think it's good for my mental health, mainly because of the 2 points above. Although maybe all that comes from socialisation too.

I love my job. I believe I make a difference. I'd like to go part-time now Im nearly 60yo, but finding a part-time role is like finding rocking horse shit!

I'm not sure I'll ever truly retire tbh.

In essence, my work is my vocation. I am the fisherman.

I work because I have bills to pay. If I could have this level of income without having to work, I would be deliriously happy.

If I didn’t work, I could fill my time with lots of different things - some social, some for just me and I would be fulfilled.

There are people who love their jobs but I only really know one person like this. My family and friends would all leave work in a heartbeat if they didn’t need the money so don’t think I’m the odd one out.

This has been a very eye opening thread. I think it goes to show the French feminist philosopher and writer Simone de Beauvoir got what she wanted with regards to women and motherhood. She was one of the founders of modern feminism.

This is a quote of hers:

"No woman should be authorized to stay at home and raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one."

She got her wish and I absolutely hate her for it.

Because I'd just fart around on the internet otherwise 😁

Honestly, if I won loads on the lottery or something I'd probably keep working to fill my time, I'd just retire early rather than the 70 I'm probably going to have to work until at this rate.