Retirees who return to work often do so relatively quickly and primarily for economic reasons. Travelers Corporation and Affiliates surveyed 1,400 retirees (750 men and women registered with the Travelers' retiree job bank and a 650-person sampling of nonregistered retirees) to find out why they did or didn't work after retirement and to identify ways to give retirees more work options. About one out of four Travelers' retirees had returned to work, and two out of three had returned within a year of retiring.

While many returned workers said they derived social and emotional benefit from working, most said they went back to work to meet living expenses or pay for major special purchases. One-third reported working at jobs that they felt underused their skills, but most of these said they were satisfied to have it that way.

Those who went back to work were more dissatisfied with their initial decision to retire. Many had retired early and therefore had lower Social Security and pension income than they might have had.

Most nonworkers said they didn't need extra money and were too busy with other activities. A significant number, however, said they might like to work were it not for poor health, care-giving responsibilities, transportation problems, and concern about losing Social Security benefits if they worked too many hours.

Some people simply don't want to retire until much later in life. If you suspect you may be one of these, there is no reason for you to stop working at any particular age. It may make more sense to keep working as long as you can to maintain the income level you wish and allow yourself to continue finding purpose and meaning in work.

Delaying retirement can give you an opportunity to change jobs or careers, volunteer your time, or start your own business. You need not work full time but can do part-time or temporary work, job-sharing, or telecommuting.