In poll after poll, many Americans say they plan to delay retirement or to never retire. And then there are retirees who find their newfound freedom tedious, or they miss the water cooler conversations and camaraderie.
A 2009 study from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found those who work after retirement are physically and mentally healthier than those who don't, and they're more financially prosperous.
Example: Joan Riggs of Orlando, Fla., spent 29 years coaching and teaching high school physical education classes, selling real estate on the side. Although Riggs thought she'd hung up her associate broker's license when she retired, the former teacher found she missed working and reignited her real estate career.
"Work gives you a sense of purpose, a meaning in your everyday life. I wanted to feel needed by something or someone," she says.
With many retirees working longer or launching second careers, there's a strong argument for staying employed later in life. In fact, employment after retirement makes sense for a lot of reasons. Here's a look at some of the benefits.