Ten years ago this month I swiped my Fiat Chrysler Automobiles card for the last time, breathed the fresh air of retirement…and promptly walked into a part-time job.

I haven’t stopped working, a little, since then.

Let’s get this off the table right away. It’s not for the money. What these little jobs paid might be better described as tanks of gas. But really, who doesn’t mind someone else paying for their petrol, especially as these prices?

My paycheck is my sanity, my education, my interaction with bright people who want to change the world. To me, when you stop learning you stop living. My tuition is my time, of which I thankfully have plenty to spend any way I choose. 

But here’s the thing about working because you want to and not because you have to.

When you run into people who may be difficult, unreasonable, dishonest, discourteous or stupid, it’s no problem. You can just ignore them or simply walk away.

Over the past ten years my retirement gigs have mainly been as a self-employed freelancer, so if I’m pissed at the “boss” I can just look in the mirror and tell myself off. More than once, I’ve had to call myself into my office and have some honest talks.

I was only on staff for one part-time position. It was odd. I was recruited because of my years of experience, but when I attempted to share what I knew, that made those who didn’t know much, uncomfortable, despite my respectful approach.

I’ve also learned freelancers, especially those in my age group, can be treated like the disposable diapers much younger managers may think we all wear. Heh…nothing like incompetence inferring incontinence.

There’s a fair bit of resentment. Why don’t you Boomers step aside to make room for X’ers, Y’ers, Millennials, or other alphanumeric versions of younger humanity.

Oh, we did. At least in my case. I don’t want your job, but in my areas of expertise I may be able to help you do yours better. I love teaching and hope what I can share helps a younger, less experienced person grow and succeed.

It work two ways. As we retirees pull away from full-time work and engagement, as much as try, we may miss certain things related to pop culture, technology, social interactions and workplace culture.

That’s why we need to engage with our younger not-quite-colleagues. We need to be observant, inquisitive and flexible.

We may be older dogs but learning new tricks still gets our tails wagging…even if they’re drooping a bit.

I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep working. My work for Forbes.com is still very satisfying and my editors are kind and supportive.

There are a handful of PR people I enjoy working with who are smart, talented, have a sense of humor and don’t send me no-news pitches.

Having the opportunity to interview young, brilliant people who come up with ideas that may benefit society and take them to fruition is something from which I can never tire.

The auto industry is a chameleon for which change is always constant and fascinating, if not sometimes infuriating.

I work as much or as little as I like, which leaves me plenty of time to do things with my family, produce my Tales From the Beat podcast, desecrate my musical instruments with my well-intended, but limited abilities, paddle my kayak, ride my bike, or join my daughter and her partner for a round of disc golf.

But no matter what the next ten years, I hope, of retirement brings, I will never stop writing.  Writing is never work to me, no matter the subject. Writing is breathing….and breathing keeps you alive.