| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Freelancers need never retire if they don't want to. Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Mario Freitas 
Brazil
Local time: 02:06
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
I agree we can work until we die if we want to. But that depends on several conditions, above all health conditions. I suppose if these conditions allow it, I will work for as long as I can, to have a productive activity and keep my brain active for as long as I can. But I must hope to keep all health conditions required for that purpose.
Also, if I'm able to save some money, I might choose to retire some time, travel around the world, etc., and maybe just mentor beginners and donate my T... See more I agree we can work until we die if we want to. But that depends on several conditions, above all health conditions. I suppose if these conditions allow it, I will work for as long as I can, to have a productive activity and keep my brain active for as long as I can. But I must hope to keep all health conditions required for that purpose.
Also, if I'm able to save some money, I might choose to retire some time, travel around the world, etc., and maybe just mentor beginners and donate my TMs and TBs after that.
[Edited at 2020-01-08 18:03 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Freelancers, like everyone else, should be able to retire if they want to or need to | Jan 8, 2020 |
The rates freelancers charge and are able to earn should cover realistic savings for a pension at some time. As others have pointed out, it is not always a question of whether you want to retire - health or other problems may force you to do so. If it is not your own health, you may need to care for another member of the family.
It may become difficult to keep up with developments in technology or your specialist subject(s). After several decades working, you may feel that the job i... See more The rates freelancers charge and are able to earn should cover realistic savings for a pension at some time. As others have pointed out, it is not always a question of whether you want to retire - health or other problems may force you to do so. If it is not your own health, you may need to care for another member of the family.
It may become difficult to keep up with developments in technology or your specialist subject(s). After several decades working, you may feel that the job is no longer what you signed up for. Computers, the Internet, CAT tools, and now machine translation have all been introduced since people of my generation started translating, and who knows what will happen in the next three or five decades, and whether it will all make work easier or more enjoyable?
I have passed retiring age, and am very fortunate to live in a country with welfare and pension schemes. I could live on my pension, but without earning extra money, I can not do all the things I want to do, like visiting my widespread family. I am learning a new language, so that I can talk to a new branch of the family, and that takes time.
I turn down low-paid work, or any jobs I feel I am not interested in, but I still happily translate for regular clients, and they keep sending work.
Reviewing and editing is getting difficult - I can check my own work if I take time and do it carefully, but I find it difficult to concentrate on other people's work. If anyone notices that my translations are deteriorating, I will stop at once - I can afford to!
It is a great privilege to be able to carry on working as long as you want to, but it is important to be able to slow down a little and set the pace yourself, so that you can maintain high quality and take care of your health.
[Edited at 2020-01-09 13:51 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I am up in years and have outlived a number of my colleagues. I've been freelancing for 25 years, since I retired from my full-time position as a translator in an international organization. I don't push myself as hard as I used to, but my mind is still very sharp. I have had high compliments on my work as recently as last year. My clients still call on me. Since I have a pension, I may choose to retire. But no one else is going to tell me that I *need* to retire.
| | | | DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
| Modern rose-colored slavery | Jan 9, 2020 |
A slavery is when one cannot choose, but must work for free*--or to repay credits.
While some naive persons still stand in awe of the American Dream in the USA and blissfully ignore 'A staggering 40 percent of all Americans now make less than the 1968 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation' pieces, many specialists--such as Anqi Chen at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College--try to answer the quest... See more A slavery is when one cannot choose, but must work for free*--or to repay credits.
While some naive persons still stand in awe of the American Dream in the USA and blissfully ignore 'A staggering 40 percent of all Americans now make less than the 1968 minimum wage, adjusted for inflation' pieces, many specialists--such as Anqi Chen at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College--try to answer the question:
If almost 40% of Americans can't cover a very small, unexpected expense of some $400, how can we expect them to save for retirement?
Even in developed countries rather many freelancers can't afford the average salary equivalent net (Yo! McDonald's guy!), so a no-trouble retirement is just out of question. ▲ Collapse
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Nikolay Novitskiy
Russian Federation
Local time: 10:06
Member (2018)
English to Russian
| Retiring is good chance to finalize your activity | Mar 24, 2020 |
When you retire, you get a message with:
- total points earned
- achievements unlocked
- your translator status
- prestige bonuses for your next run
Isn't it fun? After retiring you may start a new career with more advantages!
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:06
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Not necessarily | Mar 24, 2020 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
Sooner or later your mind will start to go.
Not necessarily. I have the pleasure of knowing old people - one of whom had his 90th birthday two days ago - who are mentally acute, witty, and completely coherent (unlike most of the young people I know, who are none of those three things).
[Edited at 2020-03-24 12:35 GMT]
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