You are probably right, it's likely we are just being fatalistic associating the two with each other. My mother in law, father, and father in law all retired a while ago and are still living good lives these days. As cool as it would be to retire at 50, I just don't think it is practical. I'm definitely going to be looking at a second career if I don't stay on. It might only last five to ten years, but it's probably going to happen.