I'm approaching 40 with no real retirement plan. My wife and I have accepted that I'll just keep working.

The author acknowledges that a traditional retirement plan is unlikely to be achievable. Every year, they and their wife discuss retirement, and they have come to accept that it probably won't be possible. At 40, they feel content with the concept of a "soft retirement," where they can still work if it gives them purpose. Currently, their combined income from jobs and freelance writing covers their mortgage, savings, and children's needs.

However, they do not have a specific retirement date like their parents did in the previous generation. The family's projected financial situation suggests that the author may continue working past the typical retirement age of 60 or 65. Although this idea initially frightened them, they now view it as realistic and desirable. Their parents' retirements, which included pensions and celebrations, conditioned them to believe in a traditional retirement timeline.

However, they have rejected this notion. The couple has shifted their annual conversation from planning for an end to work to envisioning what they want their next few decades to resemble. The author, who writes for a living, is concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry in the future. They are adapting their workflow to incorporate AI for research and repetitive tasks, hoping to maintain their writing career for as long as possible.

The concept of "soft retirement" appeals to them, where they can gradually reduce their work commitments as their finances become more secure. This approach allows them to continue working on projects they choose while focusing on other aspects of their lives, such as enjoying a new town.