Just recently 9 of us gathered in an Irish Pub in my home town intent on celebrating my 65th birthday.  Rather than seeing it as a depressing event (as many do) I found myself feeling uplifted, enthusiastic about the future.  I just felt good.  Still do.   I think part of that feeling came with the knowledge that I will now have a base income every month from pensions.  Not that I could survive on what money comes in - reality is I couldn't.  I can however tone back on work a little.  Our combined family income isn't bad.  We can live fairly well on it.  We can travel a little and have enough coming in to cover living moderately well.