Probably retiring soon

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I (m72) haven't yet retired mostly because I still like my job, at least on the good days. And I think another reason is it took me until my 60s to learn how to get on well with a group of coworkers and not be admonished for "not considering my audience" when communicating with others and so forth. And there isn't anything I'm eager to take up such as a hobby when retiring.

Luckily I can afford to retire although there are clearly financial advantages to not retiring.

Nevertheless, the situation in the US will likely lead to my being let go, surely as somebody for whom that's not genuinely frightening, I shouldn't be bothered.

There are definitely things I will likely do in retirement. My wife wants a dog, but I don't feel I have the time and energy to give a dog the proper attention it needs, but once retired, that shouldn't be a problem. Just as an example.

I've had the attitude for some time that I'll retire when I know the time has come, either because I wake up one day and decide I want to, or because I'm no longer needed or wanted on the job. I actually thought this would be happening at the end of FY2023 because the project I was supporting was shelved, but instead was told they really wanted me and had other work. And at least some of them must have known how old I am.

One way or the other, I probably don't have that many years left anyway and even fewer healthy years.

I think my boss was 75 when he retired. He left a week after I did!

I learned how to play golf before I retired, in addition to my gardening hobbies.
But, they are both good weather hobbies, so I do stuff like my taxes when it is nasty outside with ice covering the lawn.

Would you get severance pay if you get fired or a larger retirement check if you stay a bit longer? If so those might be good financial incentives to to wait till you get fired or plan to retire at the end of this year if you don't. Next year's taxes will be easier if get your last paycheck before the year ends