Exactly, when Social Security was started it was expected that you would live into your early 60's, nowadays the average is about 75 and it's common to live pas

Exactly, when Social Security was started it was expected that you would live into your early 60's, nowadays the average is about 75 and it's common to live past 80. Yet the retirement age has change very little in the last 70 years. Anecdotally I know quite a few people who are still working well into their seventies, all of them working construction in some form. (I spent several summers working for a remodeling firm so my sample is somewhat biased) But these guys are working in a physically demanding job, and doing it by choice. Sure they cannot do as much as they used to be able to but they are certainly doing enough to be productive. They all work part time, regularly go away for weekends, vacations, etc. and working just enough to make money and enjoy their life. It's very possible to have the relaxed lifestyle that people look forward to in retirement without having to completely stop working, regardless of your job, but especially these days where, as you noted, most people work in a service economy.