I'm 66 and I've been retired for two years and the loneliness isn't what I expected - it's not about being alone, I have a wife, I have children, I have neighbors - it's about no longer being the person a room turns toward when a decision needs to be made, and that shift from being needed to being included is the quietest demotion there is - Silicon Canals

"The thing nobody tells you about being needed is that it becomes who you are. You don't notice it happening. You're just doing your job, solving problems, keeping things running."

"For forty years, I was the guy with answers. Not the big, philosophical answers, but the real ones. Why the lights keep flickering. Whether that crack in the foundation is serious."

Retirement can lead to unexpected loneliness, as individuals may find themselves feeling unneeded. Despite having family and friends, the absence of being sought for advice or solutions creates a void. The transition from being a go-to person for practical problems to being informed about them can be disheartening. The identity tied to being helpful and knowledgeable fades, leaving a sense of loss as relationships shift and the need for assistance diminishes.

Read at Silicon Canals