I think a lot of "I'm retired" is just wealth signaling. I recently lost a 94 year old buddy who was working and curious until the end. No one wants to party with the "I'm retired" guy when that's all he has going on.
In general, I find retired people are more intersting, because they have so much more free time and, in consequence, so much more going on in their lives (interests, relationships, going deep into things), compared to people who just have to work through most of their waking hours.
For a lot of people, not having to work would cause them to become much more curious, with a lot more going on too. I wouldn’t link work, especially modern office work, to those other qualities.
My dad is retired and is the happiest he has ever been. He had a very interesting working career, built several small businesses in his life, but retirement gave him a completely new joy and purpose. He routinely states how retirement is simply amazing, starting from the silly ability to stay up late at night and sleep in every morning (for him late night means 11pm, and sleeping in is 7am, lol).
this is because you were thought from young age to define your life through work - i.e. you live to work and not work to live. people working until they are 94 is the saddest imaginable thing. there is sooooo much more to life than work - unfortunately US culture is such that you hear insane statements like no one wants to party with “I am retired” guy two of my childhood friends were lucky to retire in their late-30’s / early-40’s and they are living the lifes most can’t even imagine
