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And so what happens to men’s happiness when they retire ?

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Depends on their level of self-awareness. I’ve been retired for over 4 years and am happier than ever. I don’t have enough time to do all I desire.

I have several hobbies: hiking, biking, cooking nice meals, baking sour dough bread, reading. I also have leisurely mornings with coffee, my newspapers and my wife. My wife and I share most of our/my hobbies and we also have individual time.

The point is, I understood my job did not represent who I am or define me. It provided a way to enjoy work while I made enough money to retire at 62 and wait until nearly 67 for SS. We have no mortgage after downsizing from a larger home. Work was a pathway.

You cannot retire financially without planning and the same is true from a personal perspective.

I also agree with the work studies. They all mirror what Gallup found and measures in the Q12 employee surveys and their strengths assessments.

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I agree with you Darrell. It is much about feeling that we are still relevant. That weekend e will be different for everyone, but the concept still holds.

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Bill, I don’t think the studies contradict each other at all. Relationships are not defined just by people. We have relationships with nature, with faith, with ourselves, and many other things - including and perhaps most importantly, work. One common denominator of a relationship that makes us happy and nurtures us, is one where we feel of service to another, and that we are able to be ourselves (and feel valued). Given that we spend a large part of our life at work, being with the right employer, in the right job, and possibly with the right co-workers, would be a HUGE contributor to our happiness it would seem. Our relationship with work might be one of the most important relationships we have.

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Do the surveys contradict each other and is it the same for women?

The men that I know are able to compartmentalize their lives, so “work is work” and “relationships are relationships”. Is this where “men plunder”? Where their focus is where they find their happiness (and this one point is the same for women). But when men retire, if they have not developed hobbies, or have no place to redirect themselves, then their health fails. I see this all the time.

As for “women who glow”, my observation is that the one’s I know, are better at multitasking and handling relationships (of all kinds) long term. But they can juggle many things at once, so tend to have multiple outlets for their energy. Even the ones who are unmarried usually have hobbies and friendships to help make their lives fuller. They tend to handle retirement better than men because of this.

Of course, all bets are off for those struggling with abuse, loss, destitution, addiction, severe illness and depression. That’s a totally different topic.

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The surveys may be fairly consistent. Four of the five summarized factors that influence men’s happiness at work are relational. Chatting regularly with co-workers, being inspired by coworkers, feeling their ideas are valued by others at work and being surrounded by diverse perspectives all relate to how they get along with and appreciate people they work with. For many men (and women) work forms the core of their social circle and support system.

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It’s Colin Hay, not Day. G’Day!

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I'm a guy. I believe the results of this study, as I relate to the findings IMMENSELY. I think the "happiness at work" findings are driven by the innate need for men to provide. Our sense of being as providers drives our understanding and acceptance that we must work in order to be providers. We are kind of stuck with needing to work. So, if we must work, we yearn to be happy when working.

I, for one, know that when I am fulfilled in my work, I am a much MUCH happier person, a more attentive spouse, and a more patient and loving father.

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What I found most interesting is that the author of this study of American men is a University College London psychologist. I wonder why he's looking across the pond for subjects instead of England, the UK or even the EU.

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I don't see any contradiction between the "Satisfaction at Work" and the Harvard Grant Study. The bullet points on what makes a man "satisfied" at work all can only be achieved when you have good relationships at work. The Harvard study says "good relationships" make us happy.

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Traveling in a fried out Kombi… ?

Did I miss something?

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founding

Below are the lyrics to the song “the Land Down Under” by Men at Work.

Traveling in a fried-out Kombi

On a hippie trail, head full of zombie

I met a strange lady, she made me nervous

She took me in and gave me breakfast

And she said

"Do you come from a land down under

Where women glow and men plunder?

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover"

Buying bread from a man in Brussels

He was six-foot-four and full of muscle

I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"

He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich

And he said

"I come from a land down under

Where beer does flow and men chunder

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover, yeah"

Lying in a den in Bombay

With a slack jaw and not much to say

I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me?

Because I come from the land of plenty"

And he said

Oh, "Do you come from a land down under? (Oh, yeah-yeah)

Where women glow and men plunder?

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover", 'cause we are

Living in a land down under

Where women glow and men plunder (yeah)

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? (Thunder)

You better-better run, you better take cover

Living in a land down under

Where women glow and men plunder

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? Ooh, yeah

You better run, you better take cover

Where women glow and men plunder

Can't you, can't you hear the thunder? (Can't you, can't you hear the thunder?)

You better run, you better take cover

Living in a land down under (living in a land down under)

Where women glow and men plunder

Can't you, can't you hear the thunder?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Ronald Strykert / Colin James Hay

Down Under lyrics © Emi Songs Australia Pty Limited, Emi Songs Australia Pty Ltd

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Men at Work – Down Under Lyrics

Down Under Lyrics: Traveling in a fried-out Kombi / On a hippie trail, head full of zombie / I met a strange lady, she made me nervous / She took me in and ...

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Men At Work - Down Under (Lyrics)

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Feb 9, 2022

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Men At Work - Down Under (Lyrics)

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Jan 26, 2023

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Men at Work - Land Down Under (with Lyrics)

YouTube · greydawnsinca

Jul 23, 2008

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Men At Work - Down Under Lyrics

"Do you come from a land down under. Where women glow and men plunder. Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder. You better run, you better take cover."

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Down Under - Men at Work

You better run, you better take cover Living in a land down under Where women glow and men plunder Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, ...

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Men at Work - Down Under Lyrics | SongMeanings

Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover

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Lyrics for Down Under by Men at Work

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? ... I said, "Do you speak-a my language?" ... Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? ... Because I come from the land ...

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Men at Work - Land Down Under Lyrics (Video)

Land Down Under lyrics: Travelling in a fried-out combie On a hippie trail, head full of zombie I met a strange lady, she made me nervous She took me in and ...

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My favorite songs & Lyrics - Down Under by Men At Work

You better run, you better take cover." ... I said, "Do you speak-a my language?" ... You better run, you better take cover." ... I said to the man, "Are you trying ...

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Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? ... I said, "Do you speak my language?" ... Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? ... Because I come from the land ...

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Down Under Lyrics by Men At Work

Because I come from the land of plenty?" ... "Oh! do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder ...

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Why, Thank you Dola!!

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founding

You are welcome.

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In Australian slang, "fried-out" means that it's in really poor condition and overheating, "Kombi" is short for "Kombinationskraftwagen" and refers to the Volkswagen Type 2, and "full of zombie" refers to the use of a type of marijuana.

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Wow! Thank you!!

Later I’ll try to listen to that song …

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Indeed.

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Bill, many if the items that men are saying make them happy, I would sum up as “relevance”. Men want to be listened to, feel that they are making a difference, etc. in essence, they want to feel relevant! I think the older we get, the more that relevance plays a part in our happiness.

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