‘Two weeks ago, we had the coldest week with persistent sub-zero temps, ever recorded in these latitudes. Minus 50 degrees in parts of Alberta. It almost broke their power grid. All e-cars were parked.’

‘Frozen Tesla’s everywhere,’ Camp said.

‘And now, this past week, atmospheric rivers lasting over a week with accumulated rainfall of almost 2ft, 220mm with the warm springlike weather melting the snow and raining on the mountains. What kind of winter is this?’

‘Do you really want me to answer that? No. I didn’t think so. Extreme weather patterns are the new normal. Get used to it.’

            ‘You’re right, no point complaining. Nobody is listening.’

‘’You’re retired so why are you hanging around this year?’ Camp wanted to know.

            ‘Something went wrong in the planning department,’ I admitted. ‘We did a road trip  to California but next year, we will not be around for the deep freeze and biblical rains if I have a say in it. How about you Camp? When do you plan to retire?’

            ‘What is retirement? Just quitting the job and staying home? I happen to like my job and don’t see it as a burden. Also, the book store is not exactly a valuable corporation and the occasional paycheck comes in handy. I could not live off the government pensions and since I’m self-employed I get no pension from the bookstore.’

            ‘I guess you have to define retirement,’ I said. ‘Like you said, it’s doing what you like to do but without having to worry about money. In other words, it’s an affordability question. Many people would like to retire but can’t afford it. Not if they still carry a mortgage or have expenses that cannot be met with the meagre government pensions.’

            ‘Exactly. I’m lucky to love what I do and many who continue working into their dotage are happier for it. Look at Henry Kissinger, who worked until his death at 100, or Clint Eastwood or Joe Biden for that matter. Grand-grandpas all of them.’

            ‘On the other hand, we have friends who retired in their fifties and never looked back. Again, they could afford to quit their jobs which were not their passion or calling, just their ways to make a living. Like me. I didn’t have to officially retire and there was no party. I just didn’t answer the phone anymore when it looked like work and said no to all the offers.’

            ‘Many of my customers are retirees. They have the time to read and without them I could close the book store. Not too many millennials browsing. Muriel is thinking of retiring from teaching. She’s burned out and yes, she has a pension in the offing.’

            ‘On our recent road-trip to the US in November I was surprised by all the older people, mostly women, working in the service sector like grocery stores and restaurants. I did ask one grandma if she wouldn’t rather be home playing with her grandkids than slinging beers, burgers and fries. I can’t afford not to work honey, she said. The grim reality is millions of Americans are working into their senior years because they can’t afford not to have a job.’

‘According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics a full 32 percent of post-retirement-age seniors have jobs, up from less than 25 percent in 2000. Over the next decade, the number of workers ages 75 and older is expected to increase in the US by 96.5 percent.’

‘Look no further than Scandinavia where the effective retirement age of the Swedes is about 65 years of age while the Finns and Danish head out to pasture about a year younger. Better pensions, better social security, lower rents.’

‘Here in Canada the employment rate among Canadians aged 65 and older has been steadily increasing in recent years. One in four, aged 65 to 70 is still working; up from 11 percent in 2000.’ 

‘And last year, with inflation at an all-time high, foodbanks under constant stress to meet the ever-growing demand, some retirees are looking to go back to work, make a few bucks to supplement their fixed, shrinking incomes.’ 

We were looking at the half empty pub, a few retirees and regulars like us. The curtain of rain blending into the gun metal grey water. Vicky our server thumbing her phone, standing at the bar and without looking up signalled to the bartender to draw us two fresh pints. If the weather wasn’t reliable, at least the service at the pub is.