As my father, a metalworker, approached retirement age, the job took more and more out of him. He would sit silently at family parties, and his skin looked pale, almost gray.

After he retired, he cheered up, pepped up, and was active at church and around the house. He lived to be 82 and did well until his last few months.

So I think it depends on the individual and on the job whether continuing to work is good.