Jennifer Burton
Channel 2 News
Millions of Americans who thought they'd be retired by now, are still working with no end in sight.
John Delling of Cold Springs retired from his first career and thought he'd be fishing by now. Instead, he's working again and this time he's doing something completely different. At 72 Delling found a job he loves at Costco, and his company benefits help pay medical bills that came up unexpectedly.
John and his wife Bethany have been married 46 years and they share a love of pets, especially the two dogs and one cat they've rescued. For years John worked as a manager, making good money, until his wife came down with serious health problems.
"The medical got hold of me, that's just what it did," says Delling. "I knew it was the end of my career; no more traveling. I was going to stay home and take care of my wife."
It was the end of his career in management, but not the end of his working years. John eventually found a job with Costco, greeting members and checking their receipts as they leave the store.
"It's so much fun, I just can't tell you how much fun I have every single day," laughs Delling.
He says he's lucky, to have a job that includes good benefits.
"Even if Costco didn't pay me, I'd still be working today. Her medical is so high. She has one shot that costs $5,000 every month and Costco pays it like that."
John Delling is one of millions of people working past retirement, and things have changed since many of them started their careers. For example, older workers and baby boomers are competing for jobs against workers who live all over the world. They have to stay up to speed on technology, which is constantly changing. And they have to compete with younger workers -- all this when many thought they'd be relaxing, and enjoying their leisure time.
"I thought maybe I'd travel when I retired; fishing, this sort of thing with grand kids and things," says Delling. "It just hasn't worked out that way."
But all this doesn't bother John or Bethany Delling. He's happy to have his wife by his side at home. And when he greets customers at Costco, he still uses the skills that allowed him to rise in his first career.
"You want them to feel welcome. I say ‘this is your store, I just watch over it for you,'" says Delling.
As people try to re-build their nest eggs and get back on track, some experts are advising baby boomers to hang on to the jobs they have, and if they do quit, keep the skills they've spent a lifetime building, up to date.
