On my read of the classic A pattern language, I came across pattern 156: Settled work.
(I am not yet done with the whole book, and there is a lot of good stuff to dig into on just about every page. This is just one very random example of everything interesting which is to be found on the pages. I want to make at least one and possibly more Kodsnack episodes discussing the book and its ideas once I am through all of it.)
Settled work is, more or less, a concept of work you do because it is meaningful and satisfying to you. Fulfilling work, perhaps, rather than something you do to make a living. The pattern states this as a prerequisite for fulfillment in old age, and goes on to say that everyone should get the chance of having their own workshop at home or close to it where they can find their own settled work.
One essential part is that this needs to happen over time - you need to find what is fulfilling to you and develop your work over time. So, you need to start before you retire. Retirement is when you can have the time to really let your settled work bloom, but to really do so it probably needed time to be found and honed as a hobby well before.
This sounds … very appealing and simple to me.
Writing, drawing, podcasting, perhaps some coding here and there.
I am so ready.
I have been doing it for years and am ready to let it expand in time I devote to it.
The pattern also discusses how modern society creates too much of a rift between working life and retirement, and between work and home. This in a book written in the 70's, mind you. I think we may be doing better in some parts over here 50 years later, but probably even worse in others.
Settled work: bring it on. I could do this all day, as they say.
(Yes, this is one of the patterns in a book about architecture and buildings. They do adopt a wide perspective on the topic.)