Many people see retirement as a long-awaited reward after a lifetime of work. Others, like 100-year-old fashionista Iris Apfel, consider it “a fate worse than death.” At The 100 Year Lifestyle, we say do what you love for as long as you love it. That’s exactly Iris’ philosophy.

She isn’t alone. The pages of the 100 Year Lifestyle website are filled with stories of centenarians who are still working. You might be surprised to learn that everyone from physicians to athletes, and every profession in between, can and are continuing to work, full-time, in the fields that they love. In some cases, they have spent a lifetime collecting knowledge and experience in very specific areas and they see no reason to stop being involved because of something as arbitrary as age.

In many ways, it depends on whether you see your work life as a marathon or a sprint. If taking the marathon approach is more appealing to you, go for it! There is no reason not to. The lifetime of talents and abilities that you have developed don’t have an expiration date on them. There is no reason why you shouldn’t continue moving down that long, interesting road…if you want to.

Fashion icon Iris Apfel, who turned 100 in August, has spoken candidly about her age, and why she’ll never retire.

Do you agree with Iris that retirement is a fate worse than death? For her full story in living color, you have to keep reading here.