The 65-year-old who retired for less than two weeks

The decision to leave the workforce initially stemmed from a desire to prioritize time with his wife following the deaths of family members. After consulting financial planners, Crabtree felt confident in his savings, having already transitioned to a less demanding role at his printing firm three years earlier. He bypassed a retirement party, preferring a quiet exit, and immediately filled his schedule with volunteer work at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

When his former boss reached out to cover for staff shortages due to medical leave and resignations, Crabtree accepted. He now works Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a schedule that allows him to delay collecting Social Security until age 70. This arrangement provides him with the structure of a workplace and the freedom to take extended trips, including recent travels to China and upcoming plans for Nevada. His weeks are now balanced between professional production work and the physical labor of maintaining garden trails, a shift he credits with improving his overall well-being.