In 2005, Abigail Trafford of the Washington Post wrote an article that opened with a story about retired Japanese husbands making their wives ill with stress-related health problems. The men were accustomed to the controlling atmosphere of the corporate world and now had to stay home with only their wives to bear the brunt of their commanding and controlling behavior. Japanese doctors began to label the condition RHS, "retired husband syndrome". American wives in earlier decades when wives more often remained at home could relate.

Trafford wrote, "Retirement is twice as much husband for half as much money". And suddenly having a know-it all husband under foot, correcting how you ran the household would certainly be a stressful situation. Retirement can be rough on marriages. Especially for men who have identified themselves as what they do at work, and now they don't do that any more. Not only that, but if they were workaholics, they may not have any outside friends or interests. This leads to depression.

However, there are many more two income families now. Retirement can be even rougher on marriage, because now there are his and her retirements. The spouse that retires first may be resented by the working spouse as getting to do whatever they want all day, while they still have to keep going to work. Men who retire first often resent that their wives' employment keeps them from their own interests. Even if both spouses retire at the same time, couples may find that they can no longer ignore the problems they have. Money is always a factor in whether or not you can afford to retire. Have you considered what retirement will do to you, your spouse, and your relationship? This is an issue that needs serious discussion and perhaps counseling to prevent a divorce.