Or even worse, you could die in a car accident tomorrow. So much for a midlife crisis, let alone happy retirement.
Obviously, throwing the future to the wind and only caring about the present is stupid, but like you say there is absolutely an argument to be made that we should make the most of the time we have right now because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.
Retirement is a new thing, however. In fact, this is the first generation to retire with money being paid for by the current working generation. If you are using that same system for your retirement, you are basically betting on the new-born of today to pay for your retirement.
35 years from now.
Think about how much the world, technology, politics and ideology have changed since 1987. If you think the born-now will honor your retirement claim (that you/gov are making since new-born can't agree?) then, yeah, go for that retirement thing.
That's why you need to let go of this idea of some awesome 2 decades of retirement where you finally get to enjoy and do all the things you want.
You'll be broken, half your friends are dead or dying, the kids won't visit, and you have no energy.
I'm being intentionally brutal to make it as clear as I can. Whatever you want to do, do it NOW. During good years.