I do know people who have had enough and stopped potting, when conditions in their lives suggested a change. Most of us seem to love it, though, and want to keep going indefinitely. Bodies don't keep going indefinitely. Besides all the rest of life and health, there are health problems that come with making pottery: carpal tunnel problems from repetitive motion of hands and wrists, elbow troubles, tendinitis. We all know we should not breathe clay dust for years, but how scrupulously careful are you? Glaze chemicals are sometimes dangerous, too. If you would like to be scared/warned, check out Beth Peterson, Is Pottery Dangerous.
The inspiration for thinking about this is an article in last Sunday's LA Times on Dora De Larios. She is a major potter and sculptor now in her 80's and working busily. Perhaps it's more design than hand work at this point, but she seems still to be carving her pieces herself.
And I think of Eva Zeisel, my hero these days. She died almost exactly 3 years ago at age 105. A few months earlier she was still designing, though I think she shifted away from hand work in the 2000's sometime. Early in her long career she started designing ceramics for commercial production, and at the end of her life, began designing pieces in other materials. Never stopping, always creative.
Locally, and more accessibly, there's Jeri Unitt, who continued to take classes at Clay Associates into her 80's. Over the years, she has not only made lovely indoor pieces, but has created her whole garden, the tiles for the back porch, the edging for planting areas, and table tops and flower pots.
And me? I started potting far too late in life to expect to give it up. And I love the example of these people, carrying on long in delight and commitment and ability.
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