What's the word I'm looking for? Meaning not the actual thing, just the basic idea of it?

Question:For example:

My Grandfther retired last week. He finally decided to hang up his ________ hat for good.

The only words I'm coming up with are hypothetical or virtual. But they don't seem to make sence. Can anyone help me out? Please only serious answer, k?

Answers:
His corporate hat, his working hat, his legal hat, his medical hat....
Proverbial.

He isn't really 'hanging up' his REAL hat. Hanging up one's hat when it comes to retirement is in the proverbial sense.

pro·ver·bi·al

ADJECTIVE:

1. Of the nature of a proverb.
2. Expressed in a proverb.
3. Widely referred to, as if the subject of a proverb; famous.
maybe abstract.....
'Proverbial' is used that way, though it doesn't actually mean that, it's more a reference to 'hanging up one's hat' being a figure of speech. His 'figurative' hat would be more accurate but it sounds strange. His 'quintessential' hat. No, that's not right. Hmmmm. He decided to hang up his hat, figuratively speaking, meaning he wasn't actually hanging up a real hat.

I just know I'll wake up at 2:00 am with a great answer to this. 8^<
He hung up his 9-5 hat for good.
It's what retirees do before they pop their clogs.

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