I'm retired, can I go back to work at a minimal job & defer the MRD distribution for a few years?

Nope. It's an age thing only. You MUST start taking the RMD at age 70.5. Remember, that you don't have to take the distributions from each account as long as the total amount required is correct. Also when you are 70.5 interest penalties for IRA CD's are not imposed.

If distributions are less than the required minimum distribution for the year, you may have to pay a 50% excise tax for that year on the amount not distributed as required.