Retirement....is it all it's cracked up to be ?

I'm 73 and fully retired about 8 years ago and have loved every minute of it. I worked in social care management and have not missed it one bit! I have volunteered with various organisations in a number of roles since then so feel I am putting something back into society. I have scaled that back a bit now and just do more of the things I want to do with the wife and kids, holidays, etc. You are a long time dead mate make the most of your time when you are above ground.....
 
I’m 60 and a joiner who’s getting close to having enough! Me & my wife are going to see IFA tomorrow with a hope I can go down to 3 days . Think I will be happy if I can do 3 days for 2 or 3 years .
 
To enjoy retirement you need a number of things (in my humble opinion)
Hobbies, preferably indoor and outdoor ones and at least 1 to keep you reasonably fit and healthy
The spare money to pursue those hobbies
The "wisdom" to recognise life isn't really about accumulating "stuff"

If you can tick those boxes then definitely it's all it's cracked up to be. If not, then I suggest you spend a little time planning your retirement otherwise sedentary and daytime tv beckons
 
Tuearts right boot said:
For the last year or so I've been toying with the idea, I'm coming up to 66 and the world is a big place......I've not had a holiday for years and get bored very easily and really enjoy my job, the people, obviously the money and the hours are more part time than full. I'm finacially stable and my state pension kicks in next year. So what's the problem....I mentioned this to one of my clients who runs a similar business, joking apart he picked up on the idea and ran with it, so I ran with him so to speak....figures, turnover, costs, profits, I even spoke to my accountant. Now he's seeing his bank manager on monday to sort out his finances and quite frankly the penny has just dropped and I'm quietly crapping myself....what am I going to do, I'll miss so much customer, suppliers and clients interaction and dont fancy sitting around the house watching Lorraine Kelly and listening to the wife. I know folks on here have done it but would be interested to hear how it's gone.
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Am 68 and been retired for a couple of years now, and haven't regretted it for a single second .... I'm under no pressure from anybody, and basically just do what I wanna do ... if i wanna go out, i go out .. if i don't, i don't ..... it's my choice, unless I've got an appointment somewhere ..... i used to hate getting up for work on Mondays mornings, i love Mondays now ..... and I'm pretty content with life too!

Life's to short to worry ..... its not to short to 'snuff it' whilst you're still working yourself into the ground though!l

You can always take up a hobby, visit people, do a bit of gardening, get a little part time job, volunteer, travel if you want, get a railcard like I've got ...... just don't get on a train that Lorraine Kelly' or the missus is on, lol !


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Been retired 3 years in January and definitely did the right thing. Thankfully in good health don’t miss the work but miss some of my work mates .
 
I'm not quite 40 yet but I can't wait to retire. Would do it tomorrow if it were possible even though I work from home and do not a great deal.
I floated the idea to the wife that i could afford to drop to 3 days a week but she said if i do that, i've got to do all the housework because i'll have lot of free time so sacked that idea off
 
sky tot said:
I’m 60 and a joiner who’s getting close to having enough! Me & my wife are going to see IFA tomorrow with a hope I can go down to 3 days . Think I will be happy if I can do 3 days for 2 or 3 years .
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I’ve been a carpenter/ house builder for about 35 years now. Just did log work for the first ten years or so, now run my own small business. I’m the General Contractor but my crew does all of the carpentry from framing to finishing. 61 now and starting to feel the time, getting more picky about what we do and not stacking up jobs without a break in between. I’ve been collecting tools in my woodshop for years now with a view to one day just doing projects and selling at craft fairs etc. Hard to turn work down after all these years but it’s good money and working with the same great sub contractors make it a pretty smooth operation.
More fishing does sound fun
 
Yeah, my mate and I were in El Gato Negro in Manchester today, stuffing ourselves with food and wine. All we talked about was how we wished we were back in the office preparing a 10-page financial report or working on a spreadsheet.

NOT!

I wouldn't go back to work for £200k a year!
 
BrianW said:
Yeah, my mate and I were in El Gato Negro in Manchester today, stuffing ourselves with food and wine. All we talked about was how we wished we were back in the office preparing a 10-page financial report or working on a spreadsheet.

NOT!

I wouldn't go back to work for £200k a year!
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I might risk a year for 200k tbh .....
 
Giving up something you enjoy, will need replacing, something to wake-up for is the key. One man's meat an' all that..and it takes a while to know if you've made the right choice, best or worse decision ?
 
A good friend of mine retired at 56, didn't like it and went back for 3 years as an instructor. He turned 60 in May and spent 10 hours earlier today under the knife for oesophagal cancer.

Two weeks ago, I was just walking down the street when a car smashed into a shop front about 1 yard behind me. It was only an iron bollard that the car also demolished that prevented me being pinned to the shop.

If you can afford to do it, do.

Life is short and fragile.
 
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Tuearts right boot said:
For the last year or so I've been toying with the idea, I'm coming up to 66 and the world is a big place......I've not had a holiday for years and get bored very easily and really enjoy my job, the people, obviously the money and the hours are more part time than full. I'm finacially stable and my state pension kicks in next year. So what's the problem....I mentioned this to one of my clients who runs a similar business, joking apart he picked up on the idea and ran with it, so I ran with him so to speak....figures, turnover, costs, profits, I even spoke to my accountant. Now he's seeing his bank manager on monday to sort out his finances and quite frankly the penny has just dropped and I'm quietly crapping myself....what am I going to do, I'll miss so much customer, suppliers and clients interaction and dont fancy sitting around the house watching Lorraine Kelly and listening to the wife. I know folks on here have done it but would be interested to hear how it's gone.
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I did it over 12 months ago and, it turns out, I’m really, really good at it!
Never known job satisfaction like it…
 
I feel like there's a million things I'd love to do and work just gets in the way of them, therefore goal is to retire as soon as possible.

However if you like working, which is totally valid as well, then just keep doing that.
 
I retired 4 years ago and have loved every minute of it. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed what I did for a living but it was a business started from a hobby which really meant I lost that hobby. Now retired I can enjoy it as a hobby again. Far more chilled out out and sleep so much better as well.
 
remember arthur mann said:
If you enjoy working you need psychiatric treatment.
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Ha! I enjoy working, but I wouldn't argue...

I've just given notice to retire next April, at 57. We're lucky that we've both had had well paid jobs but also helped by not caring about typical money sinks like fancy cars.

Myself and Mrs Tuesday have adventures touring the world (by bicycle) planned and want to do this while we're still fit and active. Our boys (men!) are into their 20s now, so need to make their own way.

All things being equal, would have continued working, but have been kicked out of complacency by a number of friends and colleagues dying recently at or close to my age (one brain aneurysm, 2xheart attacks, one suicide) and two more suffering non fatal heart attacks. That, together with my own diagnosis of spinal arthritis pushed a decision. You never know how long you've got.

I will miss work though.
 
I'm turning 53 this Saturday (FOC), and on December 31st, 2025, I’ll be finishing work. I wouldn't say I've retired, but what I will say is that I now have the freedom to do as I please. My bucket list is as long as your arm, and I’m looking forward to it ticking many of them off.

 
Tuearts right boot said:
For the last year or so I've been toying with the idea, I'm coming up to 66 and the world is a big place......I've not had a holiday for years and get bored very easily and really enjoy my job, the people, obviously the money and the hours are more part time than full. I'm finacially stable and my state pension kicks in next year. So what's the problem....I mentioned this to one of my clients who runs a similar business, joking apart he picked up on the idea and ran with it, so I ran with him so to speak....figures, turnover, costs, profits, I even spoke to my accountant. Now he's seeing his bank manager on monday to sort out his finances and quite frankly the penny has just dropped and I'm quietly crapping myself....what am I going to do, I'll miss so much customer, suppliers and clients interaction and dont fancy sitting around the house watching Lorraine Kelly and listening to the wife. I know folks on here have done it but would be interested to hear how it's gone.
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I am loving it - not as much income but I am richer than I ever have been for other reasons than cash
 
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