Early Retirement

[bluegirl74]

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Took the decision over twelve months ago to slow down
Was fed up with the person I report to who was new in the role, fed up with the absolutely ridiculous suggestions from him and enough of the 125 mile a day round trip with the usual one day a week in a hotel.
Started a new job in October working 21 hours a week, supposedly from home
On average I'm out a day a week at a seminar or conference or union meeting, mainly in London but it's nice to the travel come out of the employer's pocket and not mine and it's mostly first class so not complaining.
When not at meetings etc I decide on my work hours so if it's good weather I can get out and when it's not I'll do some work.
I've been able to see City in Rome and Barcelona, something I couldn't have done in my previous job, and even managed to take a week's skiing by managing my time and doing a couple of hours of work when I got in in the evening.

Things are much more relaxed and am easing nicely towards retirement

To my mind this is what the internet should be doing for us all (besides snide footy streams and porn). Office/desk based jobs should all be doable from home with a once per week meeting in the town /city at the firms office. There should be a set workload/deadlines with individuals free to manage their hours so long as it all gets done. This would free us all to do hobbies/childcare/football/shagging ect as well as allowing more of us to live in nicer/cheaper places in bigger houses.
Instead we all dutifully go to the office and email people in the same room while paying through the nose to live and commute through the urban sprawl.

What is suggested here makes fantastic sense and could easily be implemented for the work I do. 3 or 4 days at home and the other 1 or 2 in the office in meetings. I'd save at least 6-8 hours per week in travel time alone :-)

 

[Blue Maverick]

There is still a lot too be said for working with others though just for the social interaction that is what I'll miss the most, however as I get older I prefer my own company a lot more but then I am a grumpy old bastard.

 

[squirtyflower]

There is still a lot too be said for working with others though just for the social interaction that is what I'll miss the most, however as I get older I prefer my own company a lot more but then I am a grumpy old bastard.

It's been great for me as I've always been a grumpy old bastard

 

[Helmet Cole]

There is still a lot too be said for working with others though just for the social interaction that is what I'll miss the most, however as I get older I prefer my own company a lot more but then I am a grumpy old bastard.

I'm not suggesting that working from home should mean you don't go out! It should give us the flexibility to meet other folk doing things other than work like hobbies/boozing/footy - whatever rings your bell.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

Took the decision over twelve months ago to slow down
Was fed up with the person I report to who was new in the role, fed up with the absolutely ridiculous suggestions from him and enough of the 125 mile a day round trip with the usual one day a week in a hotel.
Started a new job in October working 21 hours a week, supposedly from home
On average I'm out a day a week at a seminar or conference or union meeting, mainly in London but it's nice to the travel come out of the employer's pocket and not mine and it's mostly first class so not complaining.
When not at meetings etc I decide on my work hours so if it's good weather I can get out and when it's not I'll do some work.
I've been able to see City in Rome and Barcelona, something I couldn't have done in my previous job, and even managed to take a week's skiing by managing my time and doing a couple of hours of work when I got in in the evening.

Things are much more relaxed and am easing nicely towards retirement

To my mind this is what the internet should be doing for us all (besides snide footy streams and porn). Office/desk based jobs should all be doable from home with a once per week meeting in the town /city at the firms office. There should be a set workload/deadlines with individuals free to manage their hours so long as it all gets done. This would free us all to do hobbies/childcare/football/shagging ect as well as allowing more of us to live in nicer/cheaper places in bigger houses.
Instead we all dutifully go to the office and email people in the same room while paying through the nose to live and commute through the urban sprawl.

Didn't the powers that be claim that this would be the way forward. That and a paperless society. Anyone for Croquet.

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

I'm coming up to 62, love my (self employed) job, and plan to carry on for at least another five years, however, I can take a day, or even a week off any time I want to, as many times as I want, so I have the best of both worlds really....

Paul M'cCartney, Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Roberto Mancini, Ken Dodd etc, could have retired many many years ago, but enjoy their work so keep going.....

Different I suppose, if you have worked down the pit for forty years..............

 

[Ronnie the Rep]

Mrs Rep wants me to retire in a couple of years time when I'm 60. Bricking it to be honest, Im worried I will be bored, irrelevant, poor etc

Any of you lot done it and have advice?

I retired at 26

Im poor as fuck mind. Could only afford 2 euro aways last season

with OUR fucking money!!

seriously though rascal has a point here. retiring albeit through ill health very early. good on him for getting to any games (he saved up during the thaskin era). this retirement was forced upon him so i say work whilst you can. its not just the money its life. workmates, the public etc, general shit that gets you out of the house. most couples have an age gap of some sort, so when one retires the other one gets up and goes to work, if thats the woman the man could easily stagnate at home till she gets in. i could retire now, dont want to and as my wife is 5 years younger she'd carry on. if you think i'm sitting here getting under her feet you have another think coming. i'd end up being murdered. of course on the money side your "pot" has to serve you longer, your state pension may not kick in for say 6 years as does mine.
my plan if things carry on as well as they are in business and health is to work as long as i can, i love it, its not even work though the hours are long. so i will plod on but as i get older take more holidays. maybe further afield. i have the added issue that if i pack in 8 other people all younger than me have to find work elsewhere.
dont do it ronnie.unless you hate it, ease up if poss but carry on.

I do need to ease up, I travel all over the world and work long hours. Mrs Rep is a bit older than me and not in the best of health and although I love what I do, she is far more important to me. I think the company will keep me on in an advisory role so maybe best of both worlds

 

[Helmet Cole]

Sounds like a win. We all tend to start our working lives with a fixed idea of a retirement age or the idea of never stopping, but most folk I've known have to revise these plans nearer the time due to their health, a relatives health, economics or other reasons you can't forsee. If you love your job and are still in good health then why not carry on, but if you can afford to sack it off early and live well why not? I'm not suggesting sitting around waiting for god, but there are plenty of ways to make your life busy without work.

 

[Bill]

I retired at 26

Im poor as fuck mind. Could only afford 2 euro aways last season

with OUR fucking money!!

seriously though rascal has a point here. retiring albeit through ill health very early. good on him for getting to any games (he saved up during the thaskin era). this retirement was forced upon him so i say work whilst you can. its not just the money its life. workmates, the public etc, general shit that gets you out of the house. most couples have an age gap of some sort, so when one retires the other one gets up and goes to work, if thats the woman the man could easily stagnate at home till she gets in. i could retire now, dont want to and as my wife is 5 years younger she'd carry on. if you think i'm sitting here getting under her feet you have another think coming. i'd end up being murdered. of course on the money side your "pot" has to serve you longer, your state pension may not kick in for say 6 years as does mine.
my plan if things carry on as well as they are in business and health is to work as long as i can, i love it, its not even work though the hours are long. so i will plod on but as i get older take more holidays. maybe further afield. i have the added issue that if i pack in 8 other people all younger than me have to find work elsewhere.
dont do it ronnie.unless you hate it, ease up if poss but carry on.

I do need to ease up, I travel all over the world and work long hours. Mrs Rep is a bit older than me and not in the best of health and although I love what I do, she is far more important to me. I think the company will keep me on in an advisory role so maybe best of both worlds

if your wife is not in good health it changes everything. sack the job off asap.

 

[Bill Walker]

I'm coming up to 62, love my (self employed) job, and plan to carry on for at least another five years, however, I can take a day, or even a week off any time I want to, as many times as I want, so I have the best of both worlds really....

Paul M'cCartney, Warren Buffett, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Roberto Mancini, Ken Dodd etc, could have retired many many years ago, but enjoy their work so keep going.....

Different I suppose, if you have worked down the pit for forty years..............

If I had your job Id probably carry on, you obviously enjoy it

there are aspects of work I miss, I hate saying Im retired, just doesnt sit well with me

I liked saying 'engineer'