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

SamTheGuru said:
I think it is all down to the person and whether you can be happy just plodding around. One of my Managing QSs has just turned 70 and really does not want to retire, yet his younger brother took early retirement at 61 and is plodding around doing what he wants to do. My Dad has been able to take earlier retirement at 65 and is more than happy plodding around doing his own thing whilst my Mum has taken early retirement at 59 and is going bat shit crazy because she does not have enough to do. Whilst I am not yet qualified to answer the question, I know I can keep myself busy from retirement but I suppose it all comes down to the individual. And of course financial responsibilities and securities!
Click to expand...
My son worked with a guy who was 74 and loving life. He was a QS and not short of a bob or two, having worked extensively in the Middle East in the past. He famously had his annual performance meeting with his younger boss who said “Got to ask you this, what do hope to be doing in five years time“ To which he replied “Fucking breathing”.
Horses for courses. Everyone’s different.
 
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.
Click to expand...
They want us all to work until 70, which is not on. If you have the chance to finish then do it if you are able. Enjoy it. Will be a change of life Im sure but not one you will dislike. Enjoy your hobbies and relax more. Im a natural grafter in the way you describe so I get it, but you need some earned feet up time.
 
Rory Bluelow said:
My son worked with a guy who was 74 and loving life. He was a QS and not short of a bob or two, having worked extensively in the Middle East in the past. He famously had his annual performance meeting with his younger boss who said “Got to ask you this, what do hope to be doing in five years time“ To which he replied “Fucking breathing”.
Horses for courses. Everyone’s different.
Click to expand...
QS ?
 
People just like the money too much to retire because they still want the financial clout, just retire cut your cloth and enjoy life if you can't afford a foreign holiday or dinner at a nice restaurant just don't go on a foreign holiday or spend a fortune on food.

I know too many people who are still miserable working away because they want a new car or a house make over, life is for living just enjoy it.
 
Oh yes indeed. Lots to do. Lots of volunteering which i really, really enjoy; visitors centre at the RSPB (believe it or not you don't have to be an expert just enjoy meeting people), recorder at our local Talking Newspaper, IT support for seniors at our local library, cycling coach for young riders, and the beauty about it is you don't have to do it if you don't want to. Not forgetting picking up the grandchildren from school.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ob
BlueHammer85 said:
Scaring me how comfortable and young people on here can retire - I’m 40, have a below average pension pot, average salary, Mrs doesn’t work , 2 kids and a big mortgage . Can not fathom retiring late 50’s, but guess never know and all that.
Click to expand...
Same here! Except I have one child!

I will be working well in to my 70s I expect
 
denislawsbackheel said:
I'm 73.
This year we went to Barbados, Rome, Kos, Venice, Nice, the Amalfi coast, Kendal, York, Whitby, Edinburgh for the fringe, Buxton for the festival, Manchester jazz festival, Ronnie Scott's in London, seen every national theatre production shown in cinemas and likewise every Met opera production. I go to many rock gigs and classical concerts a year. I play golf once a week, though the weather has curtailed that recently, I did a MoMA course on post war modern American abstract impressionism and daub a bit myself. I have written travel articles for magazines and am just about finishing writing a book I started twenty years ago about my experiences in France. I read voraciously and love cooking.

Retirement has been an absolute ball so far.
Never missed my job in the slightest.

I admit it gets a little harder each year which is why I am cramming as much in as I can while I still can.
Click to expand...
That's the way to do it ! Great stuff - you never know when that big bus is coming.
 
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.
Click to expand...
Your problem is a total lack of imagination, you're on this merry go round once, you want to waste the most important commodity we have, which is time, on clients, suppliers or Lorraine fucking Kelly.

Send me your wages ill retire, no problem.
 
ob said:
I'm 63 (64 in March) and been seriously considering it for while. Just not sure I've enough to keep me going as I have good life and earn decent money. I'm pretty sure I could put time in as I like running, walking, reading.

Living in south London plenty to see and do it's just the cost

Just think if I stop then may need to curtail some things.

In new year going to ask can I cut my hours.
Click to expand...
That’s our worry, we spend quite a lot on entertainment and by that I mean- me playing golf , me going out for a few pints on Saturday, season ticket, takeaways once a week , lots of coffees ect . One thing we aren’t is materialistic people . My car is 14 yr old , no iPad , laptop, expensive watches , ect . I’m hoping to go 3 days next year when I will be 61
 
  • Like
Reactions: ob
hilts said:
Your problem is a total lack of imagination, you're on this merry go round once, you want to waste the most important commodity we have, which is time, on clients, suppliers or Lorraine fucking Kelly.

Send me your wages ill retire, no problem.
Click to expand...

Spot on, when I announced to my circle of friends, over a pint of Trooper, that I'd just been finished at my last contract and that I was done, I wouldn't be looking for another, the first question was "but what will you do?". For me it was an incredibly easy question to answer, whatever the fuck I want. (This has been corrected somewhat since to be whatever the fuck she'll let me get away with).

For the lad asking the question, at 56 years old, he had no answer other than he was dreading retiring. Neither of us could understand the others response
 
mexico1970 said:
People just like the money too much to retire because they still want the financial clout, just retire cut your cloth and enjoy life if you can't afford a foreign holiday or dinner at a nice restaurant just don't go on a foreign holiday or spend a fortune on food.

I know too many people who are still miserable working away because they want a new car or a house make over, life is for living just enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Keeping up with the Jones’s seems to be the mantra with a lot of folk nowadays.

Trouble is that we’re living in a materialistic society who want all the new things…..
 
It's great but I'm definitely eating too much and probably annoying my missus a bit by now.
Though she's got a bonus break from me as I'm stuck in Spain atm after a quick visit turned into a little bit longer due to unforeseen circumstances.
Looking at doing a world cruise for my 50th next year which is 90 odd days, always fancied it but didn't have the time.
Anyway, yeah, I'd rather not work than work :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top