Is your retirement as good as you thought it would be...(-;

[johnp10]

Retirement?

The hours are great but the pay is shit.

 

[Zilevets]

My husband took voluntary redundancy in November 2014, as he was 62 he decided to just retire and not worry about work, he's loving it as he has time to do jobs in the house and garden between going out with the van and the bonus is he doesn't have to put in holiday requests as he did before and get knocked back, which was frustrating,

I had to give up work 5 years ago due to a car accident which has damaged my spine, but with the van we can go places and even if I can't go far we still can get out and about and see places and meet people along the way.

We now love being able to go out when we want with the van and not being tied to a schedule of getting back to go to work and if we want to stay away longer we can.

Liz

 

[CWH]

I have been camping for many many years, it is now just a tool in the box rather than a life stile or obsession.

I agree; but we can take the tool OUT of the box any time we want, which is pretty much what you're saying isn't it

 

[DuxDeluxe]

That sums it up perfectly DD freedom to choose what we do and when we do it.

.......and how we do it!!

Had a few offers of work, but the longer it goes on, the less I want to return to the marine rat race of trying to develop a marine business than nobody really understands, everybody needs but few actually want to pay for......

 

[buttons]

I agree; but we can take the tool OUT of the box any time we want, which is pretty much what you're saying isn't it

Very true CWH if it takes your fancy then away you go, it is the pre booking that I no longer do.

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[CWH]

it is the pre booking that I no longer do

The mere thought of pre-booking makes me shudder

 

[Carol]

My comfortable, happy working world fell apart when my wife was killed in a road collision and I was left with PTSD and chronic depression for some time - so bad I had to give up my self employed work at 58 years old. My MH has been my salvation, planning and doing the next trip; I only wish I'd bought a fully winterised one so I could keep going all year! My retirement interests are zero. I hate gardening, I've never been a "club" person and so I never really got to meet any people in my town and my step daughters and grandchildren live away. To me retirement is mostly loneliness and boredom and trying hard to fill in the days until the next holiday. Would I want to go to work again? Not really; customers never become friends and I don't need the money as insurance claims made me financially secure. Do I like retirement? It sure beats being dead - but only marginally I guess!

Just a thought Digger John, would it be possible to change your van to a winterised one, or do as Ian the builder has done, just take off to find the winter sun, @ianthebuilder @JJ and @dippingatoe (see her amazing blog) have all got tales to tell. Could be worth a go, lots of information/help on Fun, could be a change.

 

[ceejayt]

The problem with retirement is - you don't get a day off!!

Biggest adjustment was realising that actually, you don't have to go shopping on a Saturday. You can go on a Tuesday, have a coffee in M and S and browse the store,

Perfick!

 

[Bailey58]

My comfortable, happy working world fell apart when my wife was killed in a road collision and I was left with PTSD and chronic depression for some time - so bad I had to give up my self employed work at 58 years old. My MH has been my salvation, planning and doing the next trip; I only wish I'd bought a fully winterised one so I could keep going all year! My retirement interests are zero. I hate gardening, I've never been a "club" person and so I never really got to meet any people in my town and my step daughters and grandchildren live away. To me retirement is mostly loneliness and boredom and trying hard to fill in the days until the next holiday. Would I want to go to work again? Not really; customers never become friends and I don't need the money as insurance claims made me financially secure. Do I like retirement? It sure beats being dead - but only marginally I guess!

That's very sad to read. A positive retirement depends on many things being right and the most important is having the loved one you spent the major part of your life with being there to plan and enjoy the time with you. Whether elderly or not we are all a fine line from being content and able to enjoy our time and facing the days ahead on our own.

 

[chaser]

Being self employed farming all my life , The best part of retirement for me is that you can still do what you have always done without it having to pay, as well as enjoying not having to do it if you don't want, freedom , I think the word is, as buttons says, I still do stuff for the kids and keep a few sheep but not that many that I can't leave them for my daughter to look after, in fact if it wasn't for the matter that you have to be nearing the end of your days to do it,I could have done with it years ago

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[Electraglide]

My turn to join your ranks in May, not sure if I am looking forward to it or not.

 

[9526]

Was incredibly lucky to retire last year aged 51, but neither me or SWMBO can quite get our heads around it yet.

Don't get me wrong life's good and we're having a great time, but it just feels kind of strange.

To date we've had 3 months in France, Chrimbo back at home and are now sat in the Spanish sunshine, having just had a tapas and wine lunch.

@DiggerJon forget the winterisation Jon, get yourself over here.

 

[Hollyberry]

No, awful, dreadful. Slogging my guts out working 70-80 hour weeks to retire at 50 was a big mistake.

 

[magicsurfbus]

I became pensionable at 55 in July 2014 and have replaced one job with three, two of which are self-employment. I've returned to trading in collectables which I did a few years ago on the side, and my wife and I have started up a new venture that is going well. She has her own business in addition to that, and I also have a part-time job in a working museum in the summer months.

In terms of how I fill the day I'm as busy now as I was before retirement, but I have much more control over the choice and timing of what I do, and I enjoy it a whole lot more than working for the metaphorical man. The only job that frustrates me occasionally is the museum one, which is local authority controlled, so funding shortages and workplace politics sometimes interfere. The big plus with it is that most of the time I'm working on my own.

To date we've been very fortunate with health - we're very conscious that this is the good bit, and eventually as age advances life will be less good, so we're making the most of it. With two as yet unmarried daughters both in their twenties and in long-term relationships there's a fair chance family life could get busier and more costly before too long, but we'll take that as it comes.

One thing I don't plan to be (if my children remain healthy) is a seven day a week grandparent - If we're blessed with grandkids I'll of course be very happy, but I still intend to have a life of my own.

So in answer to the OP - yes, as good as I thought it would be, if not slightly better. For now.

 

[CWH]

Despite it being an enforced retirement, six years later I'm getting over the stresses and I can now honestly say: Retirement is good. Wish I'd done it by choice years earlier.

I had a great morning, the sort you can only have when you're not working - so, holiday, weekend or RETIRED.
Got up & checked email accounts, then onto Fun & my daily fix of Quiz (thank @dryad )
Him Indoors made breakfast; I ate it.
Since it was by now nice & sunny, I decided to nip down to the village to post my sister's birthday card. While I was there, I thought I'd wander along the beach before going home. Bit of dog-watching, bit of wave-watching.

Then I thought I'd go back up the hill via the coast path and try a few cliff-edge photos.

When I got to the top, I thought I'd stroll along a bit to see if the peregrine was in residence (she was).

Then I thought I'd amble back along the farm lane but it was still flooded.

So I thought I'd come back by the horses' field (horribly muddy I know, but what can you do with a mix of heavy rain, granite, and horses???)

So my 10-15 minute trip to post a card took me 2 hours.
Luvverly Retirement is good

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[davidbaldam]

Retirement is better than I thought, I retired early or should I say work retired me but after a period of about 6 months when I thought I might get another job before I came to my senses, if you can afford it, retire early, life is for living.

 

[Gooney]

A few weeks ago my wife said why don't you get a new warm waterproof coat in the sales, OK I said, then a thought occurred to me, I don't need another warm waterproof coat because I don't need to go out if it's cold or raining there's always another day

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Retired twice already, next and final time is just short of 400 days away or exactly 13 of my working shifts. Can't wait.

 

[scotzsue]

We retired within a couple of weeks of each other, John taking early retirement. He has quite a good social circle/life, but as i moved here to be with him and worked shifts most of my local social life was with work colleagues, all that went when i retired. slowly building up new friendships, but can be difficult when you disappear for a few weeks or months at a time.
However despite that retirement is great, and certainly beats the other alternative, Am happiest when away in the van.

 

[funflair]

We were on the treadmill with own business working hard and saving for retirement, Then we lost some good friends Jen got the big C thing and our priorities changed, I couldn't wait for the day that we passed the business on to somebody who needed it more than we did, we bought a motorhome to start living the dream and working on it and doing a few jobs was a good way of easing me out of work but keeping me in the UK to handover the business to the new guys.

Well that was three years ago now and we are on our way to Spain again, going places keeps me busy as I can't stay at home (itchy feet).

Don't know what we would do without the motorhome though.

Are we enjoying retirement, "hell yes" but it's hard work.

Martin

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[DP+JAY]

Retired twice already, next and final time is just short of 400 days away or exactly 13 of my working shifts. Can't wait.

13 shift in 400 days? sounds like your already retired.

No, awful, dreadful. Slogging my guts out working 70-80 hour weeks to retire at 50 was a big mistake.

Really? Why?

 

[Bertie Bassett]

13 shift in 400 days? sounds like your already retired.
Really? Why?

13 times 14 day shifts each of the days being a 12 hour shift.OK Mr Picky?

Edited to add, sorry for being Mr Grumpy, but going back to work on Tuesday

 

[Anthea M]

All you lucky lucky people I've got 7 more years to retirement But we still have lots of weekends away and holidays many more than before we had the MH.

 

[CWH]

All you lucky lucky people I've got 7 more years to retirement But we still have lots of weekends away and holidays many more than before we had the MH.

Anthea I still have 7 years until I 'officially' retire.
Bullying by a clever sociopath manager has left me unable to work, but I can't prove anything so I can't claim anything. Fortunately Him Indoors is properly retired so we manage on his pension.
When I was working I felt I should continue as long as I could, but from this side of the fence I can only say:
If you can afford to stop, then stop.
Opportunities for happiness, adventure and fun don't come around again.

 

[DP+JAY]

Anthea I still have 7 years until I 'officially' retire.
Bullying by a clever sociopath manager has left me unable to work, but I can't prove anything so I can't claim anything. Fortunately Him Indoors is properly retired so we manage on his pension.
When I was working I felt I should continue as long as I could, but from this side of the fence I can only say:
If you can afford to stop, then stop.
Opportunities for happiness, adventure and fun don't come around again.

That's the big question, anybody got a reliable crystal ball I can borrow?
Jay is retiring again in April, she retired 6 years ago but then started working again part time.
I have another 3 years till I get my state pension if I can last that long, I can't wait.
I fully understand those who say they don't know how they found time to work, so much I'd love to do if I had the time. The worry is, without the income, will we be able to afford to do those things.

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[gus-lopez]

Like @DiggerJon , said if you have never had any outside interests then it can be extremely difficult.

 

[Anthea M]

Anthea I still have 7 years until I 'officially' retire.
Bullying by a clever sociopath manager has left me unable to work, but I can't prove anything so I can't claim anything. Fortunately Him Indoors is properly retired so we manage on his pension.
When I was working I felt I should continue as long as I could, but from this side of the fence I can only say:
If you can afford to stop, then stop.
Opportunities for happiness, adventure and fun don't come around again.

@CWH thank you for your comments . You had a terrible time as bullying is a most distressing thing to have had done to you it happened to a friend of ours.I am lucky as I've been self employed and have recently cut my hours and Rob took early retirement but does one to one tuition and we have one day in the week together and weekends! It works at the moment as we can get away! I had a wake up call 5 years ago when suddenly seriously Ill we had just bought our van and it was a life line!

 

[TUCANO]

I happily returned to work at age 67 after retiring for 7 months, not looking forward to retiring again in 2017 aged 70.
Love my work and the socializing it involves otherwise at home, alone and lonely.
Perhaps it would have been better if my wife had not died but such is life
Must get up for work at 5-15 am, what a waste of time it must be waking up to do nothing

 

[Khizzie]

Like @DiggerJon , said if you have never had any outside interests then it can be extremely difficult.

Correct ,if your whole life has been to make a career so that your family can have a nice home etc..it leaves very little time for the social side of life......and when you do find yourself alone in this world everything is so much more difficult..so that's why I bought my motorhome and its been my best friend as I am sure digger john will soon realise..Roy

 

[Gary217]

Took early retirement at 55 five years ago because I was bored at work and a good, very active, very healthy (until then) friend had a major health scare and he's not been the same since which made me realise how it can happen to anyone.

It did mean a fair bit less money and if I'd carried on working the co. pension would be quite a bit more, but it was the best decision I've made apart from asking Sue to marry me. We get by very well, love travelling, no stress, no pia's telling me what the latest corporate idea is, I do some voluntary stuff and that makes me feel really good so....absolutely loving it. We're still 100% healthy so are determined to pack in as much as we can while we can.
There's only one bit of advice I give my kids (as they have to find their own way) - but I do tell them to maximise your pension so you know you can go when you've had enough.

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