Survey of the stretched generation

I did it! I WON £50 Amazon voucher and have spent £20 of it already!!!! ;o))) thank you Geraldine and everyone at Gransnet. xx

Oh dear, I've just got this mail because I've been so busy caring for my 93 year old Aunt with Dementia, my 91 year old father and my son and daughter who are both ill. I'm sure I could have contributed to the survey!! My 8 year old grandson is now starting his 6 week school holiday so will be with me most days...and nights, while daddy works.
I 'retired' last year from 20+ years in Child Protection. Let me back to work please!

I too felt 'unstretched' whilst completing survey, but then my grandchildren live on other side of the world and I rarely have the opportunity to be actively involved and my 'caring for elderly parents days 'are over.

Done mine at last

Just found this survey, and have done it, it is amazing how many of us don't have family nearby, I have daughter and son living away, and youngest daughter living an hour or so away, so we see her family more often which is lovely, we all keep in touch and meet up when we can.
While I'm slightly worried about the future, I intend to be forever Optomistic, what will be will be!

I remember those days granjura and my husband had just persuaded me that it was sensible to buy a house costing £20,000 rather than one at £15,000 - scary times!

Done - but like Annobel, I live too far from family to help regularly

Just done, interesting

Thanks josie

We certainly felt a lot more stretched when we were younger. I remember the days when we bought a house in the mid 70s at the top of our means- and then the mortgage rate went up to 19.5% - then we were stretched!

No, not too busy. A little concerned, not about my future, but certainly the children's and grandchildren's future. Certainly, not happy as can be because now that I am rather older, the future doesn't look bright for me as well because of possible cuts and the problems with the NHS - it's all rather personal and selfish!

Oops, I did it a few days ago but didn't post that on here. Now duly posted!!!!! (Just to prove I am not a lurker ;-))

done

ha...first time in years I have been too young to take part in something....(47 and a half..) almost feel left out..!!

GNHQ I filled mine in on DH I Pad while we were away, but it seemed to vanish from screen and I was not directed back to home page so would you check that have you received it?

done mine. just read a few of the posts. isnt it funny how we feel so guilty if we spend time on ourselves! i haven't had to do a great deal of helping with grandchildren so far but elder DD going to uni in september so i will be helping out a lot more. quite looking forward to it, even though i will have less me time. and its only three years, im sure they will fly by.

In some ways I wish I could just sit back and let the world go by but it's not in my psyche. I'm using retirement to make the most of opportunities that come my way but on my terms; I'm not beholden to anyone unless I make a commitment to do something which of course I honour. I like to meet people and I need a focus and to feel useful in the wider community - as well as keeping my brain in gear!

No, I don't feel any guilt at all. I have had enough of feeling guilty and now I am just going to enjoy my retirement.

ClaraB; most of my neighbours are retired as are the majority of the people I deal with at work and I have to say that I find it difficult sometimes to maintain the smile on hearing of their latest holiday with a 'have a nice time'.

I'm still fighting guilt feelings after 6 years of retirement! I worked my socks off before and I love doing nothing as often as I like, so why do I still feel as though I should be rushing about?

I have also filled it in, but, like Harrigran and others, it made me wonder whether, apart from picking GS up from school a couple of days a week and having him ditto days a week during the holidays, I should be doing something more constructive with my time than pursuing hobbies and generally pottering about. Truth is, I had my fill of working, up to my retirement, and I don't particularly want to volunteer for anything at the moment, but I do feel quite guilty sometimes when I hear about what other people do after they have retired. Anyone else feel like that, or is it just me?

Filled it in but brought home to me how little I actually do.