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What is retirement really like?

(79 Posts)
ninathenana Thu 10-Mar-16 18:28:07

H took early retirement/redundancy at 60 we were able to pay off our mortgage and realise that we are fortunate to be better off than when we both worked.
We love the freedom to do what we want, when we want. I agree with others, that extra 1/2 hr in bed or extra cuppa in the morning when you feel like it is bliss.

tanith Thu 10-Mar-16 16:39:35

Its wonderful not to have to live life a slave to the clock. I took my watch off the day I retired and I haven't put it on since.
Mine was ill-health retirement and I thought I would really struggle to survive with only my NHS pension but not so I managed fine even though still paying a mortgage. It amazed me how much less I managed on perfectly well. OH was still working but I managed to carry on paying my way with bills and mortgage although we altered the ratio we both contributed. I would of happily carried on working but I was no longer physical able to do it. Sadly my old colleagues mostly fell by the wayside and I have lost touch with most of them .
Biggest adjustment was just to do nothing and I still struggle a bit with that I always feel that I should be doing something but I'm getting there slowly. OH is now retired and we love it that we can take off on a trip or day out whenever we feel like , we can visit family or go to the cinema when its not busy which is great. We do have days when we just chill out at home or in the garden but thats fine too .

We are blissfully free of responsibilities and love it.

Jane10 Thu 10-Mar-16 16:39:02

Time. I really enjoy having something interesting to do every day but no rushing. I don't have to live by the clock. Having another cup of coffee in the morning and listening to others scraping the ice off their windscreens is lovely. I sleep really well now and don't wake up angry in the night. My blood pressure has gone down etc etc etc. Is that enough?! I could go on....

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 10-Mar-16 16:24:51

We wanted to know from those of you who are retired what it's really like? Is it as blissfully free of responsibilities as you'd thought it would be?
Has it affected your relationships? Do you struggle to fill your days, or do you find yourself busier than ever and more able to socialise/see family etc?
Was it easy to adjust to the change in income?
Do you wish you had (if you'd been in a position to) retired sooner? Or do you think you could have worked a bit longer? Do you still keep in touch with your old colleagues or is it a case of good riddance?
What has been the biggest adjustment for you?