crumbs - have I done the right thing!

I retired 4 years ago and I've been busier than ever - family, voluntary work and yes, a day in work at least once a week often leaves me very tired and not what I imagined retirement to be. If you can stick to your guns and do things YOU want to do, do it and enjoy!

Dear Tanglerose, - UNTANGLE your life AND LIVE your own life to your satisfaction!

OK, money may be an issue, but have faith in yourself and it's surprising how things work out!

I took early retirement at 60 on health grounds. It took me a year to get used to the thought that I would not be going back.

Now at 80 I still have no regrets. It makes it a lot easier on my visits to the Doctor, Dentist and Hospital appointments, without having to excuse myself from work!!

Go for it Girl, and ENJOY!!

I'm desperate to retire but, if I do so I'll have the time to do the things I want but not the money and, once I do retire there's no going back. If you're fit and well embrace the opportunity to do what you want to do now. It's a new beginning, not an end. Enjoy! [and you'll have more time to spend on gransnet ....

Whether you enjoy retirement does depend a lot on your financial position. Those trying to live on a small pension may find it tough.

I have been retired for 5 years and enjoy it - I was apprehensive at first (fear of the unknown?) but am glad I decided to give up work (my Doctor warned me I was heading for a nervous breakdown). I find I am busier than ever in a different way, but a lot happier.

Pleased to meet you, tanglerose! I retired nearly 3 years ago when I became 60. For a couple of weeks I felt completely free and full of exhilaration! Then for a couple of weeks after that, I felt as if I could/should still be using my skills that I'd trained so hard for......then it dawned on me that I was free NOT to have to do anything that I didn't want to. And I didn't want to be under anyone's jurisdiction any more, either! Before I retired, I did worry how we'd manage financially, but it's all worked out fine! You just cut your cloth according to your needs - and end up realising that your needs are nothing like what you feared they would be!

"tanglerose" if you think about entering the next stage of your life as your third trimester instead of using the word retirement, it really helps to focus the mind on looking forward instead of looking to the past.

With any luck and investment in your health, you should have another 25-30 years on this planet, so there is so much to do and now you have the time to do it!!

i retired 9 years ago, am now 65 and left work early to care for my husband who has a very debilitating illness. My main objective was to stay really healthy so that I did not deteriorate physically or mentally in caring for him. So I would advise you to really invest heavily in staying as fit as possible in order to enjoy the future years. You have to be really selfish in this aspect as your family will rely on you more when you have more time at home, and it is only too easy to give yourself up to their wishes and then find you have little time or energy to enjoy everything else you may wish to do.

So make sure you have time for yourself, find a fitness programme that really inspires you and take care of yourself. It is a time of your life when you really do discover who you really are.

Hi Tangle maybe you will miss the kids and the colleagues. It is an adjustment. As a teacher you do have the option of doing part time or supply work if you feel the need to "get out more".

Hi tangle. I took early retirement 3 years ago from my teaching job, I was only 55 then but had had more than enough! I have loved my last 3 years and have managed to make a whole new set of friends. Believe me you will find this is a great time in your life and as the old saying goes you will wonder how you ever had time to go to work [smile flowers]

tangle I am "retired" if you can called it that but care for 2 of my GC so I say you just get out there and enjoy a whole new experience.....you have worked for it now enjoy it.

a few of my friends have taken early/partial retirement. I cannot do the same due to still having a child at home, mortgage etc but when I listen to the things they have time to do and the places they go I am very envious. I would say just get out there and make the most of the free time you will have. Good Luck x

I took early retirement four years ago. I had a busy, high powered job, but my grandchildren had started to arrive, and I really resented not being able to spend time with them. I was naturally apprehensive, but I LOVE it! I am busy, but now I'm busy with MY life. There are still not enough hours in the day, and I can barely believe that four years have gone by. This is going to be a new phase in your life, and its yours to make of it what you will! Relax, smell the roses and enjoy!

tanglerose Don't apologise or think you are being self indulgent with your moans posts.
We all need to offload our stresses and anxieties like this. We can take it in turns! If you will listen to others worries etc. they will listen to yours and offer helpful comments.

I have been a member for only a few months and I have found Gransnetters are very supportive.

I finished at work in May 2011 at 63. I wish I had gone at 60 although there were financial reasons for hanging on.

Enjoy doing just what you want to. Have you looked at U3A activities in your area? Most groups have all sorts of interesting activities or enjoy doing nothing much at all.

I retired at 59, 13 years ago. I have loved every minute. I am lucky enough to be able to live quite well on my pensions and I live in a very beautiful part of the French Alps. I am never bored - I don't enough time in the day to do all the walking, exploring, reading, etc. that I want to do.
I live alone and I can do exactly what I like, when I like. It is wonderful.

Yes, yes, yes. You have done the right thing. Enjoy it

I've been retired now for 6yrs , initially panicked as I wondered how on earth I would manage financially and then how I would occupy myself... I had no such problems... everything worked out fine and I've love every minute of pleasing myself. I've spent more time doing family stuff with my children and grandchildren, plenty of time just indulging with hobbies , walking, swimming , reading spending time with family friends and OH, and plenty of doing nothing much , its fabulous. Its time to smell the roses tanglerose.

I retired 21 years ago!
So why am I still working 3-4days a week?

Tanglerose, I took voluntary redundancy just over 20 years ago, and have never regretted it, despite not having as much money to go round.

Welcome tanglerose
I have been retired for nearly a year. I wasn't worried that I would be bored, but I did think I would miss the challenge and the people.
I don't. I didn't realise just how hard I had been working and how stressed I had become.
Like ella I love being free to do what I want to do, whether it's helping my DD, gardening, tennis, seeing my friends, going out with MrA or just doing very little (i.e, spending lots of time on Gransnet)
No regrets at all.
Hope it goes well for you

This will be the best time of your life - time for YOU to choose what you want to do. Hopefully the commitments will not feel so burdensome when you are not having to work as well.

I have to say that I am loving being retired - I enjoy my family, my hobbies, my community in ways that just were not possible before. Life is short - time to enjoy it and relish the absence of work responsibilities.

Make some plans so that you move forward positively - looking forward rather than looking back.

Life moves on - this is the next bit - and it will be what you choose to make of it.

Welcome tanglerose after you have been on Gransnet for a while you will fill your time, it is addictive

You won't regret it tangle, less stress when you don't have to juggle work with commitments and there will be time left over just for you

Don't look back tanglerose. Retirement is great. I was told I would get bored, want to go back, miss everyone. None of that - my family and friends more than compensate and life is brilliant when you are not tired out from working all those hours. Enjoy!

tanglerose I've been retired for over 6 years and I've loved every minute.
I'm not always doing things, I just enjoy having the choices.

tanglerose i left work at 58 am now 64 and still miss work .a think some people like me have lost touch with work mates .but good luck with your choice xx

tanglerose I may not be of much help but I can certainly empathise with how you are feeling right now. I have recently taken voluntary redundancy after a very unpleasant time with my employers but have had quite a few wobbles, wondering whether I had done the right thing. I do need to work and am looking for another job - but all I can say is that I am very quickly beginning to feel that I could get used to not working, there are so many other and better things to do.

Welcome to gransnet, you will always find someone to talk to here