Fear of Retirement

I don't need another half to enjoy my retirement - I am a complete person by myself! I love my freedom - I wake up every day and think what lovely things I can choose to do. If it is fine, I explore the lovely towns and villages around me, and usually take a very long, steep walk. If it is too wet, or the snow is too deep, I snuggle down and watch TV, listen to Radio 4, read, surf and do sudoku. I can go on holiday out of season and spend six weeks at a time in New Zealand.

I was catapoulted into retirement in my early 50s by a redundancy packaged up as early retirement scheme.

I had no qualms at all about it. I had so many outside interests I wanted to follow I couldn't wait to go - and I had an enjoyable career. I went back to university for a year and have been hectically busy ever since. Currently I am editing an archaeological journal, sorting out an appeal against a local planning application, looking after two historic churches, spending time in our house in France, spending as much time as possible with my grandchildren and trying to complete a number of needlework projects I have in hand.

Bored? never, exhausted, frequently, work was a doddle compared with the constant activity of retirement.

I was initially wary about retiring but as my Doctor told me to either give up work or have a breakdown, I retired. Now I wonder how I ever had the time to go to work! I keep busy most of the time seeing friends, catching up with my reading, visiting museums, travelling and sometimes just taking time to sit back and enjoy the surrounding countryside. I love waking up and knowing that the day is mine to do with as I please.

I thought I would be working for another year or so but when I was shown the redundancy money in London and my immediate pension I could not get out of the door fast enough.
I just went home, phoned my daughters who were overjoyed I would be joining them in Birmingham.
The house went up for sale and I got another lower paid job in Birmingham which combined with my pension took me back to my London salary level.
I got retired again 5 years later but I am now with my family and I have got Andie my dog.
Oddly enough I went on a retirement course a few weeks after my London retirement and the instructor said do not be in a hurry to move, think things over.
I immediately thought too late, I had moved and started another job.

Frank

What a nice positive story overthehill it was really lovely to read it, thank you for rsharing

Bored in retirement! I retired when I became widowed (50 years old). Let my house, Went travelling with my little dog, after two years came home, met new husband, travelling again. Came home sold house, moved to the coast. Love my new life.

dallas

The coast would be my first choice for retirement.
I don't think my daughters and granddaughters would approve.
Never mind. Andie and myself have got Sutton Park and the canals.
Andie likes to get the train to Selly Oak and to walk back to New Street Station.
We try to have a coffee outside a café on the way back and Andie has a biscuit.
One café makes Andie a cup of tea in a bowel and they do not charge him for it.

Frank

Frank - I do hope that was a typo!

Ha ha, like the typo.

Glad to see everyone enjoying their retirement in their own ways.

Wonder if there is anyone here still working who is apprehensive about going, shouldn't be after reading all these entries.

I'm a bit ambivalent, to be honest overthehill. Although I'm only working part time now, it's a part of my life I will miss when I do eventually retire and I'm not sure how well DH and I will cope with 24 hour togetherness!

I enjoy my mix of bits of occasional work, childcare for DGCs, WI and voluntary work alongside my gardening, reading social networking, social outings to theatre/cinema/walks/getting together with friends.

DH does more work than me but it is not quite f/t & is flexible so we can take long weekends or holidays when we want.

I took a voluntary redundancy package 2 years ago and have not regretted it at all.

I retired as soon as I could, took a lump sum and bought a newer caravan, I love my garden (bought a swing chair as a retirement present to myself) My DH go birdwatching and wildlife watching together. I enjoy my grandchildren but am not tied to looking after them.

We too wanted to retire to the coast but are happy with our lot now and do go to the coast as and when we can.

We do wildlife residential volunteering. I love volunteering on islands and our choices are normally near the sea.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE being retired. Not getting up early, no stressful stressful job to go to, and it was very stressful, dealing with people with challenging behaviour and learning disabilities. I do miss the 'clients' but do not miss the work at all. It's great to have time to myself and to do what ever I want to do when ever I want.

#iwouldnotgobacktoworkifiwaspaidamillionpound

Ana I see were you are coming from, but who says you have to spend all that time together, with all your spare time you can get involved in loads of things, either jointly or separately, which ever you prefer, the difference will be that they will be doing activities that you have chosen//that you will enjoy.

Flowerofthewest

I did not have the option of a lump sum under the rules of my pension scheme although I did have redundancy plus pension.
There was however a guarantee that the full pension would be paid for 5 years even if you die.
I know if your spouse was alive it was paid monthly.
I am not sure what they would have done if your spouse had passed away and there was another beneficiary.
Presumably a lump sum would have been paid.

Frank

If I can remember a lesser lump sum would have been paid and pension would be paid for a while then at a lesser rate. I think I am right. Long time ago

Frank Well done! You have got this thread back to pensions.

How about keeping this thread about the joys of retirement over working.

The finances of retirement are important for those who have not good pensions but lay off finance for a bit.

Frank how do you enjoy retirement? are yo enjoying it? Do you ever spend time doing the frivolous stuff you want to do. Enjoying life having silly inconsequential fun.
What do you do when you are not a keeping fit or helping people. I am sure you must have some hobbies and interests.

Flowerofthewest

We are Londoners and not me especially ( I am a townie through and through) but lots of people think of upping sticks and off to the country.

However when you have been used to buses coming along every couple of minutes, trains into London town for free I think you might feel cut off especially if it gets to the point where you can't drive.

Don't get.me wrong I love visiting the country and do it all the time in our caravan but I'm quite happy staying put in London as my base

I live on the edge of a town too Over, the First Garden City, in fact. I do love it here and am really settled. We did want to move to Norfolk coast mainly for the birds, my place of choice would have been North Uist. I am surrounded by my family - most with young children so it does change ones perspective somewhat.

I love retirement best thing I ever did.

It's the freedom to do all the things you never had time to do in your working life.

I have many interests, and seem to be busy most of the time.

Life is good.

It comes down to a mind set. If you are someone who gives 100 per cent in life, job or retirement you will enjoy it. I loved my job, but I also love my retirement and hardly ever think back to my career.

It is lovely to have the freedom of choice each day. Still feel a bit guilty choosing to do nothing, but sit in the garden, when I know previous colleagues are hard at work!!

I retired three weeks ago as soon as I hit 60. I threw a party to celebrate and then threw myself into all the things I enjoy most. I'm now helping to run a voluntary arts festival in Lincoln (www.LincolnInspired.co.uk), doing some creative writing, house sitting in France later this month, doing a bit of acting locally and directing a play in October.

I also get to read, visit friends and family and have a lie-in if I feel like it. The joy of being spontaneous is fabulous!