Non-financial retirement planning

I had plans to travel and make use of my ESOL certificate after I retired. However, grandchildren came along and I couldn't drag myself too far away. I have managed to go to NZ three times, spending a week in San Francisco en route the last time. Having joints replaced spiked my guns a bit too. When my sister comes over from NZ, we usually go for a little jaunt on the Continent - Venice, Andalusia and SW France so far. I keep myself busy with CAB, NWR, Book Group and U3A. Retirement is a time when it is probably a good thing to keep plans fluid - you never know what is going to crop up next. No more new GC for me, but their demands will change and I hope I can help the young ones as I've supported the oldest.

Another situation I know of was a daughter caring for her mother.
The mother went in to the nursing home when the daughter was 72.
I don't know how old the mother was.

Frank

In theory I retired young in 2008 but I cared for my father until he passed away in early 2012.
The wider family tends to be one who supports each other and at present my main help is to take older members of the family to hospitals / doctors / dentists etc and the same applies to my granddaughters and sometimes other children in the wider family.
I am fortunate to be in good health and every time I have needed hospital treatment it has been the type where I can drive or get a bus or a train.
I do have to keep a diary to ensure I do not agree to do 2 things at the same time.
There is a big hospital near where I live on the north side of Birmingham but of course the conditions my relatives have mainly have to be treated in hospitals on the south side of Birmingham.

Oddly enough a few weeks ago a child was blue lighted to Leicester as the Birmingham Children's Hospital did not have room and he was discharged in the evening at about 9pm.
It was a Sunday.
When the ambulance came both the father and mother got in it.
I did go to collect them but what the father has said if it happens again he will let the mother go in the ambulance and he will get the car and follow later or possibly he would and the mother would follow later in the car.

I was a bit surprised the ambulance staff did not advise him to do this.

Retirement does mean you no longer go to work but you still have your place.
I do go on holidays but I think it would be difficult for the family if I went for say 3 months.

Frank

Like Shysal my / our retirement has been even better than we had expected; we were sure we'd enjoy it and we do! The past five or six years have been full of time with DGC, travelling and meeting people from all over the world, and taking up water and education projects in less developed countries, with Rotary International. We also each have our own "things" in which we're involved, and value that independence. (Catch me cycling 25 miles every other day!)

Then we moved down here to Devon last year (GNs saw me through that trauma!) and are discovering new things to experience and to do, as well as the joy of living near DD and her family. Love being retired.

My retirement has been even better than I anticipated. I just enjoy the simple pleasures, like keeping myself fit, and my only recommendation to those healthy enough would be to join a walking group, especially if you live alone. The exercise and companionship are great. I did invest in a TomTom sat-nav to get me to the starting points easily, though I rarely use it, and when I do I also print off an AA route . I'm a belt and braces woman!
I thought I would be planning lots of holidays, but I now don't go away at all - had enough of crowded airports and busy roads. Life at home is one long holiday! Bliss!
Happy retirement to all who are about to stop working. The saying that you will never have time to be bored is so true!