What's the best thing about retirement?

I completely agree with everything everyone else has said. My advice is to get all your jobs done now because you won't have time when you are retired.

KatyK 'nuff said

One of the lovely things is in the winter hearing the neighbours scraping the ice /snow off their cars and turning over and snuggling back down under the quilt. Cruel but enjoyable

It is lovely- the best time of life.
I do however wish that there was more time. The main problem is that there is so much choice and a lot of it clashes.
It is mainly freedom that appeals and the ability to be able to do things on the spur of the moment.
I do lots of volunteering but that does allow you to have time off when you want it.
Lots of new interests. U3A is good.
Lots of time to get together with friends.
Lots of walking.

The best thing about being retired is not having to go to work every day.
. Who needs all that hassle, traffic, bosses, rushing about.
Retirement is fantastic!

A day at work:

Up at 6, get ready, out at 6.45 Grab something to take to work for breakfast. Lift into town from DH.
Walk to office, get in lift, worried and stressed about what the day might bring or that something I did yesterday wasn't up to scratch. Colleague who I work closely with is already in the office, looking like she has just stepped out of a beauty salon. Politely say good morning, ask her if she is OK. She tosses her hair and tells me about the perfect evening she had with her perfect family. Other colleagues meander in, some say good morning, some only say it to the people who they consider 'matter'.
Run around like a blue a***d fly all morning. Listen to colleagues' gossip/sniping/worries etc. Nip out at lunch time in and out of shops getting stuff for other people 'seeing as you work in town could you get me such and such' Back into the office, run around again, trying to do my best which isn't good enough for some. Off to the bus stop at 3.30 or so, crammed onto the buss with all sorts pushing and shoving. Get off the bus, 20 minute walk home, tidy up, prepare a meal, flop in the chair, go to bed, prepare to start again.

Today (retired)

Up at 8.30. Coffee, fruit juice, porridge and fruit.
Watch a squirrel cavorting in the garden.
The sun comes out eventually. DH says 'shall we pop out for lunch?'
Hop on a bus (with our free bus passes), have a nice cheap lunch, sit outside the pub in a tree lined courtyard. Get back on the bus, saunter home, have a cup of tea, put my feet up and read my book.

Now let me think - work or retirement..........

Getting up in the morning when you are good and ready, and taking ages over breakfast, what a pleasure.

I often take my watch off , just put it on to go out, but DH insists on wearing his all day long, and not only that, but likes to have his wallet and keys on him at all times.goodness knows why!

I took my watch off the day I retired 8 years ago and have never worn it since. It's blissful to not be driven by other people's expectations of what you should be doing and when you should be doing it.

The first year I retired - at the end of term in July - we went on holiday in September. It was the first time I had been able to do that since I can't remember when.
The sheer joy of being abroad for nearly a month, traipsing around Europe in the car, knowing that all my still-working colleagues would be dealing with thousands of freshers and undergraduates descending on them with a myriad questions, to the backdrop of the non-stop thrum of music and smell of food and alcohol wafting through the windows.
Working in a students' union could be fun, no doubt about it, but oh my the September term [groan emoticon]. And I tell you what, retirement is so much more fun
Ariadne I'm in Plymouth

I was made redundant 2 years ago at 67, I found it difficult to adapt at first. I think I was difficult to live with as I had difficulty in relaxing into retirement. I have 2 grandchildren, eldest is 4 next month who I am lucky to see a lot of and who keep me involved, I know who George Ezra is! My husband works from home and is semi retired so that was an area of friction as he had his way of doing things which wasn't mine and I was there to say "why are you doing it that way". I was also concerned about the drop in income, kept turning lights off, heating down etc. I would say that now I can see what I have gained by retiring now rather than what I lost by not working. It is lovely to think that I will not have to go out in snow and ice to work again.

Meeting friends for weekday lunches. Going to exhibitions, the theatre and cinema in the afternoon. Going on holiday in term time. Going to college one day a week to study something I love.I enjoy every minute, it really is the best time!

For me the best thing of all is on a winter's morning when I don't have to worry about snow, ice, or fog and how they may affect my drive to work - and home again. I had many a sleepless night when we lived in the Yorkshire Pennines and snow was forecast. Many a morning digging out the car too. It was so stressful in winter and now I can just look out and be hugely relieved that I can stay at home!

Breakfast at 10.30 if you can be bothered to get up that early! I seem to sleep much better and don't wake up with a sore jaw from grinding my teeth in rage at work issues in my sleep. Lots of interesting new things to do and no great rush. Its 2.10pm. Think I'll watch a film. Cup of tea? check, choccy biscuits? check, cat on knee? check - perfect!

Ok. you've put my fears at bay! I thought I might be a teensy bit bored but it doesn't sound like that's an issue at all. Breakfast at 10:30 - can't wait

When I retired at 60 I had my elderly Mum living with me plus a teenage son and husband. At 64 we retired abroad (minus son who didnt want to go) but still had my Mum so that stopped us doing some things we would have liked to do. Last year my husband left and my lovely Mum died so finally my life is like that of the previous posters. Free and relaxing. If I want breakfast at noon that's ok. If I want to go to the supermarket at 6pm I can. So lovely to no longer be ruled by the clock. Lifes great!

Most of the above, but summed up by grannyactivist as "choice".
Knowing that if I feel ill or just exhausted, I don't have to work anyway ( no work, no pay), I can rest and recover.
And, I still get my pension!

Yes, it's the freedom to choose what you do and when you do it, and even with the humanitarian things with which we're involved, we know that we can always say "no."!

We've been retired for eight years now, but I still look forward to the start of term, knowing I haven't a) got to commute and b) not worry about work, students, trainees etc.

Going on holiday when you choose - we are off to Australia for the whole of October. And, as indinana says, to be able to have a day out without planning. (I'm in Devon, indinana, where are you?)

And, of course, seeing the DGC more often, and being there when needed.

It's great! And I get paid for doing this. Did work my socks off, though...��

Where to start- having choice I suppose over so much more of your life and I agree with petra not having to take orders from prats -- you know who you are NHS Finance Directors!!!

Freedom and time. Not having to struggle in to work if I have a cold or a headache; being able to put off till tomorrow what might have been done today! Now, where did I put that duster?

A friend of mine was very concerned that I didn't have a plan for my retirement. The best thing about being retired is not having to have a plan. Enjoying the moment, spending time with your family, finishing that book in bed if you want, staying in if you don't want to go out in the rain. It's priceless.

And what Petra said!

Being able to travel round our local - and wider - area, Devon, Cornwall, and sometimes further afield, visiting places we never had time to visit before. The sun comes out and DH says "fancy lunch/afternoon tea in (insert Padstow / Lyme Regis / Looe / wherever)?". When I think of all those years, working, working, working, and the weekend came and it rained . Now we just do things on spec. Love it!

In a word; choice.
I can choose what I want to do with my time; I can stay in bed all day, or fill every minute - the choice is mine.
I love being retired, but as my husband is still working we have a way to go before we can embrace it together and then I know that we shall each need to accommodate the other in choosing how to spend our time jointly.

petra
I'm so used to it now, I wouldn't want it any other way. I worked part time till I was 71 and changes at work meant I had to go, just before the bill against age discrimination came in. But I'm glad I went. I missed colleagues and the daily banter but life has become so much less fraught and I am much more relaxed. I still do lots, or don't do, if I choose not to. I rarely set the alarm and often have a late breakfast. Belonging to the gym is good and I do lots of knee-friendly classes, coffee with friends afterwards, and see more of my little grandchildren. Like you I felt worried by the prospect, especially losing the money, but we manage. There are so many things to do "out there" that you may feel spoilt for choice. I always suggest U3A to people but I am sure you will soon find your niche and will do at least some of those things you wanted to do. If it's not till next year you could start to set up some plans now? Good luck

Not having to constantly get used to new bits of software.