Best and worst things about retirement

Best: total stress free life, total freedom, can help kids and grandkids whenever they need me, can work thro my bucket list of holidays, catch up with old friends, can even have the odd pyjama day in the cold winter months ....
Worst: missing some of my predominantly male staff at work who made me cry with laughter on a daily basis

Going into five years I have been retired ...pension age but also health issues. Stayed in bed till late. Go for regular walks to keep healthy. Also looks after my grandsons a couple of days ( school run, cub, beavers after school) Like cooking for my children and grandsons. x

I took Early Retirement at 50 as DH had retired aged 65 & in poor health. I've been Retired for 13 years, 2 more to wait for State Pension/Bus Pass. Another WASPI born 1955

Best:

Having all the time to do what I want.
Spur of the moment trips
Being near DD & DGSs
Exploring a new area & making new friends
New experiences
Shopping/days out when I want & avoiding the crowds
Not having to get up & out of the house early to get to work

Worst:

Being widowed at 57 & losing more than half of household income
Moving twice in just over 3 years, downsizing both times
Reliant on Benefits to top up my Civil Service Pension
Having to balance doing what I want & what I can afford
Worry about what effect State Pension will have on my income

On balance I love being retired, until the State Pension age was raised twice I would have been retired over 4 years. Sad to no longer have DH to share retirement with but my life has changed in so many ways that I am content with my lot

Best: Doing what I want when I want. Not being smelly any longer, I was a nurse and by the end of a 13hr shift I didn’t always smell so good! ?

Worst: We live very rural and boredom sets in during the long winter nights!

Best : time to do everything without having to rush to finish. Particularly time spent travelling, now two or three night stops on a road trip instead of one! Flying at lunchtime midweek!!!!
Worst : clock watching. With no routine we have to make certain all the time that we are not late for appointments, or even that we go on the right day?

I worked in a school for 14 years before I retired last year, so taking a holiday whenever we like is great (and SO much cheaper!).

Best - not having to turn down and invitation because I'm working

Worst - still paying income tax

Best
Time to read and play my instrument again, cook new meals, bake and potter in the garden
Wake late, watch box sets and go to bed late without worrying about 6am alarm
No emails, data analysis, KPIs, staff HR issues - relief!
Walks on the beach, coastal living
Time to get fitter, lose weight recapture me!

Worst
Just retired and relocated to Welsh coast with husband far fro my two children so miss seeing them regularly
Not yet used to the lack of purpose in my days, feeling slightly adrift
Husband still working so away three days a week, loneliness and isolation is strong at the moment
Missing the busy-ness of SE UK, the amenities and culture

Will it get better?

Londongranny - if you're with BT, get their 'Call Protect' system and also 'Caller Display'. On your answerphone, state that you only respond to messages from friends and colleagues.

I know how lucky I was to have retired at 57. I paid into the local government pension scheme for decades and decided I would rather live with a little less money, than carry on working in a job that was detrimental to both my physical and mental health.

Best things - Being able to walk miles with my dog, stopping to watch the birds/foxes/butterflies and having a good old natter with other dog walkers, without clock watching.

Being able to shop slowly! Taking my time to buy fresh food instead of pre prepared stuff and browse the bargains in Aldi!

Listening to everyone nearby leaving for work in a morning, then turning over for a few more minutes shut eye!

Actually I could go on and on and on. This is the first time in my life I have had time at home, other than maternity leave. I love love love it!

Worst - Having to wait another 6 years for my state pension.

I have been retired 12 years. Loving it, we live in the south east buses are great, dlr. near us, 02 just a short bus ride. 500 year old woods just across the road farm down the hill, park and community house 10 minutes away.
Certainly don’t miss going to work.

All best things.....no worst things yet!!

I'm with Whitewavemark2 who describes my assessment of retirement succinctly. Sorry its not the same for everyone.

Best:
No more unexpected CQC inspections.
Having the opportunity and sense to join a final salary pension scheme 30 years before retirement.
Time to do what I want.
Moving to Scotland.
No more alarm clocks.
Not being answerable to anyone.
Free bus pass.

Worst:
Putting on weight due to less activity.
Missing some of the people I worked with.
Being with OH 24/7.
Becoming a non-person. I was asked once “what did you used to be?” With emphasis on the “be” rather than “do”.
Having to try and build new friendships in a new area (working on that).

Would I go back to work? Never!!

Retired 3 weeks ago - so still a novelty! . I wrote a long list of all the things I wanted to do when I retired.....so far I have joined a Rock Choir - walked in the woods in the early mornings - sat in the sunshine and sewn my Zenbroidery - been to the Cinema at lunchtime - visited my lovely friend in New England - coffee with friends! So all going well and loving it so far! Need to start the decorating next week!!

Best: not being accountable to anyone, time to read or stay up late, no stupid younger bosses who know it all, no alarm clock. Have enough pension not to worry about finances.

Worst: live alone so no built-in company. Have to make constant effort to see people. People forget I exist. No role or joint sense of purpose which I had through work. Boredom and feeling that my day consists of ‘trivial pursuits’.

On balance preferred being in the swim with a role at work.

Chance would be a fine thing.
Like many on here I am a WASPI born 1956 so 3 more years until my state pension.
Some days I am so tired and fed up.
I have very painful joints especially my feet and last week I fell over with 2 full plates of breakfast in my hands. Totally embarrassed and hurt myself.
I so want to retire and I am so jealous of those that have.

Best for me is the amount of time available to do all the things you want to do, every day is a Bank Holiday.

Best - spending all day with my husband, doing what I like,

Worst - ummmmmmmmm

Life would be great if I could actually convince my bosses that I had indeed retired and that no only working 1 or 2 days a week does not constitute retirement, but seeing as my bosses are my daughters I have a feeling it will take a while for it to sink in lol

1957 WASPI, no pension, no bus pass ???

The best is not being accountable to anyone - I can do what I want when I want but in reality I don't actually do very much.

The worst is worrying about money as there is less of it available though I'm possibly a bit better off than I think.

Whitewavemark2

We investigated call-blockers but we get a lot of overseas calls from friends and those get blocked too. Also ones from behind a switchboard.

Best - being able to see my family who live a long way away without worrying about taking time off work
- hardly ever having to set the alarm clock
- having more time to see my friends
- having the time to go walking, cycling & other exercise
- time to take up new interests

Worst - I miss colleagues & the discussions we had & the intellectual stimulation of work, as opposed to the work itself!

Remember that song 'Second Hand Rose'? That's me!

Best
Not setting the alarm when I go to bed, and getting up when I wake up.
Having time for hobbies.
Being able to study a subject I love, rather than taking exams and studying for work.
Keeping in touch with friends more than before.
Not having to spend time with people just because we work together.

Worst
Another pensionless pensioner here - over 6 years until I get the pension I've paid into for decades.
Being patronised as a 'baby boomer'.
Health concerns.

So very similar to Urmstongran