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Are you enjoying your retirement?

(120 Posts)
maydonoz Mon 27-Sept-21 15:40:29

Following on from the "staying in pjs" thread, I was just thinking how lovely it is to be retired and not have to rush out to work in the morning, as most of us have done for most of our lives.
This is really our golden age of joy and freedom, particularly if we have reasonably good health and sufficient wealth to be able to do the things we want to.
However, this has all been curtailed by Covid 19 but hopefully we are coming out the other side and we can get back to living our lives as we were previously.
I wondered if others are happy in retirement or are you bored and wish you were still in work?

Yammy Tue 28-Sept-21 16:58:38

No, I have never regretted retiring from teaching ever. I am enjoying my retirement especially when DH from his very stressful job quite a few years later than me. I could still be in my PJ's if I wanted to.

Elvis58 Tue 28-Sept-21 17:44:34

I retired 3 years ago and moved to the country/ coast.l love it! No alarms ,no clock watching.My day is dictated by the weather,nice day out we go.Rainy days housework.The rest is hobbies, travel and enjoying life to the full.

Urmstongran Tue 28-Sept-21 18:06:53

Oh that’s sad to read midgey ?
Mirren ??

Redhead56 Tue 28-Sept-21 18:43:02

Thank you for the kind words of support. My daughter's illness is not physical so we could not see it coming. We know it's a long road to recovery it just seems so cruel.

Ethelwashere1 Tue 28-Sept-21 18:47:55

I hate being retired and people patronising me as though i was senile. I work about 16 hours bit its hard physical work and pay related to production so i dont earn much. Ive tried living on the state pension and its fine if you just sit at home but ive got many projects so i keep working

Rosycheeks Tue 28-Sept-21 18:53:26

I retired in jan and have enjoyed not going to work being out of the house 12 hours a day was so tiring I didnt like my work as it changed a lot over the years and wasnt the same. I used to get migraines a lot too but not anymore.

Rosycheeks Tue 28-Sept-21 18:56:26

flowers midgey

Chinesecrested Tue 28-Sept-21 20:30:00

Love it. It's like being on hoiday permanently.

Kim19 Tue 28-Sept-21 21:55:27

I retired from paid employment at the age of 74 and moved into more voluntary arena. I was not particularly looking forward to this part of my life but I was so wrong. Absolutely love it but - it took some getting used to.

NannyC1 Tue 28-Sept-21 21:56:24

BlueBelle

Nothing to do with money for me it s to do with being useful I worked till 69 and have now done another 7 years volunteering that s great for me
I think conditions make the difference a happy married couple with money for holidays days out and good companionship is very different to living on your own whether widowed or divorced That s what makes a big difference

I think your comments in the last paragraph are rude to single people..So I have to be married with money to be happy. No! I am single and love being by myself.

Grandma70s Tue 28-Sept-21 22:09:37

NannyC1

BlueBelle

Nothing to do with money for me it s to do with being useful I worked till 69 and have now done another 7 years volunteering that s great for me
I think conditions make the difference a happy married couple with money for holidays days out and good companionship is very different to living on your own whether widowed or divorced That s what makes a big difference

I think your comments in the last paragraph are rude to single people..So I have to be married with money to be happy. No! I am single and love being by myself.

I don’t think it was rude, but I was puzzled by that comment when I read it. I live on my own (I’ve been widowed for a long time), and find it pleasant and enjoyable. You really don’t have to be part of a couple to enjoy life. There are friends if you don’t like being alone.

Newquay Tue 28-Sept-21 23:09:12

Commiserations and condolences to those with problems/bereavements.
I’m in the school of “how did I ever have time to go to work”.
It’s the best job I ever had.
I don’t like not being as fit and energetic as I was and DH is definitely not as active but you have to cut your coat according to your cloth don’t you? Whether you’re accommodating poorer health or not so much money.
You have to make the best of every day IMHO

Joan22 Tue 28-Sept-21 23:31:03

BlueBelle you described my feelings to a T I'm still struggling but I am doing some
volunteering. I don't feel I have quite found my niche yet. I loved my job.

misty34 Tue 28-Sept-21 23:33:41

I have been retired from full time work from 17-55. Nearly 40 years and I love it. I still pinch myself sometimes when I realise that I don't have to set the alarm for 6a.m. anymore and take daughter to childminder etc. I am surviving on a small personal pension but still happy. Will have a little more financial security when i receive state pension in 4 yrs time. I am alone but happy. I cannot afford expensive holidays etc but enjoy walking dog and listening to music. Read a lot too.
It would be lovely to be able to afford foreign holidays etc but lost my husband many years ago and had to survive on one wage, not always easy. I could have worked a little longer but just felt exhausted by the whole travelling and early starts. No regrets here.

Blencathra Wed 29-Sept-21 07:00:34

I love it - the best time of my life. Free to follow all my hobbies, go out at quiet times, see friends and the very best is going on holiday in September, something I could never do as a teacher. I also volunteer. For those who miss working you can can do just about any job- you just don’t get paid. I recommend the National Trust.

halfpint1 Wed 29-Sept-21 07:38:10

I am 67 and haven't retired. I run a business from my home so don't feel the need to shut up shop. However I have never been tied to a 9 to 5 commuter type job and I'm my own boss, so I happily carry on.

LovelyLady Wed 29-Sept-21 09:31:41

I retired and felt so very lonely so started Volunteering. It’s made life purposeful again by filling the day.

Lucca Wed 29-Sept-21 10:39:42

I’d like to volunteer but all the roles seem to involve standing around and I like to be busy. I did a stint in the library and couldn’t take the boredom ….ditto an Oxfam bookshop.

kittylester Wed 29-Sept-21 11:29:12

Do you not have a Voluntary Action Group in your area? Ours lists all the vacancies for volunteers in Leicestershire.

Volunteering isn't just about shops. I volu there for AgeUk in dementia cafe's and help deliver courses to Carer's for them. If that interests you it might be the Alzheimer's Society that you should ring.