Are you enjoying your retirement?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

midgey

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

I love being retired! I didn't want to but took voluntary redundancy due to mental health issues. I'm a different person now. I love being able to spend time with my husband and ponies . We don't have a large income but we have enough and a simple lifestyle

I would have enjoyed my retirement more had my final boss not been the most delightful, fun loving , reasonable and kind person that I had encountered in a 41 year teaching career. Having worked under the auspices of previous heads who made Miss Trunchbull look angelic, I worked past retirement age until my lovely boss retired. I missed her and everything about my last school for a long time and went through a sort of mourning period. I’m now thankful that I finished on a high note with lovely happy memories.

No, I retired early thanks to a botched op., my DH is 10 years older. He has been my carer for over 10 years, and as much as we can had fun. Sadly hehit a significant birthday 5 years ago and again this year and has decided he is old - and won't do anything or go anywhere. I'm bored to tears

I also do voluntary work, it gives my week structure and i rarely am bored. I have met some lovely people and am raising funds for a local animal sanctuary. No need to ever be bored!

I retired from General Practice aged 61 back in 2013.
I did enjoy the freedom of retirement and the time to spend with my GC . That was curtailed by Covid as they live far away.
I got quite despondent at first , and quite bored, even though I have many hobbies
When Boris asked for retired doctors and nurses to go back to work I did think long and hard. The family were worried about the risk to my health and to DH .
However, I went ahead and volunteered. I had to really , didn't I ? All those years of experience going spare while there was a major health crisis?
I haven't regretted my decision. I only do 2 sessions weekly but I feel useful .
Surprisingly, returning to an environment where I have always faced risks from other infectious diseases really helped my Covid anxiety because it all felt so normal again.

I’m 72 and still working part time my husband drives me nuts as all he does is watch sports on TV no gardening or DIY o swear he deliberately ruins things so he gets out of it he is pre useless