Retirement

I agree completely Sallywally1.

Yes I agree . I think we feel.a bit guilty that were enjoying it ! I keep pretty busy, dog walking , pilates seeing my DGD one morning aweek, meeting friends etc. I did do some volunterring and a few odd days cover work at first . But I'm quite used to it now !

I don't miss working but retirement has made me feel old. There is no structure to the days although my DH and I are busy doing all sorts of things. I would give anything to be young again, say in my 40 or even 50s.

I've been retired for 20 years and there hasn't been a day when I've wished I was back at work! I absolutely love being retired; I can do what I want when I want and Mr. G is the same - we can linger over coffee and a crossword, we can spontaneously decide to have a pub lunch, meet up with friends (him, right now), sort out the airing cupboard (me, while he's out!) - oh, it's wonderful! I feel no guilt at all that these "twighlight years" are so full of enjoyment.

Yes , for me retirement is as I expected. I also retired just over two years ago and decided to try new things and travel . My days are pretty busy , walking the dog twice a day , yoga twice a week. The gym , meeting friends, volunteering in a charity shop. Caring for my DM . Plus house and garden stuff . I love not getting up at 6 am and welcome having weekends free. My DH does miss work a bit but then he went from full time to no work whereas I gradually reduced my days in preparation for retirement.

It depends on whether you liked your job and if you need people in your life. I was so glad to leave the tedium of doing the same thing every day and the gossip and back-biting behind. Some people miss the company and chatter of the work place,
I don't miss anyone I worked with and I feel no guilt about doing what I want, when I want to do it and not having to look at the clock all of the time. I've just taken my dogs out on a leisurely walk and I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon reading my book. Retirement is great

I am another one who loves retirement, I can swim when the pool isn’t busy, I can shop when the town centre is quiet and parking is easy, but, I do miss the company of young people. I loved the multi generational make up of my workplace, discussions that included points of views from different age groups, finding out about the latest trends. Meeting with friends tend to include discussions on medical problems and pensions these days. However, I wouldn’t go back to work now, I’m very happy with my life as it is.

What I like is busy days and then lazy days. I'm having one now - not sure what I have actually done apart from talk to the gardener.

We love being retired, we have been able to be much more helpful to our daughters/SILs and their GCs, and to enjoy seeing our GCs develop and grow, something we didn’t have much time for when our ACs were little because we were so busy.
And we get todo what we love, go for long walks/rambles and occasionally go for a hotel break or holiday.
And sometimes we just do nothing at all, which is also rather nice.

If I had the energy I’d love to go back to work at least part time. Retirement isn’t for me. Of course my job had its downsides but on the whole it made me feel needed and fulfilled. I like to meet friends and go for the occasional shopping trip but managed to do these while working anyway. Household chores, gardening, exercise classes and dogs don’t interest me in the slightest. Of course I do the chores but very quickly as I did when working.
However I don’t have the energy to work now so must just get on with it.

I'm not sure. I'd like to say I'm looking forward to it but I wonder, like Skywalker if I'm going to keep very old when I'm in active retirement. I think of the times I was motivated and full of energy going to work and enjoying being part of a team, all the social events, even the Monday morning blues that were part of my working week. If you enjoy your job, your work colleagues and the feeling it gives you to be needed at work, it becomes part of who you are. This is the thing holding me back from retirement. I wonder if others who never retire are part of this set. It's a privilege to be part of a working culture that matches your values.

"Feel" old not "keep"

I enjoy the freedom of retirement but do miss the daily social interaction. I do see friends for coffee and lunch’s, help with collecting GC from school two days one week and three the next but lately felt a lack of purpose in my life. I used to do a lot of walking and cycling but life events have made this difficult. Hopefully I can address this over the next few months

Both DH and I volunteer and find that gives us a purpose, has helped us make new friends and helps other people.

When I was younger I used to think, ‘wouldn’t it be nice if I stayed at home all day and someone sent me money’. Now they do and I love it.

I retired 10 years ago, aged 52, and it was the best feeling ever not having to get up at 6.00am! I did enjoy my job, but that was largely down to the wonderful friends I made there, and the social interaction we had. Most of us retired quite early, and we're all now spread around the world, but we do still keep in touch.

I'm a real 'home bird' and I love pottering around at home and in the garden, dog walking, reading, cooking, etc. I never get bored being at home, but I do also enjoy meeting with friends for coffee & a chat, or a nice long lunch.

DH is due to retire early next year, and he can't wait to be free from his busy, stressful job! We're so looking forward to being able to spend more time together, and making the most of the next chapter in our lives. We're looking forward to hopping in the car for days out whenever it pleases us, and spending weekends away together, exploring all the places we've never had time to visit. As well as simply being able to enjoy spending time in our new home, as we're both looking forward to a simple, easy-going, relaxed retirement together.

I’m 64 due to retire in fourteen months. I’m looking forward to it and working now four days plan to reduce it next year to three. My son told me to reduce gradually and get used to it. Think I’ll be ok enjoyed ‘ Tenno’ comments agree.

I also agree, I love being retired. My job had becomes both boring and stressful and I felt that life was to short to continue.

As Kittylester says, I have busy times and not so busy. Taking my grandchildren to school most days means that I'm up and about but have few commitments. I think that I might need to make more effort socially if I lived alone as I don't have much interaction with people other than my husband.

I’m thoroughly enjoying my retirement but admit it took a while for me to get used to not rushing everywhere. I felt quite guilty if I wasn’t busy every minute of the day 🫠

I should have said my husband and our family,

Can’t say I’ve missed working! I’m not one of those people who need to be busy-busy-busy, so I manage to keep myself as occupied as I ever want to be.

I’ve only recently retired, but so far it’s been good. I’d reduced my hours at work in April, as I wanted to help my son with childcare of his two DDs. My DD is dealing with an abusive ex-partner, so I can be there to support her when needed. I did love my job for years, but lately I didn’t have the heart to do it, so it was an easy decision to take, I’m fortunate that my DH supported my decision and is happy to live on a reduced income until I can claim my state pension next year. I know I’m in a luckier situation than others.

Absolutely love being retired. Still up at 6am two days a week helping with Gc but it is an absolute joy.