Retirement

I loved my job and would have stayed beyond 60 had it not been about to change in ways that didn’t suit me. I was lucky to get a voluntary redundancy package. To fill the work gap and still feel I was working professionally I volunteered to take minutes for various organisations. These gradually came to an end but the gap was filled by increasing u3a activities and grandchildren. I’ve also acquired the running of a lunch club and pilates group so organisational skills still required. I love retirement!

Yes, I agree. I love it! Being able to get up when you want and do exactly what you want! Brilliant! I do a little volunteering at a local art centre but sometimes even find myself resenting this! I just love not being tied to certain times or routines!

I recommend retiring: I've done it three times at 50, 63 and 74, each successive time with a less demanding job. A good way of easing into full retirement which I enjoy.

Had to take early retirement due to bad health & could not stand the having nothing to do. So ended up volunteering in a Charity shop as I could choose within reason when I worked & when I need not to go to work if my disability forced me not to. So enjoyed my ‘retirement’ then!

I retired at 51 and then opened a small shop. I retired again at 68 and I love being properly retired. I think of things that I want to do on the following day so I’m never bored or feel lonely without colleagues. My DH couldn’t stand retirement so he got a part time job where he was on his feet all day and was coming home exhausted. He’s now taken another job without so much strenuous work. He’s happy and so am I.

Couldn’t wait to retire a few years ago. Away from the backstabbing that went on in the company I worked at, could never ever understand people that moaned day in day out their job and ten years later still there and still moaning ( I’ve been told by another person that’s just retired, just love being able to do what I want when I want go out see friends visit places etc etc.

Took early retirement at 62 to help look after grand baby nearly 800 miles away for 3 years - DH already retired. One of the best things we ever did. Various illnesses have marred my retirement a bit but no regrets as we are back in our lovely island home which we rented out while we were away, and, anyway, my former profession has pretty much been killed off by lack of resources and various functions - which made the job so rewarding - being either farmed out to charities which are now struggling for funding or unavailable through lack time....and fellow social workers.....

Love it! Retired early after 38 years teaching. 10 years ago now. Not regretted 1 day.

I retired the weekend of the first lockdown, was supposed to finish the following week but as I worked in a hospital decided it wasn’t a good idea to go in for my last week (I was in an admin position) I really thought I would miss work, the routine, the company etc., I can honestly say I haven’t missed it one bit. Agree that everyday isn’t exciting but never get bored. Don’t get up particularly late in the mornings but can get up 10 minutes later or whatever rather than a set time like when I was at work. The days and years have flown by. It’s lovely being able to go away when we want and not having to check if it’s okay to take leave. Lovely not having to work over any of the Christmas period, I could go on about the pleasure it is not to have to go to work.

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

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.

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 should have said my husband and our family,

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 🫠

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

"Feel" old not "keep"

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.

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.

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.