Do you aspire to be in work in your 60s and even 70s?

I taught from 20 into my early 70s and received feedback from heads that I was still effective. I was certainly still enjoying it! Marking SATs and giving private tuition are still options.

I'm 56 and, after being made redundant at 50, worked part-time for the last few years. Then earlier this year I was offered my dream job, but it is full time. I've done it for 9 months now. Working 5 days a week doesn't bother me, travelling a lot doesn't bother me. I do miss socialising with friends, many of whom are retired - I don't do as much exercise as I used to as some of the groups are during the week and I find it difficult fitting everything into the weekends. My DH is retired and me working does restrict things like holidays, seeing grandchildren, visiting elderly parents...
As for the job itself, I really enjoy it, I've had the opportunity to take a new qualification and on good days I'm buzzing! I do find it difficult to keep up with the younger ones (mentally) - things like having an online meeting whilst texting and e-mailing at the same time! I find it difficult to remember names and faces in a big company and probably take longer than younger employees to learn new systems. There aren't many people working there who are older than me - I often look around a meeting room and realise I'm the oldest one there! I know I was really fortunate to be offered a good job at my age, but for reasons stated above I don't think I'll stay beyond the age of 60.

I am almost 58 and have worked non stop since leaving school at 17, doing various jobs which fitted in around the children and then going back full-time when my youngest child went to secondary school.
I am one of the unlucky ones who should have retired at 60 but won't now qualify for the State pension until I'm 66 something which I am incensed about.
Due to ill health I am starting to wind down and will work two days a week from January something that I am so looking forward to as I can help out with my DGD's in the holidays and try to get my garden up together.
I think I could have continued to 60 if retirement was within reach but to do another eight years is totally out of the question.
I'm also looking to supplement my income by doing some work from home and am looking forward to the next stage in my working life.
At present I have no intention of working beyond 66 and certainly not into my 70's.

Has anyone tried to live and have any fun on the state pension? There aren't many jobs out there for older people. I am still working. It's my own business. I struggle because of health problems but have no choice!

I am lucky because I could retire. I have a friend 4 years younger and she is really upset because she has to carry on for some years yet when she is longing to retire.
Young people need the work.
I do several volunteering jobs and love them. The country would fall apart without volunteers! There will be no volunteers if people have to carry in paid employment.

Young people need to get smart and train for jobs that are needed. Eg nurses and plumbers etc. they are sold the dream of doing what they want instead of what is needed.

I blame all these talent programmes, rich footballers and the National Lottery.
It all went downhill from there, many young people want to 'live the dream' and not the reality.

Before the run up to being 60 I thought that I would just carry on all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed well into my 60s. It has not worked out like that and I was glad to retire at 60 - there is no way I could have carried on. This is what is so bad about the new pension arrangements - they take no account of people's fitness to work as they age. A bit of part time might fit the bill, but the idea that all should carry on in their usual role well into their 60s is unrealistic. I know people who are very fit and could happily do so, but so many of us are not that lucky.

There should be opportunities for people to work as long as they wish to and as long as they are fit; but it should not be assumed to be the norm.

We are not very flush money-wise, but neither of us could have gone on working - my OH retired very early because of health problems. I am glad to be able to get up in the morning (or sleep in, as I choose) and to know that the day is mine to do what I will.

I'm with gillybob on the word 'aspire' - can't imagine many people aspire to be working well into their 70s!

I'm 61 and work part-time as a nurse and have a couple of colleagues who are 68 & 72 respectively.

They're not working for the fun of it.

Pushed into early retirement aged 53 and very happy without full-time work thx. ;o)

I don't think that those with a reasonable workplace pension or other private means should take jobs from the younger generation. The govt should concentrate on improving the education and training systems so that young people are able to contribute efficiently to the workforce, also the jobs need to be there for them.

I also think that there should be opportunities for retired people to share their skills and experience, on a casual, voluntary basis, with younger people, whether it be DIY, cooking, parenthood, budgeting, mending, etc. I for one, would be willing to do this. Another possible opportunity for older people could be inspection; eg Appropriately qualified pensioners could be used as school inspectors, others could form groups to spot check hospitals and care homes. They could be minimally organised and given guidelines and training, background checked etc, and then be authorised do spot checks in their locality.

But for others who only are on a state pension, a simple re training to update their skills, if needed, to enable them to work full or part time, would be helpful. It would allow someone retiring at 65 facing perhaps 15+ years of life on £150 a week, the opportunity to have a cheap holiday and pay for occasional repairs/renewals etc

I am 69 and have just gone back to work after 3 years of retirement, for one day a week, and I love both the job and the spending money!

Those working into retirement do not take jobs from the younger generation. There is not a fixed number of jobs in the economy and the jobs older workers do are not necessarily the jobs that younger workers do or want. Many older workers are employed by companies because they have work and technical skills that are not otherwise available among younger people.

The number of jobs in the economy has rocketed over the last 50 years. In the 1950s the total population of this country was under 50 million and the majority of married women did not work. Now the population is nearer 60 million and the majority of women are in the labour force. The main reason that so many skilled people have moved here from other countries, and been encouraged to come has been to meet the skills shortage in this country.

Mid 50s and I love working, but in today's employment landscape where so many jobs are bank and zero hour or temporary contract it is not always easy. Working in the third sector, if the company I am working for looses it's contract or grant I can find myself looking for a job again. Fact, it is harder to find work as a more mature female. If I could I would work until I am not physically able to work any longer, because I enjoy work and I believe it helps keep me mentally healthy. I do not believe that giving mature students access to education is a waste of money as some have stated in this forum. Anyone can learn, but true knowledge comes when you couple that learning with experience, so apart from anything else having life experience students can only be of benefit to other less life experienced students.

Expecting people to die at their ( so to speak) workbench isn't the answer
Quite - however, perhaps they are hoping to save money on paying care home fees for those unable to fund themselves. Work until you drop!

^ I am still working. It's my own business^
Lyndie you could interpret that two ways - and I agree - it is your own business!

I'd give up work tomorrow if I could but with the government moving the goalposts so I can't get my pension until I'm 66 I'll have to carry on.

I re-trained on more than one level and in doing so found how much I enjoyed it, I ended up teaching others and still do albeit only on a very part time basis. I often think I would like more 'me' time but then I think I would probably become bored!
I also work for a charity and that is very rewarding too.

I'm 58 and I think I have more than done my bit after working from the age of 15. I intend to retire at 62 and I have taken out a AVC to make this happen as my state pension won't be given to me until i'm 66 (51 years i've worked for it!) I can't wait to retire and have the leisure time that I see others enjoy

It is wonderful paperbackbutterfly . The main problem is there is so much choice and a lot of things clash.

No intention of evr working full-time again. But like many retirees in mid 60s- I am busier than ever on the education comittee for the region, setting up two new Museums with a team, cinéclub, etc, and I do guided visits for the Museums and for the best chocolatier in the area. It's great to meet interesting people, support our beautiful region and children (I do quite a bit of coaching for local children on both side of the border- usually on an exchange basis).

But oh I do hate for meetings scheduled for 8am in winter!

U3A is great too- learning something new everyday or at least every week does wonder for ze little grey cells. Will start again in earnest with Italian next year- was doing AS Level when we moved here- sadly no advanced courses in our rural area- will have to find another way- a tandem perhaps.

I think the National Trust would collapse without its volunteer guides.

I am far busier than I was when working but it is far more fun. You can actually do the sort of thing you did as a job- you just don't get paid. e.g. I still run workshops for children but don't get all the paperwork that I had as a teacher- I don't get any paperwork!

Hi Oldernowiser, I read your comments with interest, you sound so much a positive person ad that is most of the battle of becoming retired or aged, good for you, hope you can continue until YOU are ready to do otherwise. Life is too short when you ae on the end of it so whatever you feel makes you happy, DO IT.. to your heart's content.......

If we all went to work in our sixties and seventies the whole voluntary service system would grind to a halt. I include voluntarily providing child and elder care.

What next? I actually took early retirement at 55 when my husband retired. I had no intention of retiring but stress at work made me rethink everything and as we could afford it, I retired. Best decision ever!!!
I just couldnt see me doing my job beyond 60, I was a nurse and it was both physically and mentally exhausting.
As for retraining for something more suitable to old age ... Er no, my life is busy and full thank you very much.

Let the young work as we did when we were young and only real layabouts layabout.