Single,aged 60 and due to retire in 6 months. How did you find retirement as a single/divorced.wido wed person?

I'm interested in the responses. As in July I'm retiring from a busy job that I still have a great interest in, others were glad to retire and stop. But many have someone to talk to at home, even if they don't get on necessarily its still company! To wake up to silence and return to no one can feel VERY different. Bored rarely -lonely often. Found my tribe- not yet!

Newbeginnings, some people do best with set routines - others don't need them. I needed them when working but I went part time before I retired and don't miss work at all.

I suppose I have a (sort of) routine or habit of getting up and dressed early, as I have to walk the dog (unless it's raining, then she won't go out). Still, I've never needed much sleep or had lie ins.

I love to follow my moods and decide what I'll do (or not) accordingly. I've tried social groups but they're really not for me and I enjoy spending time alone - just pottering in the garden. I feel no need to rush about being useful and super efficient - that's a work thing.

I have a friend who is quite well off, not bored, or lonely, but one day a week he uses his bus pass to go the nearest city. From there, he boards the first bus he sees that will take him on a longish journey. He says he’s been to places he’s never been before and usually find a nice café for a coffee and a bite to eat. He reads for a while, and then does the return journey.

I would suggest that you start planning. Hopefully you have a handle on your finances, if not that's a great place to start. Research some voluntary work if that appeals to you, or some hobbies. Think about what you want to do in your first week, month, year. Anywhere you would like to go? Now's the moment. Some holidays combine interests, eg gardening or painting. Maybe there's a gransnet group in your area? If not you could start one. This is a golden opportunity, a little planning can help you make the best of it.

I live in London, retired at 60 and this was at the end of the month of September. My tax free sum paid off my mortgage, and I had some work done in the house but then had little savings.

I was invited to do some work, similar to what I had left and I worked intermittently at that until I had an accident and could not continue. I had achieved my goal and had some money in the bank.

Friends had moved, I joined GN and have found some really good friends and we meet for coffee and/or a meal frequently.

I retired in 2002 and I have enjoyed my time at home. I could not help in a charity shop because I have AMD.

I have no family and I am happy living here.

i'm just jealous at somebody still able to retire at age 60.
sorry.

When DH first retired, he’d spent so much time away that he hadn’t realized (or didn’t see) that the house needed a big update, for which the tax-free lump sum came in very handy.
All the work, done without haste, took about a year, but he’d retired early to immerse himself in his hobbies - something he’d spent years looking forward to. He was never bored.

Apart from being permanently broke, I love it! I hadn't realised how much a stressful job had been affecting my health and well-being.

I'm not permanently rushing everywhere and cutting corners, but I walk more and do more exercise for pleasure, so I'm fitter and healthier.

I have absolutely no idea how I managed to do a full-time job for so many years, including being a single parent.

I used the first six months to downsize and move house, then do up my new property. So have a project from the start. I also enjoyed not having to get up really early and wallowed in that for a while. Then I took up art as a new hobby and focused on that. I look after my grandsons two days a week. I also socialise and meet up with friends for coffee or lunch. And I've also taken up learning Spanish. So some of the week is busy, some is quieter. Don't be in a hurry to fill every moment until you get used to retirement.

How do I find it? Boring! Make sure you find ‘stuff’ to do so you have to go out. Almost anything will do.

Immerse yourself in some part time voluntary work that holds intrigue, interest or gratitude. Worked well for me until I phased out completely into full time leisure.