Alternatives to calling yourself (semi) retired

Just say you're still working part-time and, if you don't want to expand on that, don't.

I've only ever said anything at all on the retirement front when someone (a nurse who was dealing with a wounded finger) asked outright whether I was reitred. I said I was working part-time.

I would say you are working part time

Although I do a little bit of work now and again I always say “retired” as that is what I am most of the time.

You are still working. No need to tell anyone about the type of work (consultancy if they ask) or how many hours. I don’t think you have retired until you no longer work.

In your first sentence, you say you work part-time, so if asked would say I am working part-time

I'm in a very similar position, and for me it depends who asks.

I think that 'retired' means 'in receipt of state pension', but that might be that I'm kidding myself that I'm not getting old .

Usually, if I'm asked socially I just say I'm mostly retired but still do a bit of work for [employer], and on forms or in other data-gathering situations I put 'semi-retired' if there's such an option, or 'working part-time' if not.

Part time then.

I'm still working,
I have my occupational pension and state.. But I'm part time not ready to "retire" yet.

I think you should say you work part- time.
I am a retired teacher but I work in a voluntary capacity in a different job. I don't normally say so, though it is quite challenging work at times.

Just say working part time. I don’t say more than that except on here. I love teaching but I would never do more than 3 days a week again.

Etymologically, the adjective retired was used to describe a seclusion or withdrawal from society, to be private, quiet, solitary, deprived of the company of others.

Historically, other than former military e.g. Chelsea pensioners, few had pensions until the introduction of a state pension in 1909. In census records, the elderly who could no longer work and who often spent their last years in the workhouse, would be described as inmates or patients rather than retired. Those not in the workhouse might be described as a pauper or living on parish relief but rarely retired. Retired in the sense of no longer receiving a wage is very much a 20C term.

Although it’s a long time since I worked for a regular salary, I am very busy with voluntary work so am very far removed from the top description. When people ask me what I do, I don’t say I am retired. I say I am a voluntary worker because voluntary workers make a vital and often underestimated contribution to the community.

I think the same goes for the derided “stay-at-home” parent or carer often regarded as less valuable than the person who works outside the home for a wage. A friend who was a stay-at-home mum and who did not seek paid work once they were grown and gone, describes herself as a homemaker. Another who gave up a salaried job to care for a disabled family member describes herself as a carer. You can see where I am going with this. I’ll like to see an end to a distinction based on payment for services.

In your case I would describe myself as a consultant and academic or student - no need for semi or part-time anything. If I were an artist no long taking commissions or selling my work but still painting or sculpting I would still describe myself as an artist.

As Prime Minister, David Cameron was advised to use the term hard-working families as often as possible when what he meant was people who were paid as distinct from those who were not. The latter may have been working equally hard or harder but unless you were making money for yourself or others (or, indeed, part of a family) you may as well have been invisible.

DENISE391, I chose to take one of my pensions early - and reduced my working hours - but it never occurred to me to describe myself as retired while I was still working (however little).

Hetty58

DENISE391, I chose to take one of my pensions early - and reduced my working hours - but it never occurred to me to describe myself as retired while I was still working (however little).

I think it's the absence of work, rather than the presence of a pension that determines if someone is retired or not.

Also, I suppose that you need to have had something to retire from. If you've never worked, you can't really retire. Does that make us all 'homemakers', if we do our own cooking and hoovering?

OakDryad very interesting post. All the political parties seem to do it now. Sometimes Rachel Reeves tacks on "and pensioners" as an afterthought, but there is never any acknowledgement for those who might not be paid but who are equally of value to a decent society.

I left work a long time ago but I don't really consider myself retired as such and now I'm doing a Masters, so I just say I'm a student....the oldest student in town usually!

I always say I work part time because I do, regardless of the fact that I'm in receipt of pensions. When I stop work completely then I'll say I'm retired.

I've noticed that on a lot of surveys on things like Sainsbury's feedback questionnaires, the demographic data questions don't allow for people like us, who clearly make up a fair percentage of their customer base. It's either 'retired and in receipt of a state pension' or working in one of their socio-economic categories.

Just tell people you freelance.

We could just be 'resting' like actors!

Thank you for your detailed reply - I'm playing around with descriptions. I've recently gained my doctorate and I want to change focus and move on from the consultancy work I used to do to work related to my research which was around how people find meaning in life after full-time work. Fascinating subject alas I can't discuss till it is published.

Thanks everyone for your comments, really appreciated to widen my thinking.

DENISE391

Thank you for your detailed reply - I'm playing around with descriptions. I've recently gained my doctorate and I want to change focus and move on from the consultancy work I used to do to work related to my research which was around how people find meaning in life after full-time work. Fascinating subject alas I can't discuss till it is published.

This was for @OakDryad, forgot to choose the quote option - more learning!

Thanks to Denise from me for asking about what must be a very relevant change in society. Also, thanks to OakDryad for laying out her very logical and interesting thinking.

Reading what OD says, I wonder if we are trying, as a society, to move from one judged by hours and income to one judged by outcomes and achieved added value to our own lives, society and the environment. The "hours and income" society is a left-over from the industrial revolution. It didn't exist for so many people before that. Being bound to a certain workplace is much the same. A great deal of change is going on and it's influencing our later years.

OD compares the fluidity of how parents and carers work, less often just women these days, with "retirement". I think this is a valid comparison but I'm still searching to know what to call this way of life.

In career planning, the descriptions are Portfolio, Portmanteau or Protean career. 'Portfolio' was a traditional, employer directed career path. 'Portmanteau' is a career, where you collect together transferable skills that can be used in very different overarching industries. Protean is a self-directed career, based on using personal values to guide and measure success.

The part of life we are in or are approaching seems to me to be a continuation, or start, of a Protean career. I'm not sure how others would understand you saying "I'm just continuing my values-driven, self-directed life", though and I can't think of one word for it.

DaisyAnne

Thanks to Denise from me for asking about what must be a very relevant change in society. Also, thanks to OakDryad for laying out her very logical and interesting thinking.

Reading what OD says, I wonder if we are trying, as a society, to move from one judged by hours and income to one judged by outcomes and achieved added value to our own lives, society and the environment. The "hours and income" society is a left-over from the industrial revolution. It didn't exist for so many people before that. Being bound to a certain workplace is much the same. A great deal of change is going on and it's influencing our later years.

OD compares the fluidity of how parents and carers work, less often just women these days, with "retirement". I think this is a valid comparison but I'm still searching to know what to call this way of life.

In career planning, the descriptions are Portfolio, Portmanteau or Protean career. 'Portfolio' was a traditional, employer directed career path. 'Portmanteau' is a career, where you collect together transferable skills that can be used in very different overarching industries. Protean is a self-directed career, based on using personal values to guide and measure success.

The part of life we are in or are approaching seems to me to be a continuation, or start, of a Protean career. I'm not sure how others would understand you saying "I'm just continuing my values-driven, self-directed life", though and I can't think of one word for it.

Thanks @DaisyAnne

When the retirement pension was introduced, most people never lived long enough to receive it. For our grandchildren with the ‘100 year life’, retirement may be something referred to in the history books.

I’m trying to think of a description for people like us – probably 50ish to mid-70s-80. The young-olds (yolds?) rather than people like my mum at 90 who is now frailer.

Some people use the term – refire, instead of retire. But do you then say you are refired (sacked twice?). Others say silver-preneurs, which could be fine if you have started a new business, but sounds like a full-on job, not the more balanced life many of us want.

A study colleague of mine uses the term repurposed.

So, ‘Are you retired? No, I’m repurposed.

I quite like that as it opens it up for a follow up question – ‘oh, what do you mean by that?’