Well, I've done it!

Point taken JessM I have been lucky thay I have taken to retirement like a duck to water, but I do understand others may not see it as I do.

Belated congratulations, janthea. Have a well deserved happy retirement.

I could have carried on. There was no one pushing me to leave. I could have stayed on another year or two. And I do love the job and the people I work with. BUT I don't have time to 'smell the flowers' as they say.

It's 70 for new appointees, but I was recruited so long ago it was 72 and apparently that still stands.

nankate not everyone looks forward to a life of endless leisure or enjoys it when they retire. Some people are happier working, specially if they can do so in a flexible way i.e. not full time.
I think there was a Hoo-ha some years back about judges in their 80s not keeping up with the times (telling rape victims they asked for it and that kind of thing) and an age limit was set which applies to other categories of employees as well. I think it is a valid argument (sorry Galen) when judges have to maintain their concentration for days on end and the issues are very complex. And the world is changing rapidly e.g. cases involving social networking etc
Who would want the job of gently hinting to the lord chief justice that it was time to hang up his wig.

I am sure Galen you will find a reason to be when you retire. There is so much out there to do as a retiree. I am equally as busy as when I was working, the only difference is I have choice now.

I don't need to work, but I enjoy it, and it gives me a raison d' etre!

Only if you work for the ministry of justice!

Interesting, Galen. Most people on here are complaining about having to work longer than they thought they would. You are complaining at having to retire at 72.
Is that legal now? I thought there was no age limit any more.

I have to finish at 72. It's ironic that the ministry of justice are ageist?

It's so good to open the curtains , see the rain, and get back in bed with my kindle.

My employer isn't understanding, it's just that the office lease runs out in December! I've worked nearly three years longer than I needed to already...

Working til 69 must have been your choice, and having an understanding employer.
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It's wonderful waking up on a Monday morning knowing I don't have to go to work.

Retirement makes me

I'm 70 in December I was until recently working 3-4 days a week. When ATOS threw in the towel, the appeal work fell to 1-2 days a month.
I'm getting quite used to not working and wouldn't dream of working more than 2-3 days a week when the work picks up again. The talk is about October/November.

You certainly have! (69 !)
I thought I did well retiring at 56, then found several little part time jobs to fill the gap.
But I did miss the company of work colleagues, still do.

I'm sure you've done the Maths. I'm living on a lot less than when at the height of my earning power yet seem to have more cash in hand. Using less petrol, no need for clothes that meet a dress code, used my lump sum to pay off mortgage, etc..

If you're 69 in January (all the best people are born in January ) you've earned your retirement.

I was really nervous telling him, but he was a perfect poppet about it. I have worked for him for 14 years and 28 years with the company. It will be very strange not being 'Executive Assistant to IR Director'!! It's a FTSE 100 company and there is such a buzz working in head office.

I know I am going to miss it dreadfully but all good things must come to an end and I couldn't stay there forever. This morning, standing squashed on the train, made me realise that I would not miss that part of the job! I'm going to have to be careful with money but I'm sure things will be OK. After all I will be 69 in January!

You won't regret it

Ana

Silverfish, the last Labour government set out plans to raise the retirement age for both men and women to 68 - you can't just blame 'this stinking government'.

I'm looking forward to officially retiring in December this year!

I came into retirement through a voluntary redundancy/early retirement scheme. I thought about it for months, did all the calculations and absolutely knew it was the right decision. Even then going into my manager and saying that I wanted to go had me physically shaking before I went in to see him and for hours afterwards.

It was absolutely the right decision and I have never regretted it.

good luck to you all being able to retire, Ive now got 3 jobs and going round the bend trying to fit all in. I can never retire due to this stinking government putting the retiring age up so much !!!!

Well done janetha roll on September, enjoy your retirement

Dahlia , I was the same missed everything a lot for about the first 9 months, even though himself was also retired,

Then all of a sudden things fell into place and different things took precedence.

Would not change anything at all about my life as it now stands.

Ain"t life so sweet, many holidays, and doing just as you damn well please.

Enjoy, JAN no longer a wage slave eh !!

x