DH is talking about retiring - shock horror!

I love being retired - my life is my own - and where it isn't it is by my own choice.

OH has PD so we do not go in for lots of outings (I wish!) but he has many sedentary hobbies which he enjoys - music, computers, playing violin etc.

He is happy for me to pursue any outside interests that I have.

We share the home chores; and see lots of the GC. I have no complaints - apart from poor health.

Our situation is related but a bit different. I'm very recently retired, while DH has a few years at work yet. We both had jobs where working at home a day or two a week - sometimes more - was/is commonplace, and tried to choose different 'home' days to give each other space. Now I'm around pretty well full-time, he misses having the house to himself occasionally, while I have that luxury most weekdays ?? My plan is to go up to the city for a day once a week or so - public transport is cheap or free in a generous Scotland, even before state pension age - to visit exhibitions, or window shop, or meet friends for lunch. And to travel further from time to time for a night or so with more distant friends and family. But I don't know how these good intentions will work out in the dark days of January...

Meant not ?? - d**n keyboard

What about the men who have retired and will do absolutely nothing to help in house or garden? I'm sorry to say that resentment leads to dislike in my case. Quite depressing.

Non-existent

We have both been retired for nearly 12 years, and rub along fairly well. We both volunteer in local charity shops, different ones, which we both enjoy, although DH is getting fed up with his, as there are too many in " his shop" The church is also good for things to do, coffee morning rotas, the AV on Sundays etc. As to the housework, it.now gets done, as and when, no routine. DH was born and bought up in India, with nannies, cooks etc, so never learned " to do". I was/ can be a bit of a control freak, what me and was home all the time from when I had children, only returning when DS2 was in his teens, so I didn't get him to help. He will, if asked, but never thinks to volunteer off his own bat, except mowing the grass, and ironing his shirts, which I got DH and DS2 to do when I returned to work, and did refused to iron a dozen shirts a week. I think now at 73 and 76 we are stuck in our ways, and perhaps I should have tried harder earlier. I do recognise the following round when shopping syndrome, as he doesn't even push the trolley, although these days I find it a help to hang onto it. I hope I don't appear fed up, I'm not, and he is very generous and kind to all and sundry. DMIL used to say, The housework will always be there, but you won't!!

I am, perhaps naively, not concerned about spending more time with DH but I am concerned about the inevitable slowing down of our lives and I do love being busy.

I've mentioned before that the best part of my day is having a with DH, chatting about our days while I cook dinner.

But I think what bothers me the most is that it's the last stage of our lives.

Well that's pretty inevitable!

None if us can go on forever, but we can try and enjoy it still.

I know! I just think it has brought it home to me, that's all. I think that if I keep busy old age won't catch up with me

Anyway, I'm going to stop moaning as I've just been reading about loveless marriages and people with bad health. Neither of those apply to me/us so I will go away and count my blessings!!

I so know what you mean- but there is nought we can really do about that, Im afraid- so might as well make the best of it and enjoy it. Willy nilly holidays really help. x

If you retired at 60 then there could reasonably be 30 years ahead. It is a big chunk of life to think it's last stage. Being proactive is common sense.

We've been retired for nearly nine years now, and I can honestly say I love it- the freedom from the stress of work and commuting.

We do lead sort of parallel lives, doing our own things, but both "work" for /with Rotary International, which means we can volunteer to do as much, or as little, as we wish, locally, nationally or internationally. And at the moment we do a lot. But we do go out for the day often - we live in such a beautiful part of the country! And of course, there are 6 DGC, ranging from 19 to 5...

DH hates shopping with a vengeance, unless it's Halfords, B&Q or bicycle specialist. I do all the boring stuff (groceries etc) online, so can do pottering around type shopping, on my own or with DD.

Having got through several operations in the last year (thanks to everyone who put up with my whinging) we are off on a big holiday on Monday

I feel very, very lucky to still be here, and to be able to live this life. Gathering rosebuds while I may!

I got early retirement aged only 53 - it was too good a scheme to miss and has never been repeated. However after six months at home not doing all the things I was going to do (!) I got another part time job which eventually became full time and had a further 6 years of less stressful and happy working life with earnings and a small pension to add to my original generous one.

I retired finally at 60, just after DH, who was 61. We then upped sticks and moved 200 miles south to be near our first two, new DGC and have had a brilliant time since, moving again even further south, in 2012. We live 1mile from the sea and 1 mile from DD and 2 DGC and life is pretty d...ed good!

I heartily recommend retired life but also think it is essential to go out and do things. You need to have a purpose in life and both DH and I have joined and participate in separate societies which interest us. Long may it continue. Life is good and much appreciated