Retirement: is it all it's cracked up to be?

I think my best years at work were in my 40s. I really enjoyed it and wouldn't have wanted to retire then. 50-60 were OK but I was ready to go at 60 and , luckily, was able to. I want to enjoy this phase before old age with all its problems starts to impinge. This feels like a lovely burst of time and is all the more valuable for the uncertain end date for it!

Some people and I know a couple find it very hard not to be "important" after they retire. One in particular said he missed his PA greeting him in the morning with "are you ready for your coffee Mr O?". Status matters a lot to some which actually makes it ok to be an "ordinary Joe".

I've heard that too Annsixty. I was prepared for this invisibility but found it OK. Its a different life during the day. I see people I'd never have met while tied to 9-5. Its like a sort of new club or society of retired people who generally seem very nice.

I am 65 an cannot afford to retire...simple.

Annsixty.Perhaps that's why I enjoy retirement. Being greeted every morning with "Darling, would you like your coffee now with your morning paper, or with your eggs and bacon". (Fat b######y chance !

We totally love being retired despite DH being diagnosed with throat and neck cancer the month following our retirement, 5 years ago. We were both teachers and the thought of going through the surgery and daily radiotherapy visits - well I don't know how we'd have coped. Being retired gave us the 'comfort' of not having to worry about work and we were both able to come home and flop whenever we needed to.
A couple of weeks ago DH was declared 'officially cured' of that cancer. Unluckily he also started with prostate cancer, totally unconnected. But again we've been able to deal with all the treatment without outside stresses of work. It has made us think more about doing what we can, while we can. I appreciate that having a decent pension is a real bonus and we've had some fabulous holidays over the last 5 years. But on a more economical note, we've taken up bowling and voluntary work. We go to a weekly quiz with friends at the local pub and have taken to trying out new recipes together. It did take me a while though to relinquish my hold over the kitchen. Plus there's the grandchildren coming for sleepovers.
I know how lucky I am to be in this position and am not in the least bit smug. I count my blessings every day.
If I'd stayed married to my first husband it would be a totally different story.
[Rob / Helen -anyone?]

Aside from all the other aspects of retirement it gives one the freedom to immediately go to family members who are in need of support. My family suffered a double bereavement last week and I was able to book a flight for the following morning without having to think about having to ask for time off.
I'll fly home tomorrow and have time for some R&R instead of having to rush back to work.

I retired two years ago and have absolutely no regrets, I'm reasonably young and fit enough to enjoy it; it was the right decision for me.

After 23 years (2 days a week) in my last job which I loved I retired just over two years ago aged 65. At first I missed all sorts of aspects of my job but now I love retirement although I am involved voluntarily with a national charity doing very similar work to what I was doing pre-retirement so my experience is being put to good use.

Now there is time for coffee etc with friends, there are two U3A groups that meet fortnightly, I've got to know lots more people, I was a founder member of a new book group a year ago that meets monthly. Time to garden (never mind the housework, it can wait!), time for daughters and grandchildren and for other people too. Also DH's diabetes starting causing foot problems a year ago, he's had two operations and for a time he had twice weekly medical appointments so we could never have managed had I not retired. Retirement is great in every way!

I think it's very sad that someone of 42 has joined GN to ask about retirement.
Am I the only one who never gave it a thought at that age.

Retirement is great! There is so much to do the only difficulty is that a lot of it clashes. I find that I would love an extra day in the week to fit it all in!

I didin't even have a full-time job at 42 - just a series of part-time ones, often running concurrently. When I was about 24, an old family friend told me I should protect my pension rights! Was I listening? What do you think?

I didin't even have a full-time job at 42 - just a series of part-time ones, often running concurrently. When I was about 24, an old family friend told me I should protect my pension rights! Was I listening? What do you think?

Petra, I started to plan retirement at 21, in so much that I started to pay into a pension fund,

Op change your job you are young to be stuck in a job you hate . I am retired as is oh but both of us have suffered ill health so plans have gone off course you don't know what is round corner you need to be enjoying life now best wishes .

kazzer I was saddened by your post. Can yo u not join u3a or volunteer to make new friends?

I completely changed job 15 years ago when I was offered redundancy from a very well paid management job. I took my time finding a job I'd really enjoy ( albeit at a much lower salary).
When I was sixty I became a part time worker, which was ideal, as I enjoyed the work and the chat ( and the extra money!) The Bodach plays golf two days a week, so it worked out pretty well.

Sadly, ill health has meant I now have to retire, but I'm hoping it won't be too long before I'm able to enjoy all the things I want to do, and then I fully expect to be in the " Yes, it is" camp!

Although I found it hard when I first retired from teaching, as I missed colleagues and the children ( but not the endless days and weekend working at home) I now love being retired. Do lots of sewing, knitting, cooking ( I put 2 stones on when I retired as I did lots of baking but have lost it now), am involved in community work, look after the DGC one day a week and do some exam invigilating in the summer. Have been on lots of craft courses and the back bedroom is now full of patchwork equipment. DH and I go on lots of short holidays out of the school holiday season - he took voluntary redundancy 18 months before I retired. We do some things together but I love it when he says" Is it alright if I go and play golf?" as I know I have about 4 glorious hours all to myself!

Retirement can be a minefield. Great for some, stressful and negative for others. It took me a year to realise I could make my own timetable. I was conditioned into getting up early and getting everything done NOW. 7 years in I now have an excellent life balance. I feel my time is my own and I am just so relaxed. Initially I did what most new retirees do and looked at volunteering, joining groups, coffee mornings, U3A and so on. Trouble was everyone seemed so OLD so I don't do those things. Having said that time just flies by.

I would reiterate what several others have said and consider a career change. You CAN do it if you really want to, or you can just 'retire on the job' and be unhappy until you cease employment. I would also add it is vital that you look at finances and start planning, saving etc. No matter how you look at money in retirement, your purchasing power will fall. A little planning and prudence now will save heartache later on. Good luck and move on with life..

you should be glad that you can afford to retire at 57, I have to work until I am 67

The reason I could retire at 57 was that I had always planned to retire at 60 and had paid a lot extra into my pension every month as had Mrs P. We never had designs on a large house, so was able to pay off our mortgage after 20 years. (been in the same house for 45 years)

I retired from teaching in September at age 58. My husband had been retired for the previous 3 years so we planned our finances so that would not be a worry. We initially organised several holidays during term time when it was much cheaper and thoroughly enjoyed the freedom to enjoy life at our own pace without that feeling of having to plan, catch up on marking, assessing that hangs over most teachers during holidays. I don't regret it one bit but arthritis in my knees which made the last couple of years of my working life so tiring has become more severe and meant my dreams of impromptu day trips all over the country are less inviting as after half an hour of walking the pain is horrendous and untouched by even strong pain killers like tramadol. So I would say, as well as planning your finances carefully, do what you can ensure you have the health to make the most of your retirement.

I retired from the NHS two years ago aged 56. My husband retired a year ago. We love it. We have moved house and got involved in lots of different activities. We have had lots of friends to stay and it is lovely to have the time to spend with them and cook meals etc. I feel so much more relaxed. We also have more time to spend with our adult children.I realise we are very fortunate indeed.

I missed my job and the status it gave me for years after I retired, sad cow that I may be. I missed the staffroom and the banter, I missed my colleagues and I missed the students. I also missed the buzz of my everyday working life, getting up early every week day and rushing off to work. I did eventually adjust to retirement and lovely DH and I have a good life (I'm not complaining) but I don't see retirement as the best part of my life - that was when I was working. OP - do as others suggest and change your job. You are young enough to retrain for something else - work out how you can do it and waste no more time yearning for retirement.

I have been retired for 5years (went at 60 as did DH).I love it but I loved my job until the last couple of years too
The key is having enough money We have always been prudent and both have benefited from final salary pension schemes. We also made AVCs And I got my state pension at 60 and 7 m.
Good health and a bit of 'get up and go'also help .We have travelled extensively in retirement
There is plenty to do and it is not difficult to make new friends if you make the effort .I have found the U3a excellent -Book Group French Class ,walking ,Garden Group
But I also joined a choir and have done lots of Family History .My garden has benefited.I volunteer 4hours a week
And I have a lot more time for friends,the theatre(I have been to the RSC at Stratford today )exhibitions (RA in London on Sat),concerts .The three latter require money of course .
I hope I do not sound smug but we have seen two DDs through Uni and have been able to help them with house purchase ,so feel now is 'our'time .I realise not everyone is so fortunate

As I read this most who feel they have "enough" money in retirement are really enjoying it. I am sure they will agree that not everyone ever earned enough or had access to such a good pension scheme to be in that position.

We need to campaign for better pensions for all so that retirement gives them choices. If the only decision you can make is whether to heat or eat I would imagine retirement is not a lot of fun. Surely the state pension should at least be a tad above poverty level?

Jobs are so stressful and much less secure now so I can understand why younger people are looking for something different but, as many have said, you can, if you are able to be brave enough, change your life although this may not be the best way to build up a pension!

My reading of the OP was not that she was looking to retire now but that she needed something to make work worthwhile. Sadly I think she will be far from the only one of her age feeling that way - so much has changed.