When I retire I'm going to...

gettingonabit we're kindred spirits! I too bought a house in a state of semi dereliction and spent 9 months and every penny I had renovating it. I did as much of the work myself as possible and only had help with the plumbing, plastering and electrics. I've never been so exhausted or dirty in my life but I loved every last second of it! When I look at the photos of what it was, and what it is now, I feel really proud of myself! I did that!

I had not planned to seize up and double in size............but seem to have managed that. I got rid of the loft and embarked on a meaningful relationship with sheds instead.

I'm hoping to rediscover my passion for travel. I also want to finish my piano diploma at some point.

Ive got a while to go yet, though! I'm also quite taken with the idea of a sporty job with leather seats.

My main dream is to build my own house, or radically redesign an existing one.

I'm going to retire on Thursday! Two holidays planned, then I'm going to learn to play the guitar and learn to paint and do my family history. And have some more holidays!

Be cremated

I can safely say that the Welsh & Scots most certainly do have lofts Jalima ! And out houses; sheds; greenhouses and cellars. Don't think that there's anything peculiar about it really. Maybe Izabella is outside of the UK? Be interesting to know if loft storage was a peculiarly British thing.

Don't the Welsh, Scottish and Irish have lofts?
Is it a peculiarly English thing Izabella?

Ours is crammed and a lot of it isn't ours.
Free storage for DD! We don't have a cellar Maggiemaybe

Maybe I should move them up to the loft?

But only two people have mentioned clearing a loft, Izabella! There's just insulation in mine. I do have a cellar that needs sorting, but seeing as to get to it I've to clamber over 30+ boxes of DD1's worldly goods, I guess it'll have to wait till she decides to find another house!

What is this English preoccupation with lofts? And why put stuff in them?

My bucket list definitely does not include any travel. I wish I could re-decorate the bedroom NOW and not in four years' time. Otherwise, just the usual clearing out and making the home somewhere nice to be. And time for the grandchildren.

My advice would do as many as you can now don't wait for retirement 3months after I retired I was diagnosed with a small bowel cancer two months after that I got breast cancer (not connected) through all treatment now but not as fit don't think I'm moaning I am lucky but it's taken three years of my retirement to get sorted and up to this year travel insurance as been a problem . I am now enjoying weekends away and thank god I don't have to get up for work so although it's been delayed I am now enjoying it. Long and happy retirement to all Gnetters

I was able to retire at 61 am now 65. I had enough money for husband to take early retirement in 2014. Sadly nothing has come of my 'bucket list'. Husband always said he had no plans for retirement, just wanted a quiet life. Turns out he's the one doing everything, has a workshop for wood turning, office for writing and performing folk music, visiting many folk clubs, new E bike and on it goes. We are down to one car so not possible to go out in the evenings. No travelling abroad or long weekends away that I'd hoped for. No choirs/music within easy reach. I do more reading, knitting, sewing, research family tree and use my iPad but all solitary pastimes. Really feel that I have to make myself a life but am so disappointed and down..... finding it hard.

There are some really exciting activities here, wish I was more of a traveller sometimes.
We retired, got married and moved to France. We now have dogs, cats, chickens and sheep, a very rural lifestyle but we love it. We also do some volunteer work so keep busy. After 12 years its hard to remember my work life but I enjoyed that too so count myself lucky to have had a fulfilling life.

I'm retiring in June and moving to Scotland in July, so the decluttering aspect is being done now as we are downsizing.
I'm retiring early and will gave no pension until I'm 65 and therefore we won't have too much money to spend on activities, however, I'm going to take advantage of the free museums etc and thus will take a lot of my time for the first year
I'm a crafty person and looking forward to getting back into them.
I love walking mainly on my own and moving to a new area will allow me to witness new surroundings either by walking or going by bike.
I'm also wanting to start a blog and perhaps some volunteering.

Sort of have a bucket list, this is a travelling list, which I am checking off gradually, finances dont allow all the places on my list.
Other day to day things on my other bucket list are getting done gradually, although I dont think sorting photos out will be top priority somehow.
One thing I am in the process of, is writing a book, and I am loving it, it was not on a bucket list, but somehow came about!

I planned all those things with my h, looking forward to holidays out of term time as I worked in a school. Walks, etc etc. Then my son died and we have guardianship of my grandaughter so holidays in school holidays only. Did manage to do clear out, decorate etc, read books. And this year will have a holiday in term time as it's gd last year, after gces and she finishes end of June, am so looking forward to that.

My retirement list included travel, more time in the garden, do new things, including learning to play golf. I have been retired 3-years this summer. My new hubby (we've been married just over a year, I guess that counts as a new thing) is also retired. We have travelled far and wide (I know we're lucky, a lump sum from pension allowed/allows this), I do spend more time gardening, I am learning Spanish, but only had one golf lesson and practiced twice!

I did plan to sort out a large wardrobe that allsorts get put in. I visit it to remove a few things occasionally. It doesn't interest me, isn't essential, so I'm not prioritising it!

My advice after 26 year in retirement is not to make any immediate plans. The feeling you will get on your first day retired is something you cannot plan for. An adjustment in your life will take time to settle and plans are best left until you get that easy feeling in retirement.

If you rush into doing all those jobs then suddenly you will find yourself looking for more to do when you should be relaxing. I do not mean you should not tackle those jobs but do give yourself time to settle down and think about what you really want to do after all those jobs are done.

This is going to be the best time of your life and you should endeavour to get the very best out of it. There is a time for doing all those household chores but do not fill your day with them. Do something enjoyable every day even if that is simply going to your favourite cafe for a coffee; sit there for longer and savour the time there or whatever else you fancy doing.

When I retired, I got rid of the lists of things to do very quickly as I found that not doing any of them simply stressed me out. Instead I wrote and had published two books and am now on my third.
Oh and I occasionally to the garden, where I will go as soon as I've posted this as it is such a lovely day.

I learnt to ski! Third trip booked for next year. Also went on the back of a motorbike as I'd never done that before!

I retired very early last Summer due to health problems and work stress. I am getting through my huge pile of books, sorting out the garden, spending more time with friends and elderly parents but regret that my husband is still working which does make me feel somewhat guilty.

Don't forget to write your life story - all lives are interesting

Yes, I planned I would have a 'gap year' when I would catch up on decorating, sorting, gardening and other domestics. I also cared for a GC when my DD returned to work. I then, as also planned, took voluntary work. Then life sort of took over and it is now ' how did I find the time to work'!

I retired last October and have been busy ever since. I walk at least 3 miles a day, look after the Grandchildren 2 days a week, going on holiday next month and have finally finished my garden. Joined a slimming club, go swimming and eventually found out why I was so tired and caught everything going - vitamin d deficiency, and there i thought it was too much Work! I could not have done all these whilst working. Feel healthier now than I ever have and God willing hope to stay this way. Would not return to my deskbound job for anything, so bad for my health. Highly recommend retirement for those that can.