retirement yes or no?

I have a slightly different perspective as DH retired at 65, his health was not great & I got the chance to take Early Retirement at 50 to care for him. We had 7 (fairly) good years up to his death 5 years ago. Had I carried on working I would have missed so much.

Since being on my own I have moved to be nearer my DD & DGSs, joined a couple of Meet Up Groups & intend to get more involved in local organisations.

I love my Retirement, lazy mornings when the weather is bad or get up & out when it's a lovely day. I love the freedom. As others have suggested perhaps go Part-Time & see how it goes.

My husband retired at 60 - I'm seven years younger and my job was full time plus in Central London. I couldn't see how our relationship would work with one at home full time and one never at home. I cut my days down and when the opportunity for redundancy came up decided to take it. I sometimes miss the social side and buzz of being at work but have adjusted and it's lovely not to have the stress of both work, travelling and getting up at the crack of dawn especially in the winter! I have studied lots of things and found an enthusiasm for learning I didn't have when I was younger. I picked up a few hours part time housekeeping work which just gives me a small income which I like. I do some volunteering so we aren't in each other's pockets every day. We have time to travel, see the grandchildren and also enjoy our home and garden. None of us knows what the future holds but life is often too short, whatever you do - enjoy it.

Retire, if you can. It is great. I can say I have never been bored or short of things to do. The only drawback is I have to be careful with what I spend. Most if my activities are either free or cost about a fiver. So nots so bad. My Advice is Go for it.

I was forced into early retirement at 56 due to illness. I felt bad that every time I had to take time off, someone else had to cover for me, so I made it permanent. My OH was working, and once my health improved I grew to love retirement! I spent two or three days a week volunteering for CAB, and thoroughly enjoyed the guilt-free time to myself.

My husband is now retired and we couldn't be happier. We can do what we want, when we want to do it, and even though we're not wealthy by any means, we've got a standard of living we are happy with.

I spend a lot of time doing genealogy research on my own family tree as well as others, I take online courses through FutureLearn and have learned so much this past year.

Still lots to do - I certainly don't regret retirement.

Depends what you want to do if you leave work. Do you have friends to do things with. Parents or grandchildren to help out, a project at home - decoratibg/ garden you are itching to make over? You can find plenty to do if you join your local U3A, and there are lots of volunteer opportunities eg helping disabled to get out of the house, new mums, elderly, etc
It all depends on the sort of person you are - if you want to fill your time with 'passtimes", learn a new hobby, just chill, or do something useful to help others - you can mix and match according to what you want, but to have a job you enjoy is a great blessing and once you give it up it's gone. Would you be able to cut it down first to say, three days a week and see how it goes?

One word of caution. If you leave work, and spend some years getting used to having the home to yourself each day while DH goes to work, when he does retire, you might suddenly feel crowded in when you no longer get those hours to yourself. I have heard this so often from stay-at-home wives or people in your situation. So if you are going to avoid that I'd suggest that you have your daytime activities planned to either get you out of the house most days or have other people in your house most days.

I love the wisdom of this group! This is a question we have been pondering for too many years now. My situation is somewhat different with my hubby being older than me. I work long hours from home in a highly stressful work! He took early retirement to spend more time around the house and look after my well-being (coffees and teas.. nice cooked lunch or listen to my daily rant). It works for now but it made me think and plan to leave the job and do something easier and part time that I will enjoy more.. so this way we make the most of our time together.
I guess everyone's circumstance is different and all thibgs need to be considered but I think what matters the most is the end goal, what you both really want, and after that has been decided, make a plan and start making changes in order to achieve it. Best of luck and here is to a happy and long retirement

No, no, no if you love your job and healthy and your husband won’t be retiring don’t do it. I say this from experience my husband said he was going to retire so I resigned from the full time job I loved and he didn’t. I’ve spent 10 years phaffing around doing charity work, filling time (none of my friends are retired either). I could go on but feel it would be just to negative.. I’m currently looking for a job, getting interviews but no success. Unless you have a clear plan or got things organised don’t do it.

I retired at 56 and not regretted a minute. What is the point of flogging yourself to death, literally, for an ungrateful company... believe me once you leave you will be replaced and forgotten. Enjoy life whilst you can. Go for it. I cannot describe how good the feeling of freedom is.

Netflixfan
Look at it this way.What do you and your husband enjoy doing together at present..What do you have in common?
He is younger than you and presumably still working?
If you can afford to work part time then do so and use the hours you would not be at work to pursue other interests
Get a taste of what it would be like doing things without your husband who you say does not share your interests.
One step at a time.Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Hope this is of some help.

The key here is not really what you would do with your life if you retired, but what the relationship with your husband is like. It's all a question of where he figures in this and whether a big change in your life now will affect that relationship for the future. For instance, will he view you differently as a 'retired' (and much older) wife than if you were still at work. Would you be less vibrant and interesting? I am playing devil's advocate here - not intending to insult you in any way. On the other hand, if you were to retire and get involved in other things, you are likely to come into contact with other people of a similar age, and potentially form new romantic attachments. That age gap is this time of life can be very difficult to reconcile. I know - my hubby is 10 years older than I am and whilst 20 years ago I thought nothing of that, now it makes a big difference as I want to do lots of things that he says he is 'too old for' - and our relationship is not what I thought it would be when we met 25 years ago. I urge you to involve your hubby in this - ask him for an opinion and find out what he envisages for your lives together in the short and long term.

I retired at 62, it was the best thing I've ever done. I have lots of hobbies, and spare time to sometimes just sit and read when which is most enjoyable. I have my baby granddaughter two days a week which I love. Four years on I don't miss work at all.

I think if you're asking the question you're not ready. If you can cut hours then do that. I retired at 58. Never looked back, would do it again. I now look after my grandson so have no time of my own but wouldn't change it one bit. Some of my colleagues retired at a similar age and it made them ill. It's a big step but I love it.

I was offered voluntary redundancy when I was 53, and couldn't say "yes" fast enough!
We had to tighten our belts a bit, but we weren't using convenience foods, I wasn't having to buy 'smart' work outfits, travelling costs were non existent, my redundancy payout cleared our mortgage, and still left a bit in the bank, so it was all good!
Fifteen months after I 'retired', DH was offered early retirement too, and the deal was so good we jumped at it.
The only drawback, if it can be called that, was that I couldn't get at my occupational pension until I turned sixty, so for almost seven years I earned nothing. A friend suggested that I signed on for JSA, but I wouldn't do that because I had no intention at all of ever working again!
I turned sixty earlier this year and my occupational pension kicked in. So now, I'm making up for the last seven years!
I may have a different view to many people about early retirement, as my DF always intended to 'walk away' at 62, when he and DM would travel the world. He didn't live to retire, dying whilst still in employment, at the age of 61. His DM had died when she was 55 and working full time as a cook in a private school. Those two facts made me decide to 'get out' at the first opportunity, I'm taking no chances!
I can honestly say that retirement is the best job I've ever had

Although I have many hobbies and interests, the worse thing I ever did was to retire, would rather be at work if given the choice.

Leave, get some hobbies, have fun while you are young enough and fit enough to enjoy it. I am 60, all my life I thought that is when I would retire. I am already plagued with ill health and have just lost my job because of it. I have to struggle with work (if I can find another job) for another 6 years, by which time I will definitely not be will enough to enjoy retirement.

Retire, have some quality time with family and friends I say

I would keep working until the attraction of retirement was overwhelming.
I lost my part time job at 60 and really miss it. Where I live the majority of the population seems to be retired and there are so many fundraising events I am tired of them.

Agree with a lot of what is said but especially Grannyknots 'whatever takes my fancy'.

I retired at 61 because there were voluntary redundancies so took the bull by the horns(typical Taurean) and fell flat on my face!!! then after finding part-time work at M&S and boredom decided it wasnt paid work that was going to fulfill me so eventually after twelve months joined the U3A and have never looked back. Learnt to play Bridge and its been my passion ever since. I can have weekends away with it (no partner needed) and this year took a solo cruise and yes the game was played on board and made a lovely friend who i will be holidaying with next year. In August applied and got voluntary work with a company called Beanstalk, as a childrens reader, love it. So in short go for it Netflix whilst you have your health.

To other ladies thinking about retirement here is my tips

1 U3A (university of the third age) google U3A and the area you live which will give you a list of events in your area

2 Voluntary work, and choose a charity that is close to your heart which in turn you will meet likeminded people.

3 Start a new hobby (I did sewing, making clothes)

4 A National Trust group in your area. You do not need to be a member of the NT.

5 National Ramblers and your area will have one.

6 I gave myself a goal of grabbing life before I am 80 as I really wont know what my health will be like after that.

7 Enjoy every minute of the age you are.

I worked until I was 68. Retire as soon as you can . It's great, You have time to do all the nice things and time to put off all the rubbish things. Love being retired. I have no trouble keeping myself from being bored.

Perhaps cut down by a day, which will then give you time to explore new activities/hobbies. Why not use it as 'me' time in order to get to know yourself?

It doesn't always follow that your partner must be involved as well and, from my point of view, it's healthy to have interests of your own.

If you don't really want to give up work, then don't let your age be the reason.

we have decided to retire next June have worked out the money and we can afford it we are of similar ages though so different to you and your husband, i will be 62 next and hubby is 63 now decided wanted to retire and do things together before we are dribbling in our soup! not sure my response helps you op sorry

Don't feel obliged to give up work until you wish. I left work early to care for DH, but took local pocket-money job as paper lass to boost my Carers Allowance/eventually RP. Finally left late last winter after 16 years, feeling a bit elderly, not wanting to go out in winter dark mornings, scared of being a bit tottery on my pins, especially on icy mornings. Got involved with a local singing group, sometimes singing, sometimes keyboarding, joined the local over 55 group committee. I miss my extra £60 weekly cash from my job, but my health comes first and I didn't do it really for the money - I loved the early summer walk, the daily enforced exercise, the social meetings with daily acquaintances, the fact that elderly/disabled/ socially isolated people could rely on getting their papers each day and that if they needed a letter posted, a bit of shopping picked up, they knew that they only had to ask.

It all depends on circumstances. I went part time at 68, 3 days a week, and did that until 2012 when I was 73. I did need the money. Luckily I have enjoyed 5 years of retirement and am now 78. Hopefully I will enjoy more as my genes are from my Mum's side and they all lived to a ripe old age in their mid and late nineties.

I would say try and go part time and see how it goes. Join some local day time groups of course U3A and early retirement groups. You are quite right things can happen unexpectedly for me it was breaking my arm, it has slightly disabled me and I certainly didn't see that coming. Other friends have had really life changing stuff soon after 65. Good luck.

netflixfan - I have found that you get very different advice because it is a truly personal thing - only you know what is best for you.

I have found that people who were in a boring job or who had health issues can't wait to retire whereas people in interesting jobs stay on.

I retired at 60 from a job I loved because I felt over-worked and exploited. I could have found a new job in the same organisation where I would have to learn new things, but I didn't feel I wanted to make the effort to learn something new so I decided I was probably ready to retire.

With hindsight, I wished I had stayed on a bit longer because I loved what I was doing and if your job isn't stressing you out, your health should be fine.

It is useful - if possible - to plan what you want to do when you retire, otherwise the "freedom" can feel overwhelming.

I hope this helps.