The good things about retirement

The best thing about retirement for me is having time. Time with my dearly beloved husband, who I am lucky to have shared my life with. Time for my children to listen to them. Time for my grandchildren to give them my undivided attention. Time for friends and wider family to spend leisurely time with them.
Words are cheap but actions are what count and I now can be with the important people in my life.
My life has whizzed by so quickly and I am now so conscious of not wasting time with people who don't add anything to it, and making the most of what time that me and my darlings have got left.

Not having the terror of OFSTED and management making me feel everything I did might be wrong even though my results indicated everything I did was right. It was was like living under Big Brother.

Now I do my own OFSTEDing and everything I do is 'satisfactory'. I no longer aim for 'outstanding' or even 'good' and with the pressure off everything in life is 'excellent', thank you.

I love getting up when I want, never late but when I`m up only getting showered and dressed when I`m ready. Not having that routine of being out at certain time to get to work. I really enjoyed The Beast From The East, I sat and watched it didn`t have to worry about getting to work in the snow.

Having been a teacher all of my life, I love Sundays again now. I love being able to book a holiday in September.
I no longer worry about being ill and having to ring in sick, knowing how much of the budget is left for a supply teacher to cover me.
I no longer have to worry about OFSTED looming.
I love being able to meet grandson from school sometimes and being able to help out with the baby grandchildren.
I love being able to visit my son in America without paying August prices.
I used to think that I didn’t want retirement to come too soon, as it would mean I was getting really old! Silly me!

I took Early Retirement at 50 as DH's health was deteriorating, he had retired at 65. We had 7 pretty good years until I was widowed at 57. I wouldn't have had that time with him if I'd carried on working.

Now retired for 12 years, moved to be nearer DD & DGSs, made new friends, loving exploring a new area & joining new groups, new experiences.

Going to bed really late & getting up when I want. Reading for as long as I want to in bed. Appointments rarely before 10.30/11.00. Only morning I have to be out is Friday for 10.30 Pilates class (early breakfast). Deciding on the day what I'm going to do. Watching the rain/snow from the comfort of my warm home. Waiting until the frost has cleared from my car before I go out. The list is endless. Life is for living & enjoying even with my health issues.

Having a lovely lie in.
On a Sunday evening thinking of everyone having to get up on Monday morning and get to work, its real luxury.
I have a fridge magnet which says" Retirement is when the sun rises and you dont"

The best thing about retirement is .... everything!

Hello everyone and thank you. I am retiring in October from a job I love and is a big part of my identity. I have such mixed feelings, even though I know it really is time for me to stop. Reading your posts have given me belief that, when I get used to it, I will enjoy it.

DH is absolutely not a "whim" person, so when I had mentioned that I wanted to see Lincoln Cathedral, just a thought with no idea of going, he said "Let's go next week"! We had a lovely time.
Thank you Lincoln, thank you retirement and the means to do it!

Coconut - you must win the award for spontaneity! What a fantastic experience for you both. I'm sure it's something your GS will always remember.

Coconut
That's the way to do it
Last week a friend asked us to help move a boat (in Spain) because the owner has fallen ill and he needs another hand.
We will start the drive down on Monday

I in the same boat as you humptydumpty. £700 per month we pay. I told a friend recently and she told me that she pays more than that in service charges for her 2 bed flat. So I don’t feel so bad now.

Retirement is wonderful, if I’d known how good it felt I’d have done it much sooner.

Yes. Took myself off to Edinburgh for the day after a quick call to book a flight and one to a friend there inviting her to lunch.
Arrived about 10.30 and home in SE England around 11pm we had dinner on the river and a sunny day wandering museum, shops and cafes. The return flight was only £56. A bargain.

A gorgeous view minesaprosecco

Retirement is a gift especially when you are healthy.

The worst? Poor AND sick.
You are no longer a slave to the clock.
You are the master of your time and how to spend it.
Form day one on this planet time is not our own.
From parents to teachers to employers.
You throw away the shackle...at last!

In one word, freedom. As babies and small children we are controlled by the adults around us , then we have the disciplines of school and work, but the day I walked out of my office leaving behind my much enjoyed job gave a feeling of such exquisite freedom that I could almost taste it.
Waking the next morning in a sunny bedroom and sitting there drinking tea, contemplating life stretching ahead filled with only what I wanted to do ( with concessions here to OH of course, but he is most agreeable in most areas!) felt (and still feels) like a whole new life.

I’ve just taken early retirement and a colleague said they would hate to retire and wake up and not have any plans for the day. That is the luxury of retirement. No plans, after years of a diary full of meetings. Spontaneous days out, fun days with friends or family Loving every minute of it

If you and your partner if you have one, are healthy then retirement is wonderful ! Now 70 I did enjoy the first years of retirement ...like you able to go out for the day, to the sea, the beach, a different town, but now that OH has a long term illness I cannot go anywhere ...he does not want to go out, and is unable to travel ......so sadly it does feel a bit like a prison now ...not his fault, but I am the sole carer and am finding it difficult ! Our doctor says he has to go to respite care for a couple of weeks ...he flatly refuses ! so make the most of it whilst you can .....never know what's round the corner ! Good luck

So sorry to hear that, Violette. It must be very hard for you - and for your OH. I can only hope that you do eventually manage to get some respite and time for yourself.

Best thing is coming back from a holiday and not having to go to work the next day.

I love these positive retirement threads..I’ve got a year to go..but fear the lack of structure,/too much time/ boredom./lack of company ..but you all make it sound great ?

I have been in your shoes Violette and looking back I do remember feeling envious of my friends who were free to go on cruises/holidays/days out etc. It is a warning to all, do what you can while you can.
You have my sympathy, is there nobody in the family who could “OH sit” for you, even staying overnight so that you could have a short break?

I managed 4 wonderful days in Sweden, on Gotland last June/July when my sister in law came to stay. It was to be the last break before a very traumatic 5 months. If I hadn’t gone then I would never have got away and after years of caring, I was close to the end of my rope.
Do try if it is at all possible.

I worked as a teacher and was under pressure never to be ill and need any time off through illness or bereavement. The best thing about being retired to me is the sheer relief when I felt so unwell in January with a horrible virus that I could not get rid of, was that I was under no pressure to try to work through the illness and I could rest and get well at my own pace. I know if I was still teaching I would have crawled in to work no matter how ill I felt because of the students exams approaching pressure. I also love spa days, days out to see cricket matches and just days out for pleasure when children are in school and it is not busy and crowded.

Coconut, that trip sounds brilliant. Would it work for a solo traveller? A very seasoned traveller, I might add. How long did it take to get to Lake Como from Milan?