Retirement

Thanks for all the comments GNers. It seems the general consensus is that retirement is great. I think I've decided that I'll give my job another year and then finish completely.

I’m in a similar situation. I’m 62 and not thinking about retiring yet. I feel apprehensive about retiring as I am on my own although my daughter and grandchildren are near. Still a big step when doing it on your own. Don’t want to be a bored couch potato! I’m thinking about finding a part time job locally so maybe that’s the solution and retire slowly! Not ready to decide yet.

I retired at 60 after being a college lecturer for years. I loved my job, but the final couple of years had been tough as discipline and student attitudes had declined. When asked, I always say retirement is the best job I've every had. I've loved every second, but the secret is to do other things. I do exam invigilation for a local school and can choose when and if I want to do a session. I attend daytime step classes, go to lunch with friends, stay in touch with work colleagues and meet up, go on holiday outside of school holidays (now that's a real bonus), I've written a book, have shared time with my little granddaughters who were born post my retirement. With a house in France, I spent 6 weeks there a couple of years ago, with my husband having to fly back to the UK to work and me spending the remaining time sharing it with assorted friends and family who came to stay. Please don't fear retirement, plan for it and tell yourself it's the time to do the things you've always wanted to. Good luck.

Haven' t retired yet but DH retired last July and found a job 2 days a week which he will do until I can retire in 2 years. He says it' s a great way to transition from full- time stress and responsibility to future full retirement.

I’m 61 and working full time now in childcare and it’s killing me but I’m determined to pay some debt off before I go part time again. I need a plan and that is what I’m trying to do.

I took early retirement and a redundancy deal all in one package it was a family decision that I should take the very generous financial package, which I did. I paid off the outstanding mortgage on our house then a few months later my husband of 30 years ran off with a much older, richer divorcee with 3 adult children. I was devastated. My career of 35 years had defined who I was. I was now completely lost. Thankfully I divorced him as soon as legally possible. He married his paramour four months after our divorce.
I negotiated the sale of my family home and kept all the money from the sale. He ran off with all our savings.
I am now thriving in my new cottage, spending time with my grandchildren.
He has a strained relationship with our only son and his family and he is constantly texting me to let me know how lonely his life is and how no one appreciates his good intentions.
All this to say do not give up a career you enjoy unless you have a very secure future plan with enough financial backup to overcome all unexpected obstacles.

If you don't want to retire don't.I was stressed and miserable in my job and love not having to face each day with dread.
I hope when Covid restrictions are lifted I can get back to the activities I enjoy.I love being free to do what I want.

I was made redundant at 58 so found a part time job to fill in the gap till I was 60. DH was already retired through ill health.
Today I know official retirement starts at 66 and I should think at this age if one has hobbies and interests outside of work, retirement must sound very appealing. I thoroughly enjoyed mine, taking up crafts and rambling with two walking clubs. These I can no longer do so make the most of being active and having fun as I know for a lot of GN the older we get our health can let us down. Seize the Day!

Surely you have hobbies and interests to continue when you retire. I can’t imagine work being the only thing of interest to me.

There’s so much to do and explore out there. Work just gets in the way in my view.

I retired about 10 years ago and regretted it ever since.

DH and I love being retired. We sold our small business and moved full time onto our boat, untied and just went! We spent three years exploring the inland waterways as constant cruisers, had lots of adventures and became a proper team. DH managed the boat and I did the lock wheeling. He had to give me a hand occasionally if the lock’s winding gear was stiff, but we each knew our job and we got on with it. You get into a rhythm. We’d cruise for about four hours each day and then find somewhere out of the way to moor up. We’ve been in the same place for the last four years but are starting to get cabin fever so will be on the move again in a couple of months time. We manage to see DD and DS, our DiL and our SiL and the GC, they come and find us along the way which has proved a good geography lesson for them! We love the freedom and meeting other boaters along the way.

I worked in a Government Dept. until I was 62 and could no longer cope with the changes in procedures which made absolutely no sense to me. For a while, I was busy caring for my Dad who had Alzheimer’s and helping to care for my grandchildren. When my Dad passed away and the grandchildren were older, I got bored so got myself a part time job as a Caregiver. I work 4 mornings a week and love working with my clients who seem to prefer mature carers. When added to my pensions, my wages give me a good income to enable me to have some lovely holidays ( at least before COVID). So unless you really love your job, you could always consider something more rewarding.

I retired 6 months early as I disliked my job intensely. I’d started an OU degree and wanted to have more time for that. I completed that 3 years ago. The twins now 6 came along so child care was included in my life. Visiting family elsewhere also played a part. Joined the gym and became fitter.

I’ve been wanting to join U3A since before the lockdown but it didn’t happen because of the virus. Instead home schooling took over with a break last summer and autumn.

My retirement has not been quite as I expected but it’s given me the ability to spend time with and help my family out over the last few years. I’m hoping that DH and I will soon be able to spend a bit more time doing our things together.

I’m so glad I decided to retire early. Going with the flow and pleasing myself to a greater degree has been great. I think it all depends on how life takes you.

I persuaded my husband to retire early, stress was making him ill. So we retired when he was 60, I was 57. We lived on savings for two years, then hubby got his first works pension, I got my works pension a year later. 5 years later we both also get SP. We have spent 7 years travelling in our motorhome and wish we could have left work even earlier! I think we were lucky because Brexit will make long term travel very difficult. So I think having a plan is important, what do you want?

I retired at 60 14 years ago and have never regretted it. I know it's an old cliche but I don't know how I found time to work. I joined the U3A soon after retiring and have done lots of new things and made new friends. Don't worry about retiring embrace it.

I retired from teaching aged 58. I ran out of steam, did my sums and never looked back. In normal times I swim, do walking netball, volunteer at the library, am a local town councillor, volunteered at CAB for 10 years, help other half on the allotment, walk , travel, theatre, cinema, babysit, do a bit of housework, lunch with friends, in a choir, in 2 book groups, in WI. I am now 70 and retiring was the best thing ever. Every day is different and if I want to do nothing, I do nothing. Helps to be relatively fit and healthy, time to cook good food. Go for it!!

I’ve retired in my fifties and never had a moments regret. In fact I don’t know how I found time to go to work. It coincided with my DS going off to uni so it was time to make a new life.
Don’t get my state pension for 2 years but am lucky to have a decent private pension with British Gas. My DH still works has his own business and is able to reduce his hours as and when -currently doing a 4 day week. This suits me perfectly I don’t have him under my feet all day? having said that we do like to travel and like you Urmstongran would love a place in the sun somewhere. That’s our plan anyway.

I never actually had a paid job. When my husband had to retire we did what always said we wanted to do. Camping and caravanning both at home and abroad. My son worked hard until he was 57 and made enough money to retire. He got degrees in the Open University. Formed an online consultancy business. Started a Historical society in his village. Formed a small jazz band with other retirees.
Retirement doesn’t mean stagnating.

I have never regretted retirement for one little minute, But we had planned what we wanted to do and did it.

This as others have said is really important.

So sit down now and think hard. What have you always wanted to do and never had time for because you worked?

I am sure something will occur to you.

I was happily working way past retirement just part time and had set a date of my 70th to retire then this damned Covid hit and after being furloughed was made redundant. Its not easy this transition. For some reason I seemed to get more done when I was working now I have plenty of time I seem to be achieving less. Takes some getting used to although I expect like all change I need to look at it in a positive way.

I retired end of 2019 with plans. The pandemic happened. No chance of a part time job now. I regret retiring

I retired at 68, did I regret it? Yes.
There wasn't a choice as the pension rules changed and I would have lost out big time.
I can usually keep busy and find plenty to do but it's just not the same.

Regret it? You must be joking! Always busy. Can’t fit it all in. Even in lockdown.

I think if you enjoy your job and are still up to it there is no rush to retire. Could you reduce your hours first for a couple of years. I stayed working about 2 yrs longer than I needed too but I worked for DWP and they were starting to bring in lots of changes in the benefits system and I decided that I didn't want to havecall that learning to do. I allso decided that as my grandchildren, who live 300 miles away, got older I wanted to take my holidays during school holiday time so was competing with the people who had their own children for holidays. I've never regretted retiring and before lockdown often wondered how I ever had time to go to work.

I retired from front line Nursing in A&E at the age of 60. 12 months later we moved to a new area and lockdown happened. I've spent a small fortune trying to engage in creative hobbies. I miss my family and granddaughter as currently unable to visit. I have just paid to go back on the nursing register and seeking a part time job with NHS; with a heavy heart. I'm sure the pandemic has contributed to my feeling a loss of purpose and freedom and I pray things will change soon.
I think part time work a good way to phase into full retirement.