Hands up all those who never really enjoyed working!

Alima I can really relate to your post I also worked in payroll & many other jobs can honestly say I never minded the actual work but couldn't stand all the crap so no wasn't bothered about not having to go to work. I did do a lot of temping jobs when I was younger and it was great not to have to be involved in all the office politics and know I could leave if I really hated the place. I don't know if young people temp so much now

I've had a chequered career. Started out in hotels but had to give up because I was useless at maths; went into teaching which would have been OK if children weren't involved ; worked in television which was the best job ever but left when I became pregnant; took various admin jobs which I enjoyed - didn't have to think, just 'do'; took a post in the probation service which led to me beginning legal training which I loved and then DH started a company and I took on what I thought would be a part time job and ended up full time for 26 years. My mantra for my children and grandchildren is 'no experience is every wasted - whether good or bad'. I've certainly learned a lot over the years and met a wide range of people which has stood me in good stead on a number of occasions. So if you've never enjoyed working just think of something that you did get out of it - a new skill; friendships; learning to be assertive.........

Just where did that z spring from?

Work was just a means to earn money to do the things Zi wanted to do or needed. Left work early on ill health and have never looked back. Hated the job, the people and the whole setup but it paid. Now I can do voluntary work in areas that I am interested as someone earlier said, born to retire

Lily flower I quite agree. I too was a teacher and although I enjoyed it at first it became too much of a strain towards the end with the National curriculum, OFSTED, targets, appraisals and increasingly difficult behaviour of students so that discipline became a strain and so on. After retiring I did some adult ed teaching which I loved but the huge amount of paperwork got me down in the end. Giving students individual targets and lesson plans and getting them to comment on their achievements each week was time consuming and pointless as no-one ever seemed to look at them (unless there was an inspection!) The students hated it too!

Carolebarrel, can you contact your pension authority to find out where you stand? I looked mine up online. You may not be able to draw your pension until a certain age but your contributions need to reach a certain criteria this could have been done already at 62 if you have a full working record maybe?

I couldn't agree more. I hated work, not because I'm lazy. It was the bitches I worked with, some horrendous bullies who seemed to get pleasure from putting people down, gossiping about everybody once they left the room, two faced arse lickers. I'm now retired and have never been so happy, absolutely love every day, doing what I want, when I want.

Granny piper, I have just read your thread and completely agree that New Labour ruined education.

Teaching was wonderful for the first few tears but then OFSTED, observations, targets, examination corruption, bureaucracy, data collection, rolling initiatives, the loss of discipline and cock-eyed management ruined it. By the time I was 55 I was heading for burn out and a breakdown and was happy to leave with only 75 per cent of my pension.

Retirement is the gift that goes on giving. I can OFSTED myself and I do not have to get an 'outstanding' or even a 'good'. I can be a person, live in the moment and enjoy walks, reading, cleaning my house, mowing my lawn, cooking and all the mundane pleasures that tell you life is good and time is precious.

I was a teacher. I love being retired and can still work in education as a volunteer without the stress and work load.

Just noticed your post granny piper, I'm in education too, and the the system is run as just another business. The welfare of our children is sadly not at the forefront and they also are pushed around without knowing what's going on half the time! Hence my feelings as in previous post.

I've read your various posts with interest. I would love to leave work, but am only 62 so 4yrs to go. Am now the oldest person at work, and am totally put upon by a younger staff who are themselves trying to get to grips with stressful jobs. Anyone know how it affects your pension if you retire early? Any help gratefully received!

Just made me look up our 'rules' !
I have to do 45 years at 50 contributions a year to qualify for a full pension,it takes me officially to the age of 65 and 10 months. (In the Channel Isles)
So I am going to make enquires to further discover the full extent of my current status as I know that so far it is this.
Started working at 15.
3 children, very little time off work.
A couple of years traveling.
Quite excited now at the thought of no more work, or more to the point, being able to stay at home

I had a great decade in early years education, the last 7years (and the reason i left) were awful, New Labour and Tony Blair arrived and the downward freefall started,Too many pointless changes, stupid rules and dangerous practices were introduced wether the wanted or needed but the worst part was NOTHING was done with the children in mind. It broke my heart to see the education and care of that generation thrown in the gutter.

I've worked a total of 40 years. I left school st 15 worked 4 years then took a few years off to have a family. I never liked working and as a result have had more jobs than I can remember. When I got bored I moved on. Now I've retired I'm loving it. Last week I was able to "enjoy" being ill , no worrying about colleagues having too cope with my work as well as their own and taking my time to recover not having too rush back before I felt well enough. Like other retirees I indulge my hobbies and help out my stressed working daughter with her children. Bliss !

My first job was in a solicitor's office where I suffered sexual harassment on a daily basis and was in a constant state of anxiety. I loved being a social worker in the charitable sector - and far from being profligate our income was spent very wisely. Like others, I came to hate my job as a statutory social worker. After the introduction of so-called Care in the Community it became intolerable and I was glad to have a career change. I loved (still do) teaching - I enjoyed the camaraderie of my colleagues and it was a joy to see the children flourish.
Now I am 'retired', but continue to work three very responsible jobs in the charity sector as a volunteer. The joy of this is that I meet three disparate groups of people and I have no worries about taking time off if I'm ill or need/want to go away.

Well done Thingmajig, I find your story inspiring that it will work out, though Im having to restrain the skipping til Friday. it took me a year longer than you to realise i could at 56 - do as i please. what a waste lol!!

I was a self employed driving instructor for forty years and loved it, retiring at 65, then for the last ten years a foster carer. I seemed happiest with challenging work, but now totally retired and loving it too.

I was a nurse all my working life, spending over 25 years doing the night shift ... still can't believe I stuck it so long!!!I'll admit it was a good job to have when I was bringing the DD up single-handed as I worked weekends and she went to her grandparents. However although I was good at it, it certainly wasn't the job of my dreams. Not really sure what was if truth be told.
My last 5 years was in a 9-5 job and at first it was great ... until a change of boss and sudden bureaucracy overload. After being dumped upon by my immediate boss once too often I decided enough was enough and started investigating early retirement.

Absolutely the best decision ever. I retired at 55 (skipping out the door!!)a month before DH.

Being able to do exactly as we like (babysitting is our only tie)is the best thing ever and a million times better than work!!!

oh thank you Swanny. I may take your advice. The list is so long I dont know where to start - like a child loose in a sweet shop!! What do you do in the grand scheme of things?

Congratulations hopeful1 on your retirement and enjoy your last week Have a break before starting on that long list of to-dos, they don't all have to be done in the first few days and you won't get a bad appraisal if they're not

I have read all your stories with interest. I have worked in many jobs following my army husband around and fitting in as best I could, always looking forward to a posting as it would guarantee a good many months at Home! I eventually became a medical secretary and have worked in the NHS now for 20 years which I used to really enjoy. However cut backs, change in manager, general slog v grandchildren and the opportunity to retire early gave me an obvious choice for my future. I leave work on Friday and am so excited! So good to hear from others who have obtained control of their own lives and opted to enjoy life 'not working' - though I have a list of things to get up to as long as your arm...

My last job was payroll. I loved the actual work but hated all the crap that went with it. Like many of you have said, the appraisals, the targets, the management initiatives which took everything back to the start if you were there long enough.

A bit off piste, but I am reminded of My DM's first job. At 14 she went into service at a farm house. She was dreadfully homesick, suffered badly from period pains (no sympathy from employers), and could hear the rats skittering around the rafters when she was in bed. This was in 1922.

Love my job as TA in infant school where have worked for over 20 years, but am finding it more tiring these days and there are now so many observations to do and records to keep! Would like to retire but can't draw state pension for another 3 years and don't think we could manage without my income, even though DH is still working full time. Have had extra part time jobs in retail over the years but never felt happy doing that. The big question is do I hang on, or do I retire early and we just live on less money? It is not any easy decision to make.