Retirement like to see your opinions

[Jimmy the Jock]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

Thanks so far. Keep em coming. I had stepped down to 4 days a week but this assignment in Poland now has me back at 6 days but I’m loving every minute & it’s taken me back several decades to my prime game. I can see elements in each reply, blue Matt’s reply is closest to where I am mentally but the flip is TBGs response. I know only I can make the decision but it’s great to know other people’s experiences. I’ve got a dog by the way, a manic Spanner.

Keep working . :thumbup:

[blue matt]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

Keep working . :thumbup:

but buy a T4 for when you retire :hehe:

[Jimmy the Jock]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

but buy a T4 for when you retire :hehe:

Exactly ..............................

[Cowbridge Blue]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

I was very lucky after 47 years with Cardiff - South Glamorgan - Cardiff Councils and deciding to retire 'early' instead of going through yet another management restructure. I'd been instrumental in bringing Rally GB to Cardiff in 2000 and the event owners (International Motor Sports) asked me to join them as their man in Wales - a role that lasted a further 10 years until the missus wanted to move to the U.S. to study.

The Wales Rally GB gig was perfect, part-time for most of the year, manage my own schedule, travel to see how other WRC rounds in Europe at least were organised. I wasn't a bit interested in motorsport but the people were good and helping deliver the event in Wales satisfying.

So I retired properly when we came to the States and can be counted firmly in the camp with those quoted above who say they 'can't believe they had time to work' before retirement'. I think for me the trick was going on that 10 years where there were commitments but in a leisurely way for 10 out of 12 months. It gave me the chance to wind-down over a long period so that the move abroad (at age 65 and the missus is younger than me) was welcomed, as the opportunity to do everything at a time and pace that suits me.

I only have to hurry now to be sure not to miss whatever sporting event in this world needs watching :wales: Did everyone see the Vikings see off the Packers yesterday with the last move of the game :thumbup:

[Tuerto]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

but buy a T4 for when you retire :hehe:

Me and my wife have agreed to go the other way when we retire. Forget the walking and the camper van etc we've decided on taking drugs and drinking copious amounts of alcohol and some experimentation sexually, like swinging or dogging. It wont last long as it'll probably kill us both within a few years, but it beats scraping mud off me walking boots, picking up dog shit or sitting in a van as it cruises along the m5 motorway.

[Jimmy the Jock]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

Me and my wife have agreed to go the other way when we retire. Forget the walking and the camper van etc we've decided on taking drugs and drinking copious amounts of alcohol and some experimentation sexually, like swinging or dogging. It wont last long as it'll probably kill us both within a few years, but it beats scraping mud off me walking boots, picking up dog shit or sitting in a van as it cruises along the m5 motorway.

Thats a gimme with campers.
I am sure you could incorporate dogging with a little imagination.(photos might help , for a friend...of course.. )

[Once U shop, U can't stop]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

No-one has factored in how quality of life can deteriorate with age.
I'm 76, there is no history of dementia or other brain problems in my family. I am fit and able to garden, cycle and walk energetically.
However, last year I had a brain scan and the consultant said he found evidence of brain degeneration which was typical in older people. It is certainly not bad enough to stop me driving for example but now that I am aware of this creeping on, there is a concern not just of dying, but of what later years will bring. I want to write another book. It will require a lot of research and work. Will I be able to finish this?
So, my suggestion is, if you can retire from a financial point of view, even before 65 (or whatever) DO IT.
You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to make the most of those golden years while you can. It isn't just dying that may be the future problem.
So now I fill my days with an enjoyable and deliberate mix of brain activity (research, writing, playing a musical instrument) and physical exertion for at least an hour a day, not to mention a full life with my family.

[Vindec]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

I bought a campervan and toured Europe spending months away at a time with my wife. That, coupled with learning a language that I was able to put to good use on my travels, was therapeutic and helped keep my brain and body active. That coupled with other travel kept me busy for a while but walking is now my main pastime. However, I've noticed that if I relax for a few days with no exercise it is difficult to get going again. So my advice is to keep active but to posters who dread retirement........................ don't. You have to retire sometime and it is better to do it while you are fit enough to enjoy yourself.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

I bought a campervan and toured Europe spending months away at a time with my wife. That, coupled with learning a language that I was able to put to good use on my travels, was therapeutic and helped keep my brain and body active. That coupled with other travel kept me busy for a while but walking is now my main pastime. However, I've noticed that if I relax for a few days with no exercise it is difficult to get going again. So my advice is to keep active but to posters who dread retirement........................ don't. You have to retire sometime and it is better to do it while you are fit enough to enjoy yourself.

The irony is that if one doesnt have any health problems it's a golden opportunity to get fitter than when one was working.

[Once U shop, U can't stop]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

If you enjoy your work, then crack on.

Doing your job, there is no way you will be working at it in twenty years time - no way!
Yer body is already on the ropes, mush

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

I have an amusing schedule on days that I am not walking: I lie in bed listening to Radio 4 until 9am and tell myself that I shouldn't eat until after I have gone for a jog (which doesn't come easy to me!). It's a case of my laziness v my hunger and I tend to put off the jog until around 11am but do jobs around the house until then. Reluctantly, I eventually schlepp my less than lithe figure around the very large park behind my house in order to allow myself to partake of comestibles.

[Pearcey3]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

I decided to retire early and am leaving my company at the end of April aged 58. Just reached a stage where the hassle of my job is making me so miserable. Life is too short. I have reasonable pensions and my wife is nine years younger so will carry on working. We will have enough for a reasonable lifestyle. .

In retirement I walk the dog every day and also do a 5k run each day. I will do the household chores and cook the evening meal. That’s enough to keep me going.

[Brian]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

This is a really useful thread - as was the previous one.

I've agonised for years over retiring and was adamant that last winter (my busy period) was going to be my last and I couldn't go through another one as it was affecting my health both mentally and physically.

But the summer came, things got easier, the work days shorter and I had exactly the same thoughts as posted earlier - I have a fear that on the outside I'm a driven, organised, respected, self employed (with two sub contractors) business owner of 25 years but inside I'm a lazy slob that would go to seed and argue with the Mrs, who I generally get on with as it is. I bottled it and ended up sliding into the winter, but did tweak the business a bit and gave more of my work away to one subby but still not sure it's enough.

I think ideally I could do with a 3 month career break but also think that could wreck my business.

[dml1954]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

Work to live, not live to work is the old adage and it is very true. For every person that I know that has gone downhill after retiring, there are a number more who have carried on and basically finished themselves off. As you get into your sixties and seventies your body and mind naturally ages, slows down and becomes unable to deal fully with the stresses and strains of normal working life. Whats the point of carrying on working if you don't need to ? Enjoy yourself more and find something else to do with your time. As my old mother used to say - you are a long time dead.

[poc]

Re: Retirement like to see your opinions

its not easy at first