Celebrating retirement lockdown

[Topaz67]

DH will leaves work next month (not technically retiring but no job to go to) He’s worked for the company for over 40, longer than his manager has been alive! I’m hoping that they will organise something even if it’s a Zoom call to say good bye. Ordinarily we would have gone to London, company would have put a lot of money behind the bar, we would have stayed in a hotel etc etc.

Just wondered if you or your DP have retired in the last 12 months and what you did to mark the occasion. We have 2 DS who are at school and college and I’m still working so at least we don’t have the disappointment of not being able just to take off on our travels. It’s at least 5 years away. Finally, DS1 goes into hospital the day before DH retires for a planned operation. I guess we delay everything until the summer?

[zizza]

Sorry to see your didn't get any response. Did you manage to celebrate his retirement? And I hope your son's op went ok.

I stumbled across your message as my DH is retiring in July. He's 7 years older than me and I'm carrying on working full-time for the next few years I should think (we still need my income even though his pension's decent). He's finally had enough of working really having been full-time since uni! I shouldn't think he'll get much of a send-off with everyone working from home so I'm going to try to make a bit of a thing of it with my children (all in their 20s)

[ICouldHaveCheckedFirst]

DH and I both retired during the first lockdown, both public sector. Both had a "presentation" over Zoom. In normal times, mine would have been done in person, with a buffet laid on for all staff, former colleagues invited etc, a card and collection. Any drinks do would have been up to me to organise, at my expense (I wouldn't have bothered!).
DH also had a "presentation" over Zoom. He has just been to his retirement dinner with his former team: it's the first time the team had met in person since March 2020!

Hope your son's op went OK.

[Topaz67]

Thanks so much for thinking of me. The op went well and DS is now loafing about full time. bring on the A level results, that should make him focus! In the end DH had a great send off with 4 lovely gifts experiences. It has meant a lot of time on the phone trying to organise things but it will be worth it. I know that he’s still like to do drinks with his colleagues but no one is back in the office so that’s not going to happen in a hurry. The adjustment to retirement is still happening and Covid doesn’t help. The reality is that I’m at work most of the time, our youngest DS still needs a lift hime from school (so we can’t venture too far on one of my rare days off) and most of life at the moment is dull repetitive tasks. It’s not been easy but school holidays and better weather will help. “Adjustment” is the key word, for both of us.