Warning: this post may cause a little envy… but only a tiny bit 😏

I’m a feminist and had a great career (and children who somehow thrived academically and emotionally with a little input from me).
Now I’ve retired I can potter for England and generally do what I want when I want - slightly curtailed by grown up children who now live nearby (despite leaving the area for uni/first jobs etc) …. the big difference is we now have GC and spend massive amounts of time with them which is absolutely wonderful now (but would have probably driven me up the wall when I was in my 20s and 30s) How I’ve changed!!

I can’t think of anything worse than believing that paid employment is your only purpose in life. I mean, I completely understand not wanting to sit in an armchair and rot away until you die, but surely there’s something more in your life than work? Something that grabs at you and fills you with excitement?

Due to a combination of bastard circumstances and some unwise life choices I made 30 odd years ago, I can’t envisage ever being in a position to retire but if I had a lottery win, I’d be cartwheeling out the door to enjoy every single minute of life.

if your parents are that financially savvy, as we are, they will be ensuring that you and any siblings are well taken care of so don’t feel too sorry for yourselves.

I am older, akways thought I would carry on working well into my 70s in a self employed job I loved, selling art in our high street gallery. But, downturn in high street footfall forced a closure and have now not worked for 7 years. Absolutlely love it. Kept busy with activities, family, occassional holidays, not as many as I thought we would take, but well up on when we were working. We take longer to do any tasks, but enjoy them more. We are in the process of buying a car, and its a luxury to be able to take our time, take several different models for test drives, read up and watch youtubes on all our short list. I think if we had stopped working in our 50s we would have found it more difficult, but then, I enjoyed my work.

I'm 56 and I would absolutely hate to be unemployed.

In fact I don't even plan to retire until my 70s because I love my job, although I'm sure that would change if my health took a nosedive.

The vitriol is plain old resentment.

I'm 55 and could do bugger all other than housework if I wanted to. 1 adult DC and 1 soon to be adult. Don't work and haven't for 19 years ( did previously work for 18 years in finance )

I'm an elected local councillor, a community volunteer and am also on the committee of a WI so actually get very little time to do nothing!

I much prefer being busy. I struggled for a couple of years when the kids started to no longer need me as much and I hadn't yet found something else to do with my time. ( I gave up trying to find a job - no one wanted me!) I did get quite down in the dumps for a while.

That’s totally different - you still work 3 days a week.

Sounds a lovely life! I look forward to not getting up every day and straight away logging on to my laptop, instead going to the gym, walking, spending more time with my parents (87), meeting friends, shopping when it’s quiet. Just doing ME! Not a job

Mid 40s, no kids, left job earlier this year. Don’t need to work again. Thought I would work - enjoying not working more than I thought. I go to the gym, coffee, shopping….

Damn so a child dying of cancer isn’t worse? 🫨

My parents are in their 60s. Both retired but do a couple of days a week paid work, one at their old employer, one in an entirely different, much less technical role. They do some childcare for a grandchild but still realistically have 4 days a week free each and seem very happy - lots of hobbies, still very active, my mum has always volunteered in various capacities but more so now, and a few holidays a year. They worked hard and invested wisely, but also acknowledge the luck of their generation and that it’s unlikely their children will enjoy a comparable retirement!

I'm late 50's dont need to work, no real obligations, pretty happy & no problems filling my time.

I don’t feel guilty, but I don’t revel in it either. Things happened that led me to this way of life and it just is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m 65, do a little contract work from home, but apart from that (and I mostly decide myself how to schedule it), my time is my own. I usually get up late, do NYT puzzles and/or the Guardian crossword, shop if I need to, walk to the gym and do a couple of hours, go to a concert, theatre or opera, eat late while watching a bit of TV, and then sleep like the dead. It’s payback after years of 60+ hour weeks and one-day weekends. I’m in the (slow) process of moving at the moment, so most days I take a few bits and pieces from my old place to my new home. In between, I catch up with family and friends, go to WI, Labour Party and union meetings and a book group, go for long walks, and explore the city. I haven’t yet been bored.

Does anyone in their 50s exist whose kids are grown, who doesn’t work full-time, and literally has days completely free of obligations?
I retired in my late 50s and I know many people who also retired in their 50s . But I don’t know any who are completely obligation free. Lots of juggling care for elderly parents and helping out with grandchilden, and almost all have some voluntary commitments.

I’m genuinely curious: is it as boring as it sounds, or actually a little paradise?
it’s only boring if you allow it to be. After decades of juggling corporate and home demanda, often at odds with each other, it’s definitely a little bit of paradise. But I’ve still got family demands on my time, volunteer a couple of hours a week, and have various hobbies .

I've worked all of my life; from 16 - 45. I would hate not to work and feel it is my duty to contribute financially, alongside my husband, to support my family and to society. I would also get bored after a while and need the mental challenge my role provides.
Retirement as one gets older is of course a different matter.
As a feminist I am also aware of the huge sacrifices made to allow women to be able to work and therefore not to feel the need to be financially reliant which again, is incredibly important. I don't buy into the "I'm a woman so I have a choice not to work" unless I am happy for men to have that exact same choice.

Me! I'm 56.
Was made redundant 11 years ago which coincided with my disabled daughter needing more support, so I was her carer for 10 years.
Now she's in supported accommodation and DH (60) has taken early retirement, so we're out at the gym, walking on the beach, gardening, decorating, volunteering at an animal rescue and enjoying our hobbies. Still have 16YO at school though, so not entirely free.

I’m mid 40’s and work 3 days a week, self employed.
My days are easily filled with hobbies, keeping fit, training my dog and doing his sports. I’m extremely happy. I’d happily not work at all, but I need some money to pay for my free time.

You really don’t understand that being occupied doesn’t have to involve employment don’t you 🤣
being a functioning member of society doesn’t just mean working in a job.

Me! Currently a year 0 undergraduate studying a foundation year of a four year BA degree. I live within walking distance of the campus and still have time to volunteer at a local charity as a stylist on regular basis, usually once a month. I have a lot less money but am happy (as is my retired husband who’s also studying two days a week). We have no regrets on taking early retirement.

I guess I fit that description.
I am 51. Stopped working a few years ago after my MH crashed..
Children all adults and left home although two have come home to live this year. They don’t need me though, do their own washing etc.
I see and hear “angels”. They talk to me constantly, through the tv, through headphones. They wake me up. They tell me to do bad things.
I don’t leave the house apart from for appointments. My family are wary of me, they know the angels missions mean I’m a danger to them.
My parents visit occasionally. Otherwise I only ever see my husband and children. I no longer have any friends or colleagues.
I do housework a bit but there’s little point. I wash clothes and do the dishwasher, I sweep the floor. The house needs so much work but my husband brings in a low wage and I get a tiny bit of UC and some PIP. So it’s in need of renovating but we haven’t the finances. We are still paying a mortgage, he is 64 and tired of his job.
Our front door doesn’t shut, it’s too warped. The internal one does though. Our back doors don’t lock. Our carpets are full of holes. Woodwork is old and chipped. Bathroom and kitchen need replacing, windows need going. The guttering leaks and causes damp.
So no, it’s not fun, it’s just sad.

have you moved on from student union politics? This is the type of batshit thing I would have said at 19

a contribution to society is not measured in taxable allowance

now I am a grown up I realise that economic activity is not the benchmark for contribution, and in my local area- so many initiatives are running on the goodwill of these ‘economically inactive’ people

It can if you tax plan well in advance and max out your ISA allowance in Stocks n Shares ISA’s

My DH and I worked very hard throughout our lives. The children are grown up and married. We have lots of time for our DGC. I knew when I was 13 that I was not going to work until retirement age. I made that decision. I do not draw my pension, my husband does, I am not on any benefits, I am in excellent health. I am mortgage free. We have inherited nothing. We do actually still pay tax, we have a partnership, which I manage and which generates an income.

There is so much to do in the day as PP said. Cooking, reading, knitting, gardening, walking the dog, swimming, relaxing, ironing, I could go on.
I am sure many would consider all of the above soul destroying, whereas to me they are nurturing and healing.

I have had worked full time, since the age of 17. I stopped full time work at 42. I am not lazy.

I compare my working life to my life now and without question my life is better now. Freedom!