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

No, of course I don't think those things - I am in the real world, having left school at 16 and worked full time for many years in low-paid and fairly unskilled jobs until I became a full-time mum to twins. I don't know what your point is. I was trying to say to the OP that lounging around all day is not necessarily the great life it may seem, as I found out when my DC stopped needing me so much. At which time I re-trained and then started a business doing something I'm good at and which helps people, which is satisfying.

Rubbish! I’m retired at 55. Worked full time since 16 and have paid taxes. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my life with no work stress and doing as I please. It’s the best feeling in the world waking up to a day stretching ahead where you can absolutely do as you wish. No shame. No regrets here.

The 'retired' contribute heavily towards the £170 Billion in VAT collected last year - on top of decades of paying income tax and NI. No guilt here; not worked for 7 years and lovin it!

Not necessarily. You can draw your pension up to maximum salary before tax plus take 25% tax free on top monthly. Plus a person could have pots of savings to use as they wish.

I don't think being bored in the sense a child might use the word (literally not knowing what to do with the current short block of time and being unhappy about it) is an issue for averagely resourceful adults.
It's likely a more existential long term groundhog day sense of "is this all there is?" if you retire and don't take on a new unpaid "job" (like a hefty volunteer commitment which really is a genuine commitment, not something you cancel when you just don't feel like it) while still fairly young but without above average financial resources to do lots of travel or be deeply invested in a big way in time demanding hobby or set up some other exciting venture.

Most adults could fill their days without being bored moment to moment, but after a year or five years of "pottering" whilst still only mid fifties, the prospect of that being "all there is now" is just existentially unfulfilling to many people.

There are plenty of ways to live a fulfilling life without paid work, but it generally still involves working in the wider sense - not for money, but doing something with purpose beyond filling time by stretching out little personal domestic routines and pass-times you used to fit into an hour in the evening. People who are unwell might have no choice but to live that way, but that doesn't mean they want to, they have to.

Retiring whilst still young and healthy intending just to potter rather than actually do something does sound unfulfilling after the novelty wears off. I think boring is shorthand for all that, not lack of imagination/ inner resources.

I disagree 😏

I think you hit a raw nerve with this comment @arcticpandas 😆 IME is it true though.

This is me. Almost 60, and haven't worked since the pandemic. (So, I was 54 last time I worked.) I don't claim any benefits and have a savings account that has an amount in the mid 5 figures. I also have a small private income. DH still works and earns quite well, and we have no mortgage. No DC at home (both grown and independent/own home.)

So we have low outgoings and a decent income. DH doesn't resent me not working, but wishes he could finish work too. He will very likely do so in a couple of years though - 3 or so years earlier than the 'state retirement age.'

I worked for almost 40 years, half of that in a high-earning job, and I paid plenty of bloody tax thank you very much (to the ones implying that it's a disgrace to not be a taxpayer.) 🙄

I am never EVER bored.

I spend time in the garden, I love the garden. It's a big corner plot and keeps me very busy from March to October.

I go for walks 4-5 times a week (rural, countryside areas near the river and the canal, and miles and miles of fields and woodlands.)

I am an amateur photographer, and spend a few hours a week taking photos.

I am interested in the sky at night, and love astronomy (and have a telescope,)

I like to go birdwatching.

I enjoy swimming - I go 4-6 times a month, and occasionally wild swimming.

I read (books) and I write (stories.)

I go for drives to the beach, or a city, or nature reserve, or I meet up with my adult DC, or a friend.

I attend an art group in my village once a week.

Some of the stuff I do with DH, but sometimes on my own. Depends if he's working. A few of the things I do with friends or adult DC.

If I have my way, I will never ever work again. (Doubt I will need to.) And I am not doing volunteer work either. I am far too busy with my hobbies and interests, and my social life. I also have no grandchildren yet. I'm sure I will find the time to help my DC when/if they have children, (they have no plans to anytime soon,) but right now, I would struggle to fit in looking after any grandchildren.

I do know a couple of women who live near me, (close to my age,) who are have to work, and are extremely puzzled and very annoyed that I have not worked since I was 54, and 'cannot fathom' how I can do this, and how I managed to retire at 54! One of them has asked outright where I get my income from, and I have told her I don't wish to discuss private financial matters. Nosey mare! 😆

But yeah, whilst some people just can't imagine 'not working' there are some others who work and don't want to - but have to, who are deeply resentful of people who retired in their early-mid 50s (or younger!) I don't 'fear judgement' from people. IDGAF what they think. 😆

I find it bizarre that some people would be bored, and are 'dreading retirement.' Open your mind a bit, there's LOADS of stuff you can do. Stuff that is certainly much more fun that working for the man!

As @arcticpandas said, as that old saying goes.. 'Only boring people get bored!'

@arcticpandas

But there are so many things to do except working!!! As my mum used to say: only boring people get bored!

With respect the "only boring people get bored" is patronising, simplistic nonsense. It's very easy to be bored for reasons beyond your control: feeling trapped due to circumstances such as an unstimulating job, neurodiversity, an unsatisfactory marriage or partnership, living in an area which doesn't provide much stimulation, lack of friends, lack of money. All the needlework and volunteering in the world won't change a feeling of emptiness if your world doesn't feel right.

There certainly are many things to do except working and all power to people who find good things to do in retirement.

But I love working. My work is not perfect but overall working provides a focus, a social element to my day, great friendships, keeps me plugged and keeps me learning.

It's very unfashionable on Mumsnet to enjoy working: people usually are quick to tell you you must be a corporate automaton with no life if you like your job but I don't care. I would far rather work than be retired.

But there are so many things to do except working!!! As my mum used to say: only boring people get bored!

Hello fellow carer. Mine is 15 but I can't see any changes in the future. I try to reframe things in my mind thinking about all the time I have got instead of money:)

I don't work. I've got a degree and I feel useful because I'm home for my autistic teen who needs me. I read and learn much more than I would do working (depends on the job ofcourse but generally speaking). Do you think everyone who works has a degree? Or that their work is intellectually stimulating? I used to be a social worker which did give me a sense of purpose but it was also heartbreaking.

Everyone pays taxes whether they're working or not. The things you buy every day don't suddenly become VAT-free when you retire, you know. You pay plenty of tax every time you buy most things. Most people pay council tax, car tax etc, and various other taxes, duties and fees for public services.

I also find it a bit odd that people think they wouldn't have a 'purpose' if they didn't work. Surely there must be other things in your life that make your existence worthwhile? Family? Lovers? Hobbies? Just the general joy of living?

TBF I think most people (including me) are "tipping up" because how they wrote it was really judgemental

I'm totally with you (but I knew lots of people would tip up to tell you you were mad).

Not particularly because of the tax system but because I hate being bored. I can't think of anything worse than retirement.

Me and I'm 54.

I can’t edit my post but reading it back, my life sounds quite boring and I won’t deny that on occasion I do get a bit bored but I do manage to fill my days.

I meet friends for coffee or lunch, have a weekly class I go to and in the summer, I enjoy spending time in my garden.

I don’t get state pension for another 6 years but I can access my work pension sooner than that, should I need to.

Both DH's DB and DSis did practically nothing for a long time before they were 50 - didn't work, DCs were grown or almost there, didn't help with their DPs. Not exactly sure what they did with their time but were always "too busy".

you can’t tax plan your pension if it is a good company pension, (defined benefit), or at least you would be very foolish to take your money out and rely on stocks and shares.
I retired at 55 and still pay lots of tax.

I stopped work 6 years ago when I was 55 and we moved 200 miles from our previous home, just a few months before Covid.

I fill my days with various things; walking, taking care of our home, generally potting about and we do GC care weekly and during school holidays. I also visit my DM every 6 weeks or so for a few days at a time and now DH is retired, we have days out together, sometimes just lunch or a coffee out whilst shopping, we go on city breaks or a longer holiday. I read a lot and watch a bit of telly.

Financially, we’re in a very fortunate position, no mortgage, running our home isn’t too expensive, we have investments and my DH’s pension easily provides for us both, although I have a comfortable amount of savings for my personal expenses.

I took early retirement in my 50s from my very stressful and full-on job because I didn't want to die in harness, so to speak, and I thought that was a real possibility if I continued into my 60s.
I got an immediate occupational pension, also a decent redundancy payment from my employer (there was a general redundancy offer going so I took it.)
I was burning out and had had enough.
DH retired when he hit 60 and I don't think either of us has regretted it for a second.
Actually life was still quite full on as my late Mum had dementia and needed a lot of care but she went into a nursing home after a few years so that made it a bit easier. And being retired we had the time to visit most days.
These days I swim, DH gardens, we keep up with old friends and colleagues, go away quite a lot and enjoy life very much.

You can take whatever you like out of savings, ISAs etc without paying tax on it

My paid income is c£24k (usual income tax), I then draw dividends of c£15k from my business (dividend tax) and top up any spending from my savings - zero tax on that. I don't need to draw my pension yet, so I am still putting more in there each year for tax efficiency. If my business makes enough money, I try to put in c£10k pa, and through my employed job my pension contributions are about £2k pa.

I'm 5O and an unpaid carer to severely disabled son.
I stay at home but work 24/7.
Does that count?

Sure are, now my two are grown adults I have never felt so free.

Part of me would love to retire at 50, but so many people I know that retired young and are now in their 70s just seem so much older than those who still work or those who worked up to mid 60s. Given average life expectancy of around 82 years - that would be over 30 years not working! I've seen too many people just slow right down, and hear them talking about how busy they are because they went to the shops and had lunch with a friend.