Aibu Retiring at 55 - 30 years of idleness?

I’m currently 53 and a stay at home parent to our almost 12 year old who is out of school due to additional needs. Hubby is 48 and plans to retire at 50. He won’t fully retire but will pick up some consultancy work that he can pick and choose rather than be tied to a job. That is a choice rather than necessity though. We have lots of travel planned when he does retire and we can get some much needed time together.
we were saying the other day about retirement age because so many people work until late 60’s early 70’s they often don’t have the physical ability to go and enjoy travel like you would in your 50’s.
we are in an incredibly fortunate position that we will be on the same income level when he stops work and then higher income once able to draw pensions so we have the financial ability to really enjoy retirement. Obviously for most pensioners money is limited which therefore limits opportunities and life could be boring, but each to their own, what’s one persons boring is another’s dream.
we talked about when you retire around 70 you don’t tend to start up hobbies or interests whereas I think you’re more likely to in your 50’s.

I am so sorry for your mother's illness.

I agree with this, my DM’s started showing signs around the age of 66 but now with more knowledge when I look back I realise her stopping doing her favourite activities, ;(swimming, sudoku, interest in the stock market, yoga, socialising, travelling the world, trying new recipes) combined with changes in her personality from her very early 60’s were the very start of it.

Since I retired I have stayed friends with a few of the people I worked with over the years. I love meeting up with them but the most boring thing we ever talk about is the place of work we shared. If they are still working at the same place they assume I'm still interested in the goings on there. The talk about the politics, the 'he said' 'she said', the 'remember Terry, he's still doing that same thing where.......' and the 'the latest project is a nightmare' stuff only serves to make me 100% relieved I'm retired.

I don't know why the don't think it's boring to me.
Perhaps they find me boring because I don't want to hear the office politics.

@Scotsknowbest I haven’t stopped being interested in political issue or scientific advances or other social issues because I’m retired. I could absolutely contribute to the discussions you mention. And what with retirees living in the world like everyone else I might well have some examples of my own to add or things to relate it to.

no and my apologies for offending. Its just that I have dealt with many people with Alzheimers and its very common for families to believe that a loved one would not have it if they had stayed more mentally active, when in fact, the fact that they didn't was an early diagnostic pointer to something's being wrong.

me too, but my sense of purpose is about ME and what I WANT and I can do what will take me there as slowly or as quickly as I choose.

What do you think has made your friends boring? Why are they less interesting to you now than when they were working?

You could do retirement differently from them.

My husband retired at 53, he lasted six months and then went back into a full time position. He is so much happier now. I’ve reduced my hours and that for me is perfect. Retirement is not something I’m looking at doing for many years. My friends who have retired have become so boring and I really don’t want to be like them.

With respect, you didn't know him and you weren't there.

Wow !

I sold a business I'd created 18 yrs earlier. My husband still works, but I cleared the mortgage and have enough to pay myself a similar salary until I'm 60. Hopefully the money I have invested will increase so I'll have small payrises too. It was never my intention to retire so early, but lockdown wasn't kind to my mental health and I worked so many hours when my children were little, I love being so available to them now. Just because they got older doesn't mean they needed me less.

Maybe it’s reaction to the aggressive behaviour they are getting from others? I don’t know. I was just saying more people had covid than know they had it.

Lots of people I saw retire early 10-15 years ago have had to go back to some sort of work. What felt like a generous pension 15 years ago didn’t take long to become not enough- at least not enough if you need to afford to replace your kitchen or go on holiday or do anything other than watch daytime television.

I honestly believe most under 50 now won’t be able to afford to retire even when they get to retirement age. I can’t see myself retiring ever. My hope is that I can go part-time enough to enjoy other things. And I’m lucky in that my job is not physically demanding. The way AI is going though some of us won’t even have jobs. It’s grim enough to give me nightmares.

I’d suspect working in the City and not splurging. Part of me wishes I’d stuck it out for a few more years as then I could retire at 42.

And I know people the same with weekly test you never showed positive. Didn't stop them getting attitude

I had plenty of tests. Not one positive.

How could you afford to retire at 42-lottery win? Inheritance?

I’m 40 and if I could retire today I would.

There are so many things I could be doing with my time: spending quality time with family and friends, helping my parents, having more time and energy to invest in my children, voluntary and community work in which I can make a difference, making my own clothes, keeping on top of housework (including having a full clear out of my house) etc.

With the cost of our mortgage and cost of living I will not likely retire until I’m in my 70’s.

I remember an elderly man saying that to me. He added “and I’m now in the third phase. I recognise it and I don’t like it”.

I reckon most people were infected but some showed more symptoms than others. I know people who were in jobs which required weekly testing who tested positive with no symptoms at all.

Are they happy or have they just had enough?

I am mostly busy but at least now I can choose what I do. And if that's nothing...bliss!

Blimey that’s a scary read!