Aibu Retiring at 55 - 30 years of idleness?

My grandad retired in his early fifties due to a heart attack and went on to live almost another half century.

I'm working towards retiring in my early fifties, balancing that with being more available for my son whilst he's young and enjoying his childhood.

I've had several periods of being out of work and have worked part time (career break, between jobs, mat leave) and have never had the slightest problem occupying myself.

Work just doesn't hold any value status to me that I couldn't get myself - social, intellectual. Once I don't need it for money, I won't need it for the rest either.

Some have upped their golf or tennis, some are focusing on the garden (what, every day?)

Work, what, every day?

How can you not think of things to do in retirement, I have hobbies that I can't wait to spend more time on, and not be woken by an alarm, or be tied to work hours
Holidays when I want them, studying things I am curious about, going swimming, more hiking, more books, cinema in the daytime, museums whenever, where ever, see family when I want, visit towns and cities at cheaper times, so much to do
I plan on retiring at 60 but sooner if I can, and am in my fifties

I am still not sure about the motivation for your post

I think it's really sad when people can't imagine life without work. They must be incredibly boring people. I could be unemployed and still not have enough time to do everything I want to do! Good on your friends for living life for themselves not for an employer.

Following with interest. My pension figures look like I could retire at 55. Ie in 10 years. Have been thinking a lot recently about what I actually want to do with my life!

I just think they will become so boring!
I don't understand how work makes you interesting. I guess it depends what you do but my office work makes me more boring I'm sure. I'd love to retire then. I'm 40 and I'd retire now if I could!

Well my dad currently in his 80s worked 40 years for a company with a final salary pension scheme and retired mid 50s

Perhaps the reason you're finding retirement difficult to understand is that you're thinking about it only as stopping something that is your main source of purpose and meaning. Instead, retirement is best seen as a transition from something to something. Many people don't pay enough attention to setting up a post-retirement life that gives them any benefits they got from work (e.g. social contact, feeling useful, feeling skilled, being valued, achieving things...).

I probably didn't pay as much attention to this as I could have before retiring at 59 (too focused on leaving something toxic behind that was ruining my health & dominated most waking hours). However, I now write, record and arrange music, am learning to paint, am a school governor, am learning a language, travel more, have more time to help elderly parents and really value having more time for living well e.g. cooking healthily, keeping fit, pottering in the garden. It does need thought & planning though, to create a good retirement. It doesn't just happen.

@Scotsknowbest Aibu Retiring at 55 - 30 years of idleness?

Where did you get this magical crystal ball that told you that you will live until 85? That's a very ambitious life expectancy and most people don't live that long.

Whenever I read about deaths in the news, I would say that deaths under the age of 70 are far more frequent than over 70.

I’m sure those too wealthy to work manage just fine ! It’s just socially instilled in the working classes that to live is to work. If you can’t think of better things to do than work then you’re lacking in imagination ( or money!)

You're heavily judging their choices, by referring to their retirement activities as 'idleness' in the title - I suspect they see their days as very enjoyable r&r, with leisure activities they have looked forward to for years...

It's one thing to be concerned that they may get bored (tho thats really something they can easily address, if it becomes an issue..), but your "I just think they will become so boring!", seems a bit as tho You're worried they won't offer YOU sufficient entertainment! If so, find some new, working mates - problem solved!

I am 62 and retired a month ago. My passion is gardening (what every day?! Well yes most because I have a large garden and I enjoy it!) but I also sew, paint, sing in a choir (for which I’m also Treasurer) as well as the usual stuff like seeing friends and family and attending theatre and talks etc. Does that make me boring? I would hope not….

not having work take up headspace has been amazing though.

I guess we’re all different!

It’s not necessary to be in work or join an organisation to have a purpose. You can invite a friend who’s upset for lunch and listen to them, you can offer someone a lift to the hospital, you can babysit, you can help a friend in their garden. The thing is this sort of thing isn’t publicly recognised but why does that matter, it doesn’t stop it being a purpose. You can also study something for interest without going after a qualification.

I think either you are someone who gets bored easily or you're not. I'm in a corporate senior-ish role and hoping to retire at 57 in a few years time, if all goes to plan (bloody Trump and his war is affecting my pension pot at the min!).

I have no grand ambitions for my retirement - we have an old house that always needs stuff doing, so I will aim to improve my DIY and gardening skills, I will go to yoga and maybe start another sport type thing. I might start a little sideline dogsitting or walking, nothing too full on. I will read, and read, and read, and do jigsaws, and catch up with friends, and go for walks in the countryside, I would like to learn to play the piano, and I will keep house and cook DH's tea every night, and just potter about doing allll the things that I've not had the time to do in 40 years of work (left school at 16, never went to Uni, never had a career break, never had maternity leave as no DCs).

Hopefully travel will feature somewhere but not 'big' travel as such, we've seen quite a bit of the world already, and DH will still be working for a while as he's younger than me. I do already and will continue to do solo trips.

I can't bloody wait! I think as long as you keep active and connected to community, actual 'work' is overrated. But then I don't love my job and never have, it's something I do to earn enough money to pay the bills and have a decent lifestyle.

Early 40's and I would retire tomorrow if I could. I would find plenty of things to keep myself entertained and wouldn't give a fuck if anyone thought any of it was boring.

I am exactly the same.

Probably too busy with their very important job @loveawineloveacrisp .I am also with you @Pennyfan These sort of posts always bring out the competitive retirees. I am happy to admit to being largely idle in retirement and probably spending too much time on MN. My sympathies to all those on this thread forced to keep on working. May you be retirees soon and of course do exactly as you please.

I wouldn’t be retiring either in your position, that sounds like a nice balance. But for someone who has worked 5 days a week in a demanding job for 30+ years, either manual or non-manual, they are likely to want a rest and to devote time to life on their own terms.
I think a lot also depends on if you worked part time or had a break at any time in your career. Working 4 days a week means you get 50% more rest time which makes a massive difference to your energy levels.
As long as they are then not claiming any money from anyone else, let them do as they like and free up space in the workforce for younger people…

God, it's the dream to be able to afford to retire at 55. The opportunity to travel more widely/longer trips; study more (for pleasure); pick up a course to go back to painting; get fitter/swim more; do some home improvements. Just because I would like to give up working, it wouldn't mean I wouldn't exercise my brain, and body.
Unless I can marry money, I'll be working until 67. Or longer, if they change the pensionable age again. (All dependent on being able to afford to live on an HE pension.....)

Love this, you’ve been sat on a PCC meeting recently haven’t you?!

I couldn’t retire so early. I need purpose in my life. Whether that’s a job I feel fulfilled by or a volunteer role that means I’m contributing to society. I couldn’t live for 30 years without doing either.

DH and I are hoping that a big investment of ours will pay off in our 50’s meaning we won’t have to work. He will still farm. I would do a lot more volunteering. Neither of us would just travel and enjoy our family - we’d do that as well.

I can retire at 50 from the police but realistically it is better for my pension to go at 55 now that they’ve meddled with them. I may get a part time job doing something totally different but I could also fill my days with gym, wild swimming, hiking, travelling, I don’t I tend doing anything stressy, I can’t wait!

I was thinking that🤔

Spot on.

I agree. Although I'm fully retired 12 years now (early retirement also OMG), I've never felt the need to be "busy" all the time after my last day at work. I love life now, I can do nothing or lots things (that's rare ha ha).

Without wishing to judge anyone, I'm getting a feeling that those who constantly need to be busy and doing things may not be happy in their own company and try to keep busy to block out other things going on in their lives. Which is fair enough, but not everyone is like that!

i do think it helps to carry on if you really enjoy your job, many don’t though and hence the rush for early retirement -