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Original poster

to think some retired people completely forget what it’s like to be working full time?

509 replies

cupofcup · 20/05/2026 11:02

I know retirement is not always easy and older people can have health issues, caring responsibilities etc. But I do think some people genuinely forget what it is like to juggle work, commuting, childcare, housework and just basic life admin all at once.

My DM is retired and will often say how busy she is because she has shopping on Tuesday and a doctor’s appointment on Friday. That is apparently an exhausting week. She is in good health and active. Meanwhile most working people are fitting those things around 40+ hour working weeks.

My retired neighbour constantly comments on how awful another neighbour’s garden looks and how she should tidy it up. The neighbour she is talking about is a working mum with young children who leaves the house at 7am every day. My retired neighbour has a gardener.

Obviously NOT ALL retired people are like this at all. Some are incredibly understanding and helpful. But others seem to completely lose perspective on how relentless working life can be, especially with children.

OP posts:
Tshirtking · 20/05/2026 11:15

I think you need to hold your judgement untill you retire. At the moment you have no idea what it feels like to age at that stage in life .

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/05/2026 11:15

Chamb · 20/05/2026 11:10

Yeah, we only do it to piss you off. One of the manifold perks of retirement. Older people don't exist to be 'understanding and helpful'. Some of us like to be selfish and infuriating after 40-odd years of captivity.

But do you not have any sympathy for those still in that captivity?

You personally, I mean.

Original poster
cupofcup · 20/05/2026 11:14

Sartre · 20/05/2026 11:13

I know what you mean. It isn’t just retired people though, it can just be anyone without a FT job tbh. Our NDN are way too invested in what most of the street gets up to. They do work but it’s a dog walking business so they’re at home a lot and it gives them too much time to ruminate on absolute bullshit.

This is true. Another one of my retired neighbours watches what time I start and leave work and comments if I was early and late.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/05/2026 11:14

I think this is definitely true of some people.

coulditbeme2323 · 20/05/2026 11:14

I don't work, but have 3 kids which is a full time job.

I speak to my Mum bless and she is like "I am so tired I went out for lunch with Laura and then had to the garden center."

Sartre · 20/05/2026 11:13

I know what you mean. It isn’t just retired people though, it can just be anyone without a FT job tbh. Our NDN are way too invested in what most of the street gets up to. They do work but it’s a dog walking business so they’re at home a lot and it gives them too much time to ruminate on absolute bullshit.

Chamb · 20/05/2026 11:10

Yeah, we only do it to piss you off. One of the manifold perks of retirement. Older people don't exist to be 'understanding and helpful'. Some of us like to be selfish and infuriating after 40-odd years of captivity.

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 20/05/2026 11:07

Yes I absolutely agree with you. However, what you don't know yet (and I really hope you live long enough to find out) is what it's like to be getting old and to know, deep down, that you are really mostly looking at decline and death and increasing irrelevance. So finding things to get het up about occupies the soul and many, many people just don't have the insight into their own psychology to know that that's what they're doing.
Sadly.

goldenhunter · 20/05/2026 11:06

Yes, in some cases. But I think that’s true when you step out of any situation. I WFH full time now, and when I do a couple of in person office days in a week I feel absolutely floored and can’t fathom how people do it all the time!! But it doesn’t register with me day to day how different my colleagues days are to mine the rest of the time because I’m outside of that world now. Ditto the realities of having a newborn.