To wonder what retirees do on a grey, wet Tuesday morning

I spent the last three years of my working life planning retirement. I realised I wanted to be healthy enough to enjoy retired life, so started by losing a lot of weight.

Things I do on a weekly basis, pilates, adult ballet and pickleball. I also have two different groups of friends that I catch up with. A basic catch up takes 3-4 hours minimum. I also walk every day.

Currently I'm also looking for a group where I can learn to play Mahjong before an upcoming trip to China.

This is apart from the usual things like sorting out the house, cooking, watching TV or streaming and reading. I also spend a lot of time planning out trips. Trying to do further away and more exotic places before I get 'too old'. We regularly go to shows or out for lunch/dinner.

Many people retire to get away from work and then get to that point and have no idea what to do. I wanted to have a good plan so That I'd be retiring with a good sized list of things I wanted to do. So far, so good.

Go to David Lloyd. Always plenty going on there. Classes, gym, swimming, tennis, padel, sauna, jacuzzi etc

Lots of retirees in my cycling club - they often do their big rides during the week as once rush hour is over the roads are much quieter than at the weekend. A damp and grey Tuesday certainly wouldn’t put them off.

I'm longing for a grey wet any day of the week currently, OP! I live in London and the weather has been hot/too hot for weeks. In fact, the heat stops me doing lots of stuff, as I hate it.

I'm retired, and generally I meet friends for coffee, go to choir, book group, exercise, go to Pilates, read, bake cakes, clean the house, declutter, go to the cinema, theatre, museums or galleries (live in London).

Pilates for me! On the Reformer machine. Then I might go for a walk on the beach near the Pilates studio, then maybe go to the nearby shops and have a mooch around. I might even knock myself out and have lunch somewhere.

I think it doesn't matter what I do though. I'm more than happy doing nothing, watching A Place In The Sun, reading my book, gardening. If you don't like these things then you'll find them boring and you'll be dissatisfied. Sometimes I just sit with my cat on my lap and that makes me very happy.

I’d fill my time no problem however my parents are a different story. Both retired and literally cannot get their shit together to do anything before noon. Getting dressed and making breakfast is bizarrely time consuming for them.

I'm still working but my DH did a master's in history, studied Arabic, did some family history, wrote articles for an amateur history journal. Went to the cinema. Did most of the housework. Met friends for coffee and chats. Etc

Sit and smile as I'm not at work.

Same as anyone else who isn't working. If I was healthy, I'd be able to think of millions of things to do-gym, meet friends for coffee, any kid of volunteer work.

Mind you, as a kid, I never got bored in school holidays!

I had this conversation with my DH this
morning. He is beyond retirement age but not
keen to retire any time soon. We decided we are
very good at doing what needs to be done but just doing anything for the hell of it seems absurd
to us. Think we are going to have to try hard to change our mindset.

I always think that people who can't picture how they would spend free time must have no hobbies, no passions, no friends or family, no desire to learn new things and no imagination.

We enjoy ourselves. We enjoy the pleasure of never having to deal with bullies and we make the most of the lack of structure and the ability to enjoy only the social interactions we choose.

Tuesday
Exercise class
1 hour social afterwards
Take relative shopping
Work on a home project or hobby

However, could be none of the above

Day out to visit somewhere
Or a holiday
Work part time
Volunteer
Pet sit

Lots of different things

Go to the gym

Wrap up and walk the dog. Meet friends for coffee and cake. Cook something delicious. Read . Work on the voluntary heritage project I am involved in. U3A language classes…. List is endless. I love being retired.

Isn't a grey, wet Tuesday morning exactly when you'd want to be retired? Those are the days no one wants to get up and go to work, surely?

I have another 2 years to go until retirement. I am looking forward to spending more time on our allotment. More time to sow seeds successionally in autum and spring (we have a large polytunnel).

As we harvest things I want more time to preserve things so that we have produce to enjoy through the winter. Currently we waste a lot because we havent time to deal with everything.

When not doing allotment related things I want to spend more time sewing.

I only retired on Friday so haven’t done it yet but, when I’m not travelling or visiting friends, I expect to be doing one of:
decorating (my whole house)
Bee keeping
gardening
running
practicing karate
sorting stuff for the parish council (pot hole surveys, water quality surveys etc)
trying new recipes
making jam, chutney, cakes, liqueurs

Two days in, I spent yesterday helping at the village fete and today painting the bathroom ceiling and at a karate class.

Tomorrow I’m taking a bike to be serviced and shopping for birthday presents. I have always worked full time but I think I shall rather enjoy this. ☺️

It’s important to have indoor and outdoor hobbies. I had almost 8 weeks away in our motorhome last year when the weather was good. Lots of swimming in the sea and hiking. Then when the weather is bad there is reading, films, video gaming, board games, going out to dinner, quiz nights. Also we did most of a Swedish death clean when you declutter with a fine tooth comb over the winter. Plus I do voluntary work when I have spare time. I did 16 hours this week over 3 days.

Exactly. How bloody depressing must your life be if you can't think of anything to do except paid employment?!

My mother joined an art group that has nearly as much intrigue as the Thursday Murder Club. They’re having an exhibition in a castle today and she has been worrying about what pictures to show for weeks. The group has given her a whole new lease of life. They have a busy WhatsApp group, coffee mornings, and book swaps. She’s started dressing in quite bohemian styles. It brings her so much joy!

Im happy pottering at home - in fact if grey and wet it’s perfect! I crochet and read and it’s great not even having the pressure of a ‘fine day’ to get out and about.

You don't need tons of money, though. Galleries and Museums are free, except for special exhibitions. I can get a bus free with my OAP pass to a zone 6 station. Then off-peak tube to Zone 2 and then use my fold up bike to cycle to The British Museum or Camden market or The Wallace Collection. With homemade sarnies and a flask of tea, I have a day out in London for a tenner. Another secret Mornington Crescent is Zone 2.

It amazes me more when they then hurl abuse and call people boring and when asked what they’d do, say keep working. With some nonsense about enhancing other people’s lives.

thats the saddest bloody thing. That you’re so bereft of a personal life you’d rather keep working as you can’t think of what else to do.

It always amazes me when people can't think of things to do that aren't working for an employer. I can't even list things as it would be endless.