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

I always laugh when I hear people say this- can you really not imagine finding anything to do? Places to go, people to see, cleaning, reading, crafting, volunteering? I think people (not saying you) just say this to make out retirement is a death knell. Roll it on I say!!

I want to go to Rome, next year, I would like to be able to ask for stuff in Italian, so wet Tuesdays I will be learning a few words of Italian.

@MandemChickenShopwe get up early 🤣🤣

As a result of an ongoing WhatsApp conversation, I might see if my pension will stretch to a very bougie gym membership and spend half my time there.

I watch a box set or a film, is that seen as a bit common because it's not a hobby.

Read a lot. Study a subject you've always wanted to learn more about.

Cook fantastic, elaborate meals. Take up baking.

Go to the gym, do some yoga. Get out and walk somewhere far away with the sole aim of getting a cuppa and cake at the other wnd and walking back.

Take up doing crosswords in the pub (my likely destiny 🤣)

It will be bliss to not have to march to someone else's tune BUT I think some structure and routine helps with keeping a sense of purpose.

Go to my local library, they have a different language conversational group every lunchtime. I can only join in the French one, but it's still fun listening to Anglophones trying to speak Italian - The Tuesday language. Ciao amici miei

They grab a coffee, a magazine or book and think thank god I dont have to go out in this crappy weather 😀

Personally, I love the lack of structure in retirement. A wet Tuesday morning in Winter? I'd be in bed for most of it, to be honest.

@hahabahbag is “at the end of the runway” a euphemism for something?

That's a very busy Tuesday morning, must be knackered in the afternoon.

I also plan to do a lot more volunteering than I currently do. Just finishing up two weeks of CWG volunteering and most are retired or students.

I generally do a gym class, have a coffee, walk my dog, then it’s the same housework, cooking, shopping etc that I have done most of my life.

But the point is, I can go to any gym class - I am not restricted to stupid o’clock when the classes are solidly booked; I can take my dog on wee adventures etc.

I don’t miss employment 😂

My retirement is likely to be a frugal one ! I would likely walk the dog as obviously has to be done whatever the weather, have a wander round the local charity shops, go to Asda cafe for my £1 bowl of soup and unlimited hot drinks ( if the offer is still on ! ). Maybe a film on a cheap pensioner deal ? I will enjoy baking cakes and having friends round for coffee and cake. I love an afternoon nap although obviously not in the morning. I have retired friends who seem to spend half the winter abroad and enjoy things like pickleball and other activities.

I plan to play pickleball with the people I play with in the evening.

The retired players play almost every day and I’m so jealous!

Th weather doesn’t bother me. So I would carry on with whatever I had planned. Probably a couple of exercise classes, a quick catch up with friends, a walk, some housework. Maybe some shopping if needed. General life admin. Might have a dance class or a craft workshop booked. If non of that to do a quick trip out to a museum or diy store (if I’m doing any diy) or a chance to sit down and light the fire and binge watch some tv. Evenings I’m generally out volunteering or at some group with friends.

Grey wet miserable weather doesn't even register with me and DH. We belong to U3A and have/will have signed up for activities during the week. U3A (University of the Third Age) is a fun based self help/learning organisation. Depending on where you live there is normally a group(s) locally. Where I live there are around 50 or 60 different activities a week. You can join in as much or as little as you want. The fees are relatively cheap. We pay £15p.a. plus £1 per group per week. I do Yoga, Line Dancing and Local History. DH does Cycling, Badminton, Local History.

To find out more look up on your computer "U3A Your Town or village name". If your local area one doesn't have what you would like doing, try another area you can get to. You can join more than one area and they are all set up differently just under the U3A umbrella. If there is something you are interested in or skilled in that you want to do and isn't available locally the Committee will normally help you to set that group up. No exams or qualifications are needed or planned.

Have a look and the saying is "Live Laugh Learn".

Don’t retire- find something to do2 days a week that you enjoy and pays - Waitrose here full of working early 70s and they seem quite jolly too

They're wondering around with yoga mats tucked under their arms where I live but that's usually after they've met up with the cold water swimming group. The local line dancing class is well attended by people in their 70's and 80's. They can often be found in walking groups or hanging out in coffee shops. Many put in a couple of shifts a week at a local charity shop. The men seem to hang out at the allotment. They're doing arts, crafts and U3A. Somehow they managed to find time to look after grandchildren and provide unpaid home help to older or unwell neighbours.

Cinema

Reading
sewing
household repairs/maintenance
jigsaws
cooking
pilates
yoga
swimming
sex
learning a language
volunteering
looking after grandchildren
shopping
visiting art galleries
meeting friends
seeing family
cleaning
mumsnetting
clearing out the attic
learning to dance
researching holidays
going on holidays
making photo books
U3A clubs
golf
getting hair cut
beauty treatments
helping with reading at primary school
watching the waves roll onto the beach
creative writing class

Anything and everything you can whilst you are healthy enough to do so.

I go to choir practice and then coffee with my fellow singers.

Otherwise I'd paint - I do a weekly art class and finding time to actually do a painting is difficult!

I love gardening and walking too - but you have mentioned a rainy day!

I also write short stories for fun and do a twice-weekly newsletter about one of my interests.

One thing: my puritannical upbringing still means I'm reluctant to sit down and just read until late afternoon (nothing wrong with that - it's just childhood conditioning!) and I find reading in artificial light increasingly difficult these days. So I'll have to learn to chill out about that.

I get up about 8.00am, go out to check the horses, let the dogs out and feed them. Watch Breakfast TV to catch up on the News while drinking my first cup of tea of the day, get dressed, walk the dogs, maybe go out for lunch at the farmshop and buy some bits there. Volunteer with Riding for the Disabled for 2 hours 5-7.00pm, unless it's raining heavily. Travelling is at least 30 mins x2 and I might call at one of the big supermarkets on the way home. Light meal when I get home.

The best thing about retirement is following your own timetable.

The dog doesn't care whether it's wet. She needs a walk regardless.

I rather like @Seagulldancing 's aunt's re-enactment idea.

Plus I do a Pilates class twice weekly. Cook daily. Practice Spanish, also daily. Some gardening.