I retired at 57, AMA

[PuzzledObserver]

Six months in, no regrets.

@shinynewapple22 we’re not right on the coast, but can get there in about 45 mins. There was a seaside (well, estuary) town we quite fancied, but property prices were so much higher. We could have got something, but it would have been small and needed doing up. We decided to get the space and facilities we wanted in the house and settle for seaside an easy drive away rather than walking distance.

Also - less seagull poo.

To the OP,
When you were working over the past few years, were you often very tired? Did you have the energy to e.g. travel to a concert, go on daytrips etc.? Did you go out every weekend? Were you able to keep on top of the house maintenance?

I am asking because at 50, I have very little time or energy to go on regular daytrips or to ttavel 150 km each way to a concert. I also have to be up early for work and can't stay up to watch a film on a weeknight. The housework and maintenance is done in a rush and I feel like I never have enough time for these tasks. In order to get free time at home, I have to cut corners with household tasks.

It is interesting that posters say that they don't want to 'potter about'. If people were working fulltime for years with limited annual leave, trying to cook healthy meals and keep on top of gardening, painting etc. THEN they would appreciate 'pottering about'. !! It feels a luxury if people are able to do their household tasks at ease and still have free time.

When you were working over the past few years, were you often very tired?

Yes - and depressed.

Did you have the energy to e.g. travel to a concert, go on daytrips etc.?

Concerts - about once every 3-4 weeks. Day trips - we would go out most Fridays (my only day off - worked 6 days a week), but mostly it was to a nearby town centre for a bit of light charity-shopping. These often, but not always, involved lunch in a tea shop. Rarely ate out in the evening, unless the concert was an hour away rather than 20 minutes away.

Did you go out every weekend?

See reply to previous question.

Were you able to keep on top of the house maintenance?

Ha ha! Ha ha ha!! We didn’t have to do actual maintenance as such because we lived in tied accommodation. But in terms of house and garden - I paid someone to cut the lawn, but otherwise lived in a pigsty.

Now I (occasionally) cut my own lawn, and while the house is not exactly House Beautiful, we can prepare for visitors in 20 minutes if necessary, cos it never gets that bad.

We have friends and family to stay. We go and see them. We go to concerts/cinema fairly regularly. I read far more. I go to various hobby groups as well as volunteering two days a week. I am busy enough, without being too busy. If it ever feels too busy, I just decide I’m going to have a little break.

PuzzledObserver, thank you for your answer. You were able to have a certain amount of 'a life' ehen working. I know the tiredness is hard.

We don't feel we have a 'life' as work takes up so much time and energy. Hoping to pay more into pension over the next few years and then reduce hours.