Do you ever fantasize about being a pensioner?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Only slightly lighthearted!

I know the years are short, shouldn't wish it away etc but fucking hell, I'm tired and I sometimes imagine living with just me and DH, no babies around, not having to get up for work and spending my time making the house look nice and doing light gardening and listening to Radio 4.

Anyone else? What is your retirement like? Mine involves fishpaste sandwiches and playing the lotto once a week

I’m excited about retirement. I will spend my time doing my various hobbies, such as finally finishing a cross stitch (something I have never managed thus far!). I will read, watch Netflix. I will need some exercise so will attend some gentle over 60’s classes. And I will potter, I love to potter!

The young envy the old for their freedom and financial security.

The old envy the young for their looks, health and the fact that they have most of their lives ahead of them.

Truly, the grass is always greener.....

Yeah the looks bit passed me by, sadly.

Just right now, yes! Next time one of my babies grins at me, maybe not so much

I'm retired, and yes, it is great, but only because I have a decent pension, no more mortgage and am not reliant on the state pension. I would plea with every working woman to make sure you pay as much as you can into your personal pension pot, I read last week that most women hugely underpay pension contributions and it does make a difference, even though still paying tax on it is a blumming pain!

The other thing I advise is don't rot! make sure you have things to do on a regular basis so your time is a bit organised, I do voluntary work one day a week , have a course one pm a week and have a regular group exercise activity another day, it gives my week some structure, but also gives me plenty of time to do other things as well.

I stopped working apart from a bit of freelance when I was 60, and dropped the freelance two years later. I absolutely love being retired, still get huge pleasure from waking up knowing I don't have to go to work! Enjoy having time to walk a lot, make things, potter around the neighborhood with DP, do singing practice, meet friends, shop when it's quiet, go out for the day . . I have learned to row and joined my local rowing club which is a lovely, friendly place. And within a year I'll get state pension, hurrah!

Yep, that's me. That's exactly what life is like for me now. Sleep as long as I like ( a biggie since I did shift work all my working life ), reading a lot, a little gardening , bingeing on streamed TV shows with DH, having long discussions about what we'll cook for dinner.

I'm also quite busy with a volunteer job and a lot of family involvement , but those are choices so it's never a strain.

Keep counting the days - it's bliss when you retire.

Don't wish your life away.
If I could advise anything it would be to make the most of life now. Don't put off doing things until you retire. There is so much more to life than material things.
DH and I worked so hard for 40 years. There were so many things we wanted to do when we retired.
Then everything fell apart.
I have so many regrets.

I am already in training! Moaning about the young people, moaning about my aches and pains (especially getting off of buses- the way they stop miles away from the kerbs and the step on and off is too high). I am only 58! Got years to go (I hope!). Had a shock to find out my 'baby 'brother is 54 today!!!

not at all

if anything i dread it

i will be the kind of pensioner who sits in front of a one bar fire with a cup of tea for my main meal and speaks to noone for days on end

i think old age can be terribly isolating, lonely, frightening time

Oooo, yes, all the time.

My Mum is partially retired, which is a good middle ground. She works 3 days a week which allows her to have a comfortable lifestyle and enough free time to enjoy herself.

I retired this year at 58 and have had a very relaxing year.
Next year I will be starting voluntary work and joining a gym. I love hiking and reading.
Dh still works but only 4 days.
As someone upthread said, there is a difference between being a pensioner and being retired.

My body is already acting like a 70yo, but I envy my parents who have 3 holidays abroad a year and numerous other breaks, and spend most of their days deciding whether to go out for lunch or stop at Waitrose. Given how hard my dad worked to pay off their mortgage, I'm just glad they are able to enjoy it, but also envious. I don't expect any inheritance either, which is fine (OK, I'm a bit envious of people who get inheritances, I'm only human).

My friends and I want a nursing home where we all have tablets and can play all the computer games we don't have time for now. Days playing Civilisation... Also with social media we're much less worried about isolation when elderly. Physical care, that's a worry.

Totally depends on your personal situation when you retire, my DPs are in their late 80s with a very, very good pension & comfortable lifestyle having made a conscious decision to downsize. They have a very good lifestyle but my Dad still sets his alarm for 6.30am & gets up to get on with his day. They have money, health, hobbies, interests and lots of social contacts so that makes a huge difference to their quality of life as pensioners.

I am semi-retired, and I look back on those small-kids-working years and wonder where I got the energy, but at least I know where the grey hair, wrinkles and bags under my eyes came from.

It took me about 3 months to settle into semiretirement (loads of stuff to catch up on) but now I am much better at it: I have whole days where I just potter around doing whatever I fancy, other days when I actually get out all the loose photos from the various drawers and sort them out.

The only downsides are

• physically, if I get damaged it takes longer to heal (torn shoulders from overenthusiastic garden clearing etc)
• I am a poorer than many of my friends, and have had to set very clear boundaries about what I am prepared to spend on things like lunch (a £20 train to London then £35 for three saucers of tapas and a glass of wine for a 2-hour catchup? I love you all but not that much)

But broadly speaking it's pretty fantastic. When I retire properly at 66 my various pensions will actually give me a pay rise, which will be fantastic.

God yes- all the time. Sounds lovely. I think I'll probably try to carry on at least PT till I'm 70 though. Everyone in my family lives a long time and I don't want to outlive either my capital or my will to live .

Mine will involve...
Dogs
A campervan
Crafts
Walking
Looking after grandchildren

Yes! I spent last night planning in my head how we could financially manage for five years when dh retires at 60 - so that we can have a winter and a summer holiday, lots of weekend breaks, go hiking, sailing twice a week, and then potter and read and enjoy that lifestyle. After that maybe we will both go back to work until I get my pension . He is a motivated type so I know we would not waste it either, just want to do it asap. Its also my main motivation to stay fit!

@Endofthelinefinally just to say, I remember how your life fell apart, I am so sorry, sending you

I'm semi retired. In receipt of modest NHS pension. Work on the bank 2-3 days a week. It's fine for now.
I left my job because NHS working conditions were breaking me. However I love my profession and like doing it in this semi detached way where people thank me for turning up.
My husband has just gone half time. He's loving it too.

This has been possible because we were unable to have more than one child. The upside of the downside of multiple miscarriages has meant I've worked more, earned more and already paid off the mortgage and supported our daughter through university.

A few of my friends just retired and one said its better than winning the lotto because of the freedom.
But less of the gentle exercise classes for over 60s. These are cycling 80 km three times a week or swimming in the sea daily even in Winter. No gentle anything there.
My problem is l have not a housework person, baking etc. I am planning more volunteer stuff and getting that set up now before l retire in 2 years. I will miss the company so setting stuff in place now for that area of my life.
My dh is already retired and has taken over lots of my home tasks, dc are gone so in one way l feel semi retired just going to my nice job.

I was booking in a flu jab for a lovely elderly lady yesterday. Was offering her days and times and she was saying oh no I've got keep fit class then, stitch and bitch the next day and then the next appointment I offered she said she's recently taken up karate and has her first belt assesment I admit I was very jealous

I retired five years ago but now work four days a week as my “little retirement job” grew and grew. I enjoy it - would be bored otherwise -and it means I’m able to give some financial support to a family member who is currently career changing and a bit short of money.
I don’t look forward to full time retirement and will put it off for as long as possible.

Never fantasized about being a pensioner

I'm looking forward to it. Plan to do lots of travelling, reading, learning to paint, do voluntary work. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. I thought I must be weird to be looking forward to reaching my 60s and not being desperate to stay young(ish).

Am 48 so still a long way to go and need to build up my pension pot first though have very little money to do it with.

Thank you @Bloodybridget.