Do you look forward to retirement?

[JustJam4Tea]

I can't wait to give up work. I'm 52 and have been planning what to do with retirement since I started work really. I don't hate what I do, and have had some great jobs.

But...there's so much more of the world I want to see than can be managed in annual leave, I want to garden, read books, do more exercise. I'm well paid, in a secure interesting job.

My husband on the other hand can't even imagine what he'll do when he retires, his identity was for years tied up in his job, not so much now in a new job, but working is still integral to his sense of self.

I cannot wait to retire and to really be able to experience the world. I have a lot of hobbies so would fill my time very easily and doubt i’d ever get bored.

I want to comfortably live when I retire so for me that has meant maxing out my pension every single year, I invest like a demon in stocks and shares and have started buying small houses as BTLs (awaits a flaming) so that I’ll have an income when I retire.

Absolutely. Although not sure when I can afford it! I’d have no trouble filling my days and amusing myself.

Yes, or rather quitting proper work as I'm open to taking odd jobs when not travelling and am actively looking into YouTube channel/blogging/writing

I’m almost 55 and my plan had always been to retire this year, with a view to doing something on a part time/voluntary basis. However, I’ve had a bit of a wobble, mainly due to panicking that I will be bored and lonely. I don’t live with my DP, and so many of you talk about your DHs being part of your retirement, I wonder how people have managed when they live alone.

I would love to retire now but am in my 50s and have many years left to go. No way can I afford not to work.

@Midlifeponderer

I’m almost 55 and my plan had always been to retire this year, with a view to doing something on a part time/voluntary basis. However, I’ve had a bit of a wobble, mainly due to panicking that I will be bored and lonely. I don’t live with my DP, and so many of you talk about your DHs being part of your retirement, I wonder how people have managed when they live alone.

My DH and I had happy plans of travelling in our retirement, but he died at 61. I retired at the end of last year at 67, and covid hasn't helped by shutting everywhere down and putting huge dent in forming other friendships and doing new things.

I think you just have to get on with it. I lived on my own before meeting my DH, and have done so again for more than five years. Am I happy? No, but not unhappy; I believe the pursuit of happiness a foolish thing, it turns up as and when. I own my house and have a comfortable pension, which counts for a lot.

It's the travel that gets me. I'm so aware now, age aside, how being with a man protected me from all sorts of potential trouble, as well as being the best travelling companion imaginable.

Thinking of this, though:[[https://www.rollingsolo.com.au]]

I'm actually quite tearful tonight as I've found my calling with my voluntary charity work (animal rescue). I've got so many contacts, knowledge and great things I can give to the cause... and I'm simply overwhelmed with little time to devote to it due to my pointless time suck corporate job.

I started aggressively saving and over paying into my pension in my 40s. I'm 52 now. I reckon I can leave in 3 ish years, but I'm praying for redundancy and a payoff.

It doesn't matter how much I like or dislike my job, there are better and more productive things to do in life.

Yes - I am aiming to retire when my pension kicks in - I have 30 months to go. Fantastic.

52 and going to go at 60, with a not great work pension but I can't wait!

I'll do some not stressful part-time work - absolutely nothing linked to my current career - to tide me over till state pension kicks in, and i'll take some interesting courses, meet friends for lunch, read lots, go on cheap holidays (back to the youth hostels of my youth), help with grandkids if i get any.

i would start today if i could! I'm too cynical for the management shite i have to listen to - and spout - every day, and too old for office politics and change management processes which are led by people with no clue about what we actually do.

In my late 20s/30s my winning the lottery plans included working at least a 3 day week (so, so sad) I have definately changed my view!

I would love to retire early, but only if I have company - so DH also retired and/or lots of non working friends.

I had a period as a SAHM to school age kids (DH working long hours) and in theory it should have been great, but I was so blooming lonely. Admittedly a lot of that was Covid times so opportunities to develop a social life were limited.

echt I’m so sorry. I hope you can find a great travel plan. Rolling Solo looks fab, I wonder if there is a UK version.

@echt - I’m sorry to hear of your loss and thank you for responding to my comment. I’m also widowed, it was over 10 years ago now so I was relatively young, and we’d never reached the stage of seriously planning what we would do together in retirement.

I’m happy with my DP, although I’m not sure if/when we will live together, or even if I want to. For that reason, I need to be sure that I can be self-sufficient in retirement. I lurch from being hugely excited about having the time to do exactly what I want, and complete fear that I will find life very unfulfilling.

Your possible trip looks good. In the few years after I was widowed I did a few similar things, and if travel if your thing, then go for it!

Ff

I'm intrigued by those of you saying that you have things you want to do when you retire. Why don't you do them now? I guess one of the reasons I don't want/need to retire is that I have done throughout my life the things I have wanted to. Obviously not when my children were small, but before they came along I'd travelled round the world and once they got a bit older I started to tick off my list. I still do. I guess that example also came from my parents as well working way beyond retirement age. The other thing though, is that none of my friends have retired. One tried two years ago, lasted six months and has gone back to work. I know this would be me. I didn't even like being on maternity leave.
For those of you with a list - start now. Don't wait until you retire.

I imagine retirement is ok providing you have the funds to do stuff. It's probably not much fun on a limited budget.

Im 35 and cant wait 😂😂

I don't know. If I'll have enough to live on plus the odd treat, and some friends and DH to spend time with, yes. If I'm just going to be bored and lonely, I'd rather be at work.

I'm in two minds. I'd love not to have the pressure, daily grind etc.. but retired people seem to slow down so much. I don't think it would be good for my brain. I wish I could have more time off now when my family is still relatively young.

I would say, if you have chance to work part-time then you have more free time to adjust re hobbies, holidays, domestic life. Then full retirement is not such a shock to the system. I was forced re covid to stop work completely. Apart from missing colleagues and money, it's been a big adjustment in daily life. Some good, some not so good. I'm feeling positive going forward though, fewer restrictions means more opportunities to plan trips etc.

Not particularly. I'm 50. I enjoy my work. It gives me a lot of freedom in terms of how I spend my time, a great community and network, and a sense of purpose. It's not always fun, but neither is not working!

I may at some point reduce working days a bit, or have periods of leave and go travelling, but all out retirement doesn't appeal all that much at the moment.

What I am looking forward to (and am almost there) is not being responsible for children at home any more. I see lots more weekends away and term-time holidays in my near future! This may make me a bad mum....

Once you aren't looking after kids (and assuming you don't have significant caring responsibilities towards eg elderly parents) there are a lot of hours in the week even after taking out work. 168 hours in a week. 56 for sleep. 45 for work. 21 for essential food/personal care/household chores. That still leaves 46 hours a week personal time for gardening, reading, exercising, socialising....You can do quite a lot in that time!

I think there's a huge difference bwteen those in a jib with purpose/community network (what job!?) And those exhausted and struggling in a job they find difficult.

I've spoken with a few older people who enjoyed travelling. All of them advised travel when you are young, fit & healthy.
I had always planned to increase my travelling when I was retired
However, I have increased the travelling (pre covid) before retirement & its been amazing !
So yes, I have already ticked some things off my retirement list

I hope to retire early 55 to 60
I have pensions & other assets

Hope to travel & I have lots of hobbies & interests, so I won't be bored

I'm intrigued by those of you saying that you have things you want to do when you retire. Why don't you do them now?

I want to do things that can't be done with my current life as I have a (more than 9-5) full time job and elderly parents taking up a lot of my time.

I'd love to spend 3 months at a time travelling.
I'd love to go to the coast on a sunny Tuesday rather than having to go on the weekend when the world and his wife are there because it's sunny.
I'd love to pursue my hobbies but can't always guarantee I can leave work on time for a 6pm class.
I'd love to get fitter but am often just too tired when I have a free hour.

I spend 50-60 hours a week working or putting other people first. If I had that time or even half of that time for myself life would be so much better.

DH and I plan to semi-retire once DS is 18. We’ll both be 53 then.

The idea is that we can spend a few months at a time travelling to different places but not eat into our pensions as DH can do the odd short term contract (he’s a contractor now with no plans to change).

Yes I’m 37 and dream of the freedom. But I don’t want to wish my life away so I’ve quit my job and set up my own online freelance business so I can work from anywhere in the world, pick my own hours, pick and choose what jobs I want to do and never have to request holiday leave again.
I can’t imagine ever wanting to be an employee again