Oh the joy of being retired...

[ThreeWiseWomen]

DS needed a lift to the station, (doesn't happen often) so DH did it, he was back by six, he came up with two tiny drops of white wine and some cracking manchego, we have turned the leccy blanket right up and stuck on Classic FM and are drifting off for a nice long snooze.

Oh op, your post has inspired me.

I’m seriously thinking of retiring next year at 57. I was going to work until 60, but with so many changes going on, and with the entitlement of some colleagues, I don’t think I can last much longer there. It’s getting harder, and the dept isn’t the same anymore.

I love 🧀 and 🍷, go for it, I can’t wait for my turn, roll on next summer whoop whoop 😁😁

I AM retiring next year, not seriously thinking about it, I’m going to do it.
Its decided now I’ve posted it ..

I think alot of people find the thought of working until their late 60's bloody depressing! There has to be another way?
What about moving somewhere with cheaper property like France or Spain? Maybe embrace a different lifestyle? A simpler existence? Just a thought.

I can retire at 65 (not in the UK), but am unemployed at 62, although looking for a job (not very hard). I rent, and do have some money in the bank, but I have found I really don't need nearly as much money as I thought I did when I was working. The day I can officially retire will be the best day of my life - even if I potter around and do nothing I am not nearly as bored as I was for most of my working life.

I can't wait to retire. I'm 63 and just waiting and waiting.... I grew up thinking I would retire at 60 and then the government changed the retirement age. My body has 'aged' so much in the last 3 years and I really can't manage the job I have now due to a number of small but niggling health issues. Nothing major but it makes my work really hard. I resent having to work another 3 years before I give up and wonder if I'll even make it!

I have so many things I want to concentrate upon in retirement, I shall never be bored...walking, painting, writing, photography, family and friends.... I'm really envious of anyone who is already enjoying retirement.

I get it op. I retired just before Christmas and I just do a couple of bank shifts when it suits me.
Although I don't have cheese and wine in bed at least I can get out of bed when I, and not the alarm clock decides.
Enjoy 👍

You're l7cky to value this stage you're at, 15 more years for me. Single, have a small pension but basically have to wait til state pension. Would easily be able to fill my days though.

@ThreeWiseWomen

Thank you everyone, we lay there, chatted about how lucky we were to be in position to do this, my mother died eight weeks ago and she was the most middle class, normal looking person on the outside but internally she was all for anarchy.

Both our mums have died now, and as we were sitting up in bed ala Morecambe and Wise, DH said this would have scandalised my poor mother, and yours would have said, oh not Manchego, do you have any brie. Easy to see where I get it from.

In the end we snoozed, until postie knocked on the door with a parcel.

It was bloody silly and decadent and it felt great.

Ha, i l9ve when people Live on through these comments. Have brie as well next time!

Sounds bliss.

I'm 50 and am going at 55 (NHS). I think about it everyday. Everyday.

I can’t wait for retirement.

What blissful image, OP.

I retired at 67 at the end of last year, after 43 years of teaching, and am enjoying it, though it's not what was envisaged because my DH is a late DH. One of the things I enjoy is not having to "plan things" for the holidays, instead I work round doing things when the schools are back. Which is planning now I think of it.
And the experience of Sunday without the heart-sinking anticipation of the next day, that took the edge off the best of Sundays.

Green with envy!!! I've only got another 40 years 🥲🥲🥲😭😭😭
But you've worked hard all your life so bloody well enjoy it! Cheers!!

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Inspired by the OP, does anyone else have a frivolous little thing they're looking forward to doing in retirement?

Mine is sitting in a peaceful garden, early-ish in the morning, when it's sunny but not yet hot, drinking a cup of fresh coffee and watching the birds. Absolute dream come true would be to also have a little stream in the garden, but I can live without it if I have to.

Ours is going out somewhere nice for breakfast on a Monday morning. Sitting in a window seat with coffee and toast watching the word go by is such a nice thing to do. Chatting about plans for the rest of the week or trips we want to go on. We retired at 55. It's absolutely wonderful.

@gogohm

Enjoy but yes do walk the dog yourself, routine is really good once you retire and getting out daily with the dog has proven mental health benefits. Dog walkers are in hot demand, they'll get a replacement client.

Oh no, I hate routine and one of the best things about retiring is not having to do anything at a particular time/day. This morning I'm thinking about when to go for a long walk, and we're discussing which village to head off to for coffee and a cake later.

@MeanderingGently I'm like you in that I expected - when I entered the workforce - to be retiring at 60. But the government had other ideas

'Thankfully' (through an inheritance from the death of my parents) I was able to retire just before I turned 60. It took me quite some time to stop feeling guilty though! I had to keep reminding myself that when I was 21 and just starting out, I would have been retired at 60 anyway!

Unfortunately the start of my retirement coincided with the pandemic and lockdown, so all my dreams of DH and I travelling around have disappeared. That said, I very much enjoy just pottering around and being in my own home, doing what I want and when I want it. Not having to worry about getting up at stupid o'clock in the morning any more. No agonising on a Sunday evening (or any other evening) about meetings the next day, or deadlines.

It's very noticeable that if I have an anxiety dream any more (still do for some reason), that they're inevitably about work now, whereas when I was working, my anxiety dreams were very rarely so!

There could be a million reasons why the OP has a dog walker,none of which are anyone elses business! If she is able/wants to walk her dog she can.

@AngelinaFibres based on the positive experiences on this thread, I feel like retirement is a lot like a return to life pre-DC. In a good way, I mean - that feeling of having loads of free time and no responsibilities. Or maybe DH and I just lived like a retired couple when we were in our 20s

I am so jealous OP. Some people aren't lucky enough to get where you are so bloody well enjoy yourself. Only 30 years to go for me!

Cheers to you!

Another who thought all my life I would get my pension at 60 only to find out in my late 50s it would be 66. Luckily I have a good pension from 45 years working.
@JesusInTheCabbageVan it really is a lot like going back to before DC for us. We had them late and they've just recently flown the nest for good. We had 20 years together before DC and it's really like a new phase of life. Sadly health isn't what it was before so we won't be back packing round the world.