What do you want in Retirement?

[Retirementvisions]

I have just been reading the thread on pension pots. Some people are saving big sums for their retirements. It has left me wondering what are your visions for retirement?
Do you plan on cruising the world full time?! Etc

My pension plan is a modest private pension to top up state pension. I will downsize the family home to a small manageable home and release the equity.

I want to live in a nice area within a vibrant community to dip in and out off. I want peace and nature. I'd like the NHS /care system to be running well. I'd like good healthy food at home and to eat out occasionally. I'd like to be able to go on walks and explore the UK. I will probably read more and do a few low key/cost hobbies. I don't foresee loads of world travel at that stage of life. I'd like enough money in the pot to pay for a decent care home should it come to it.

To those who are saving what are you saving for? 🤔 I'm a bit worried I'm missing something... or being totally boring and unimaginative!

"Peace and nature"!??? Good luck with that. I don't know where the hell you think you are going to find peace and quiet in the UK! By the time I retire, I expect central and southern England to be one giant new build housing estate, linked by endless out of town shopping centres. Instead of bird song, I'll be woken by the banging and exploding of modified exhausts.

I'm thinking of a location split , abroad in winter and summer here . I can't envisage being retired here in winter , cold , constant rain for 6 mths what would I do .
I thought I'd retired but went back to work and will work until I stop enjoying it . I also bought a lockdown puppy so he has thwarted my travel plans , maybe I'll buy a camper van and travel around the whole of the British coastline with him .

I used to love reading similar threads while I was working and dreaming of escape!

Reader, I did escape, at 57 under a generous package due to restructuring.

I had paid off mortgage at time of leaving so that was good too. I am single no kids and my lifestyle doesn't cost me as much as those with kids (of any age) really! I live in a nice area with parks and ponds and within easy reach of a big city and the countryside. Very good transport links and healthcare/hospitals close by too. I will not be moving from here unless carried out in a box.

I retired to be a lazy mare. I cannot understand all this talk of doing this or that and filling the day and being productive. I just want to be lazy and indulge myself after so many years down the mines. I did all my long haul travel before retiring, so am discovering Europe now and will never take a long haul journey again. Too Much For Me.

Life is wonderful, I am thankfully in reasonably good health, despite a few scares over the years, and I agree that PHI is a godsend if you can afford it.

I try to have a routine but Winter brings a lot of indolence and the warm bed is hard to get out of when it's freezing outside. But Summer is different I am full of buzz then.

As you can see I don't do anything wild or exciting, but I enjoy the freedom to up sticks and go away somewhere if the mood takes me, and it often does. I consider myself very fortunate and wish all of you on the cusp of it all the very best too.

Please write a book.

To downsize to a smaller house with a bigger garden than I've got in the city to keep me busy. To enjoy every day without my hideous commute. To be healthy enough to play golf, walk my dog and enjoy membership of a spa/gym. To be able to eat out a couple of times a week with friends.

Not bothered about holidays any more, I've travelled a lot.

As soon as retire I want to get on a plane and see the travel with my wife and see the world. Spend more time together - (arguing) in new and interesting places. Learn some local phrases and curse words and teach the grandchildren the less rude ones. Walking every day, getting grumpy in the heat. Enjoy the opportunity to get away with outrageous rudeness due to my age and say all the things I think but never say.

Hopefully dead before I lose my marbles or dignity.

Already worried I am falling behind in technology as tiktok has passed me by and I can't chatgpt to do my job for me yet.

Quiet life for me, I live abroad and what I really want is nice walks in greenery, theatre, cinema, time to read. Just lovely, calm and boring. I absolutely do not want to do long haul flights. Would like to pop to european destinations regularly but for a few days at a time just with hand luggage. That kind of thing would suit me just fine.

I loved reading this! 😊

Health is probably the most important thing for me, we get regular 'death of a colleague' emails and I unfortunately see a lot of people who won't make it to retirement age or have just made it and then have a serious ill health bombshell dropped on them.
What do I need ? somewhere to live, will never own my own home, so a flat in retirement with a HA will be fine. I can be as frugal as needed, I enjoy reading so have a library card, travel doesn't have to be expensive, I don't mind a national express coach trip if in the UK and a rail card for Europe if I fancy further afield ( I might get involved in a minor drama along the way with @DanseAvecLesLoups whilst travelling on a night train in a The Lady vanishes or Travels with my Aunt type scenario, I would make an excellent sidekick as I am practically invisible now, give me another 15 years and I will be on absolute top form )
Will definitely volunteer if I reach retirement age as will miss spending time with people if I don't.
If I win the Euromillions I might add a few things to my list

Fairly short. I’ll work till 65 if I can, keep my hand in on my boards till 70 if I’m not irritating the fuck out of the youngsters with my anachronistic rants, and then happy to pop off at 80/85.

I really recommend reading “Being Mortal” for a great take on old age, poor health and death. Also a friend of mine who works as a lawyer in the area of contested POAs says the evidence speaks for itself in terms of what people spend after they’re 80 or so- basically v little, because they don’t have the health or energy to do all these big trips and hobbies. Basically go hard in early retirement. You won’t need it later.

DH retired last year at 55. I’m the same age but have no intention to give up work just yet. I changed job about 6 months ago and now work part time in a really flexible role that I really enjoy. We are in the process of downsizing to a semi rural property and as I only have to go into the office one day a week I can still do that when we move. We are planning some big holidays and lot’s of weekends away and meals now that DH isn’t tied to work.

I'm going to lose five stone because I will have time and energy to do so, I'd like to do an art foundation course, travel, practice my Arabic, volunteer and grow my own cannabis.
I plan to self-improve and work hard in a different way upon retirement. And look after any grandchildren.
I don't know how I will fit it all in.

I'd like to spend the first years travelling in a van around Europe- renting my house out and living in the proceeds.

Then back to my house and living a similar life to you op, plus sea swimming, sewing and being a bad ass old feminist.

I just can't conceive of retirement. It sounds so boring & pointless.

Looking at how long it takes my elderly parents to do anything, & how they spend their time, & what they have energy for .... what they do with their time is : shopping, socialising, meals out, casino, watching TV, walks, life admin. I don't relish the 1st 4-5 & barely tolerate life admin, so hopefully I'd do a lot of volunteering with my time instead. Gardening? Visiting adult DC wherever they live.

I might do cruises in new places. I can kind of see point of how easy it is to go to new places that way. I'd be the antisocial passenger nobody notices.

I'm now at an age where all my friends are retired. I don't know a single one who regrets it for a second whether they live busy lives or slow lazy lives.

Retired, three later asked to return to do a three month contract which will probably run to six. Very happy.

Then I intend to take two years to complete an MA History. Know what my dissertation is most likely to be. If I still have my marbles, start a Phd.

Otherwise retired holds no attraction.

My DH retired 3 years ago at 58 and I'm planning to go fairly soon - two years maybe. I already work part time and have been trying to decide between carrying on working to keep my brain active or go earlier to make the most of my time while I'm still healthy - and so many posts on here are giving warning of people experiencing unexpected health crises (or worse).

I have a small work place pension , we have an inheritance and state pension will kick in within 10 years .

I plan a couple of winter holidays each year - just to Spain or Portugal where I can get a bit of out of season sun without travelling too far plus several short trips within the UK and a few to Europe . On a weekly basis I plan some kind of exercise class, learning Spanish and some kind of voluntary work - I think with the elderly. Also day trips and meals out with DH and walks with our dog . And we will stay local in case of grandchildren .

Things are a bit stressful at work at the moment - so my current train of thought is earlier rather than later .

Lunch and coffee out with friends too .

And my DC!

We've got 5 years work to go. VW camper is in the drive. I doubt we will cruise anywhere but may do a couple of longer holidays and plenty of European road trips.

I've always worked full time and paid into DB pensions.

“Being Mortal” is brilliant. Our Vicar gave copies out to his clergy colleagues, not because it’s religious (it’s not) but for the insights and excellence of writing. I’ve read it twice and will return to it again

”Go hard in early retirement “. Love that

I just want to be alive and in reasonable health. Then the rest will work itself out.

Retirement? How boring. I intend to keep working until I physically can’t, by which point I’ll probably be too elderly and ill to do anything except lie in bed.

Some of you must like working life. I'd describe mine as boring, tedious, mundane etc and my free time activities as soul enhancing and interesting (even just a dog walk in the hills on a rainy day is fabulous).

I’m aiming to retire at 57. Have plans to travel, mostly around Europe & the UK. Will take extended trips abroad in the winter to escape the miserable weather here. I have hobbies I want to continue, including hiking. I’ll probably join a nice gym/spa. I will read, visit galleries & museums in London & eat out regularly. There’s so much to do, I don’t understand people who are bored In retirement.