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Original poster

What do you want in Retirement?

207 replies

Retirementvisions · 27/01/2023 11:10

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!

OP posts:
Bard6817 · 27/01/2023 23:02

I retired at 50, but after 18 months of pandemic which scuppered any plans for travel, i went back into work at a much lower level and in the public sector, part time.

I am now 18 months away from proper retirement at 55, partner will be 43 and she will have done 20 years in the emergency services and that’s enough for her.

At that point, i will spend 3 months getting my rya yaghtmaster qualification, sail more and seeing which way the wind takes us.

We are fairly clean living with no health issues, so hoping that continues for as long as possible.

However, partner also wants to enter Great British Sewing Bee one day, as well as do a lot more work in tv and film for the costumers, which she is already involved in on the side, so my dreams of doing a round the world bluewater sail, will be put on hold until we see where her creative spark takes her. She put everything on hold for her kids and got a ‘proper job’ and so my retirement will be helping her creative/artistic dreams come true, hopefully. And if it doesn’t work out, or we can balance the demands, we can still travel and explore the world (for weeks rather than months or years) for more inspiration.

Apollonia1 · 27/01/2023 23:10

I'm 50 and hope to retire at 60. I had children late (at 47), so they'll be starting secondary school as I retire.
I hope to have my health and be able to travel, exercise, meet friends for lunch/dinner, drive my teenagers to sports/recreation, relax after years of a senior stressful job.
I'd like to rent somewhere abroad (Eg Greece, Spain) for a couple of months each summer and enjoy experiencing "living" abroad with my twins.
My parents are healthy in their 90s, so I think I have a skewed perception of retirement - to me it's normal to be healthy till you're 90+, but that's not the norm.
I want retirement to bring me some of the freedom I had in my 20s, when I could travel on a whim and not worry about work/mortgage etc. I can't wait to retire! Grin

RewildingAmbridge · 27/01/2023 23:12

Travel, freedom, being able to help DS out if needed, but having to think too much if I want something (I have very moderate tastes). A career in the public sector CJ sector is physically, emotionally and psychologically exhausting, frustrating, and not particularly well paid, the lending makes the difference. It also feels purposeful, worthwhile and intellectually simulating, it's not all bad. However I will absolutely need a comfortable, enjoyable retirement to recover.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General money Retirement & pensions
RewildingAmbridge · 27/01/2023 23:13

I want retirement to bring me some of the freedom I had in my 20s, when I could travel on a whim and not worry about work/mortgage etc.

Exactly this

UsingChangeofName · 28/01/2023 00:12

Blufelt · 27/01/2023 22:45

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.

How sad that you have nothing in your life that you would enjoy doing when you have the choice.

There is so much to do in life. I think I could fill 40 years easily with all the things I'd like to do and don't really have the time or energy for, around paid work.

VioletLemon · 28/01/2023 05:15

DanseAvecLesLoups · 27/01/2023 12:01

Ideally, I would like to be called out of retirement to do 'one last job' for my previous employers, a shadowy government intelligence agency. Given my fluency in Farsi and Russian and decades of experience in 'black ops' in and around Middle East and former Soviet satellite states I have a rare set of skills that the young guns at the agency simply don't posses anymore. I think my previous boss knows that such work is in my blood and that my new life as wine grower in France is not a replacement for my previous live on a knife edge career. I will take said job, ostentatiously for the money, but I will invariably get drawn into a multinational plot where my cynicism is challenged by a chance encounter with a group of freedom fighters and I end up doing the job, not for personal gain, but because I believe in their cause. I will probably give my life holding the last line of defence against overwhelming numbers of insurgents thus allowing my new found comrades to escape by helicopter.

Is that you, Mav?!

SweetSakura · 28/01/2023 07:50

UsingChangeofName · 28/01/2023 00:12

How sad that you have nothing in your life that you would enjoy doing when you have the choice.

There is so much to do in life. I think I could fill 40 years easily with all the things I'd like to do and don't really have the time or energy for, around paid work.

Show quote history

Is it sad? Or is it a great privilege to have a job you love so much you aren't in a rush to stop it? I'd say it's the latter.

ArcticSkewer · 28/01/2023 07:57

SweetSakura · 28/01/2023 07:50

Is it sad? Or is it a great privilege to have a job you love so much you aren't in a rush to stop it? I'd say it's the latter.

Show quote history

Maybe it depends on the job

If it's something like medicine, a vocation that also saves lives, how lucky you are to have something you love that also holds great value for humanity.

It it's working at Tescos, honestly if that seems better than retirement I'd call that a lack of imagination

SweetSakura · 28/01/2023 08:01

@ArcticSkewer well interestingly I was thinking of my granny (a GP) when I wrote that. She kept retiring and then going back to do another stint. And even when she had finally retired she still read medical journals etc avidly

SweetSakura · 28/01/2023 08:04

But equally my son and I were at the supermarket the other day and this pretty elderly man was working the tills and he was so friendly and chatty and we agreed he looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself. Maybe he had to work, but he was making the best of it.

ArcticSkewer · 28/01/2023 08:13

Yes, I can imagine if you need to work the tills in order to find people willing to talk to you it probably is better than sitting home alone and lonely. But maybe he just couldn't afford to retire anyway rather than loving his job so much he wanted to stay.

I have to admit, most medics I know aim to retire by 55, but there's a few who want to work as long as possible as they love it and know how valuable their skills are - not easy to replace them and they literally save lives. Good for them.

MinnieMountain · 28/01/2023 08:18

Stage 1: downsize and move back to Pembrokeshire. Spend our days walking and swimming. DH wants to ski for long periods. Explore Europe. DH might do the odd short contract to help fund the travel.

Stage 2: move near a city with decent healthcare for our decrepit old age.

LeatherSoledShoes · 28/01/2023 08:28

I think I’d fill my days really easily but I can see how a day on the tills could be good for someone alone in retirement.

I currently work 50 hours most weeks in a professional role, in my mid 50s it’s becoming a bit wearing.

I am actually looking for another job and am thinking of reducing my hours to 30 a week and swapping my mortgage to interest only until I can sell/move.

I will have to work until I’m 68 - I expect to be desperate to retire by then!

magicthree · 28/01/2023 08:35

Blufelt · 27/01/2023 22:45

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.

I actually find working boring and would be much happier retired. Surely we are not on this earth to do nothing but work?

OnceRuralNowUrbanbliss · 28/01/2023 08:38

Same as you OP @Retirementvisions plus the cash to facilitate good quality care if I need it

My mum unlike her nimble fit gym bunny best mates from school at 76 is enfeebled by physical immobility. She only has herself to blame as has lain on the sofa for 30+ years watching rolling news and not walking anywhere or taking any exercise.
She will need care assistance or a residential place soon if her downwards decline trajectory continues (which it will unless halted by a nasty fall + death)

I'm determined to be as fit and well for as long as possible to mean my health, quality of life and retirement pot is eeked out beyond 75.

My grandma was popping herself on National Express buses to see me (Dorset to London) until her 90s, involved in local groups etc.
The secret of her success seemed to be having good friends and associates way younger than her so as her original friends died she still had others.

I read this week that an annual retirement income of circa £25k is the minimum to give a nice standard of living. Certainly not all year round cruises but hobbies, heating, occasional meals out, gifts for grandchildren etc.

user8545 · 28/01/2023 08:39

Freedom. I want to go on lots of holidays, days out, meals out, shop, do the house up, whilst I can. No idea where we want to live or what kind of house. Not really saving for it currently but both have very good public sector pensions as it stands (and mortgage) so until those terms drastically change, we are ok.

bobbytorq · 28/01/2023 08:42

I plan on an active retirement with lots of travel, good food and good wine. It won't be cheap so I've got a significant amount of pension and savings to cover it😂

Zippedydoo123 · 28/01/2023 08:53

My health.

DesertIslandCondiment · 28/01/2023 09:21

I'm hoping for us both to have good health.

I saw the post about many of us living till our 80's but many people at this age will be suffering with health.

At 50 some of our Friends are going through things already.

We've just started walking and bought a VW campervan so I hope to see a lot of the English countryside and hope to carry on for as long as possible.

Won't be retiring till I'm 67 at the earliest unless I win some money but I do like my job.

NameChangedForThissss · 28/01/2023 09:26

This is to the people who have said they want to eat out and travel often, I have noticed since retirement it’s very easy to spend money on these things as you have seven days a week to fill.

DesertIslandCondiment · 28/01/2023 09:27

In retirement I don't want to be getting on planes all the time either.

coffeeginandkindness · 28/01/2023 09:56

PattyBladell · 27/01/2023 11:44

I have realised I would just like to be happy and healthy. My dad worked in the NHS for over 40 years, retired in January 2021 at 65, took his pension lump sum and then 1 month later had a massive stroke. He is now paralysed and has had to use most of the money to adapt their house and buy special equipment. Everything he had lived for and planned for in retirement hasn't been able to happen. It's certainly made me realise that life doesn't always go to plan

Oh my gosh. This is shocking. Your poor DF

coffeeginandkindness · 28/01/2023 09:57

DanseAvecLesLoups · 27/01/2023 12:01

Ideally, I would like to be called out of retirement to do 'one last job' for my previous employers, a shadowy government intelligence agency. Given my fluency in Farsi and Russian and decades of experience in 'black ops' in and around Middle East and former Soviet satellite states I have a rare set of skills that the young guns at the agency simply don't posses anymore. I think my previous boss knows that such work is in my blood and that my new life as wine grower in France is not a replacement for my previous live on a knife edge career. I will take said job, ostentatiously for the money, but I will invariably get drawn into a multinational plot where my cynicism is challenged by a chance encounter with a group of freedom fighters and I end up doing the job, not for personal gain, but because I believe in their cause. I will probably give my life holding the last line of defence against overwhelming numbers of insurgents thus allowing my new found comrades to escape by helicopter.

😂😂😂😂

gianfrancogorgonzola · 28/01/2023 10:25

All these people stating good health - are you prioritising Heath, mobility, activity during your 40s and beyond? I know it’s not a guarantee but surely it makes sense to put in ground work and not just ‘hope’ you are strong and mobile at 70…

soupmaker · 28/01/2023 10:34

gianfrancogorgonzola · 28/01/2023 10:25

All these people stating good health - are you prioritising Heath, mobility, activity during your 40s and beyond? I know it’s not a guarantee but surely it makes sense to put in ground work and not just ‘hope’ you are strong and mobile at 70…

I so agree with this. I took up running and hill walking in my late '30s and gave up smoking in my early 30s to give me at least a chance of being fit well into my 70s.