If you’ve retired early because of ill health

[RetiredEarly]

Following another thread on early retirement….

I have basically retired due to ill health and I’m trying to get organised and build a new life around the fact I now have ‘more time’.

Im curious what people do when they’ve retired early like this. Lunch with friends are all good but expensive and you certainly can’t do that everyday (well i couldn’t).
im looking at a group (Wild Wanderers) and finding other people in wheelchair to do some walks with.

What else do you do?

I retired at 58 after being made redundant. My DH retired 2 years later after needing heart surgery just as we went into the first lockdown and he was advised to be extra careful, so we took the decision for him to retire at 63. We got a dog and go on lots of walks, occasional lunch or cafe lunch. We still have 2 adult sons living at home so our days are spent together and we generally keep busy.

Some voluntary work which I really enjoy and hill walking. I also belong to wild wanderers but a local branch of it.

Do you enjoy the walks @CorgiCoronet ?

How do you keep your brain working?

I retired early. Book club keeps me thinking more. I like learning stuff, and allow curiosity to take me on a lot of Google searches. Yoga, and walking some ( but not enough).

Would being a trustee appeal? I'm not retired but limited in what hobbies I can do due to illness and being a trustee works well. School governor is another option?

A good family friend started working as a volunteer English tutor with the Refugee Council. It was only 2 hours a week so she could manage it more easily with her health but of course your needs may be different. Her being female was really significant as it enabled women who couldn't be in a room with a man to learn English and have more independence.

I've retired really early, since I've achieved the goal I wanted, before 40.
Now I do a bit of work if I want to, but no, I don't do lunch with friends, at all.
The things I do all day is, to do some voluntary work, to cook, do my hobby, that's all.

Thank you for all those ideas.

i think I need to find something that gives me some sense of purpose Wo it being too demanding (energy/time wise).

All of those are good pointers.

I wen to uni.

Currently taking an OU degree.

I’m disabled and more or less housebound (I don’t go out on my own), I’m also unable to sit comfortably for any length of time

I crochet for myself and for charity, read, write, paint.