Is retirement all it's cracked up to be?

[madroid]

If you have actually retired, are you enjoying it?

All things being equal, without, for example, health problems are you actually enjoying your free time? What do you do? What does your day look like?

I imagine there's a 'honeymoon' period where you relish not having to get up to go to work, catch up with all sorts of things... but then what? What have you got into?

Yes. 100%.

I think there is an element of that as he was such a workaholic.

I was going to say that most of the retired folk I know are so busy they all say they don't know how they had time to go to work.
But, by default, the people that I know, I know because they are out and about joining / taking part in things. I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet those who choose to stay home once they retire.

There is so much to do if you have an open mind and are willing to walk into a building where you haven't yet met people. From really quite active things (one lady I know well into her 70s is cycling to all the Cathedrals in England over the course of this year); to quite cerebral things (I know more than one person who has started an Open University degree once they retired, and another who loves the U3A); to 1001 different ways of volunteering; to more 'social' things like bridge or handbell ringing, or scrabble club or various dance groups or crafts, art class, knit and natter, book clubs. Many of these cost nothing, others cost a nominal amount. Then there are literally all the free things you can do to keep active, walks, chair yoga, tai chi, and so many activities at Churches and Community Centres. Just having the time to meet a friend whether that is for a cuppa or a walk is a pleasure that many didn't have the time for when at work.

I'm not officially retired (2 years to go until state pension), but can't work due to having a stroke 2 years ago, and now Vasculitis. I love not having to work. I was a care worker for many years, and it took me about 18 months to accept my limitations. Now, I go to garden centres, cafes, social clubs, go on day trips, see friends and family. Having better health would be good, but I'm thankful to be as well as I am at the moment.

Well today was a glorious day, we drove to Bosham, in West Sussex.

We had a two hour pub lunch in the sun, well…..I was in the shade…😂

We then walked around the inlet, on the way back we debated stopping at a riverside pub, decided against it ( because we can to that tomorrow) and came home via JS for BBQ stuff for DH and DS.

Tomorrow we have nothing to do………….and all day to do it, I will finish my book.

Hard old station but I am getting used to it.😂😂