What would your ideal retirement look like?

[CommeIlFaut]

Assuming good health and a decent income, what would your ideal retirement be like?

DH and I are starting to think about this at the moment. It’s scary as it’s a very different life stage, but also exciting.

Where would you live?
Who would you live with?
What will holidays look like?
What interests do you hope to follow?

So far I’ve (not very imaginatively) managed:

Dropping to one day a week of freelance work at 55
Doing a degree in anthropology (DH hopes to do a creative writing MA.)
Visiting some amazing places around the world while we still can.
A bolthole in a village in France we love, and where we have family ties.)
Buying a three bedroom Victorian house in a market town near London with plenty going in.
Volunteering with a local charity supporting refugees.
Joining a walking group. Keeping up singing in a choir. Avoiding becoming involved in local politics.
Staying fit, swimming or Pilates most days.
Cooking lovely food, making a beautiful garden.
Keeping friendships going, visiting my BF in Oz every couple of years and my friends in Eswatini and Vermont, making new friends of all generations.
Helping out our kids practically and financially. Travelling with them if they like. Secretly yearning for grandchildren.

It sounds lovely written down. I’m sure life will get in the way!

Wow sounds like you are going to be very busy and have a very decent pension! I am retired and do a lot (some) of the things on your list, I think making new friends of all generations may be tricky though, most of my friends are from when my kids were young so I've known them for many years

Wow....that sounds like a wonderful fantasy but there is no way my very good pension will allow me those things. I will also probably work until I'm 66. However, at that point I do hope to change gear and pursue some hobbies. I'm not waiting for retirement, health cannot be assumed, I'm living my life now.

Came on MN talk as I have worried myself with thinking about my retirement. I retire mid July. Plan on moving to the area my daughter lives but I know only a handful of folks as acquaintances. I spend half the week there as it is.
I'm worried I'll be socially isolated (other than DH). Just looking at volunteering opportunities.
Because I'm in different places half the time, I've not really cultivated friendships where I work and where my main home is. But I really love the part of the country I'm planning to move to and have had a holiday home there for 20 years (designated as a second home development so I'm not depriving locals of housing and I buy the vast majority of my stuff locally- presents, food, clothing etc)
It'll be like jumping in to a cold pool and hoping I swim!

Small farmhouse in the Catalan countryside, not far from a decent sized town. Just DH and me and a handful of dogs and donkeys.
Space for adult DC and possible grandchildren. Pool. Barbecue area (for calçotadas).
Lots of reading and pottering, walks and swimming.

I'll have to work until I'm 67 so I'm hoping my Ds will be independent by then.

Im in an exercise group now with lots of women in the same situation as me so I really hope we'll all still exercise together and there's a really sociable element to the group so I'd hope that would still be there.

I'd like to be in the situation of having a couple of holidays a year though I'm a homebird so I'm happy with destinations in Europe.

I'd like to stay living where I am! I like it here and we're working away at the garden to get it looking gorgeous. Plus we have great neighbours too.

Not terribly exciting but it's what I'd genuinely like.

I have retired and await DH who is a couple, of years younger. We expected to both be retired by 60 but now it’s looking by 58. Thank you investments.

I volunteer with 2 charities, do a dance and art class, about to start another dance class. Belong to two women’s hiking groups, one is a bit inactive but the other has stuff on every week. I also belong to a quiz group but that’s just once a month. I have been invited to join the WI but have enough on. Meet a friend for lunch every week. See other friends as and when.

When he retires we will buy a motorhome and travel round the UK and also winter for 3 months a year in Spain. We have relatives in France, Spain and Norway so will visit. Last year I went back to my hometown and stayed for three weeks. A week with each relative/ friend. We will motorhome like this for as long as it appeals plus health allows. We also plan a road trip across Canada and America, I have a lot of relatives in America so will drop in to see them. Then when older will cruise.

We may relocate but slightly unsure.

We will assist with a house deposit for DS but there is no way I’m giving him huge chunks of cash on a regular basis. We have taught him all about investing and he started at 19 . He got on to a degree apprenticeship at 20 after A levels so he will have zero debt and is already on close to 30k. DD very sadly died a few years ago and after much sadness and reflection I know for sure she would hate for me to be miserable. It made me realise very much that you get one life and that’s it.

My goal would be to travel a bit. I'd love to go away for a month at a time which is basically impossible while working. So I guess my main goal would be to have good health as I'm already dealing with a health condition and I'm a long, long way from retirement.

I retired 3 years ago aged 61. Mainly due to disabilities. I downsized from a 4 bed semi to a 1 bed bungalow closer to my 2 adult DC. I help them out with practical issues and they do the same for me.
I'm not interested in travel abroad. I love the UK countryside and have regular trips away to visit beautiful places. I have lots of great day trips both alone or with my DC. A couple of weeks ago I flew with my DD to Belfast for the day to visit The Giant's Causeway. I go to music festivals and gigs all over the country either with DD or alone. I use public transport only and enjoy that. I paid cash for my bungalow when I sold the family home. I have two small work pensions and top it up with the equity remaining from my house sale. I should receive my state pension in 3 years.
I also volunteer for a charity close to my home and love my small garden.
I am contented with my life and am thoroughly enjoing retirement

Those who plan to live in Europe, how will that work following Brexit? Though I know Portugal has a very good retirement visa deal.
i would hope to still be working a couple of mornings a week. I can work online so I’d like to spend a couple of months at a time in different places. We’ve got lots of experience with pets so maybe doing house sitting, in Canada, Europe etc.
ill downsize here, also have a rental property so hopefully can manage that.

We have another 15-20 years of working at this point, but I don't see a huge amount changing. We'll probably stay in this house and we already indulge our hobbies and interests. We're dual citizens, so we'll probably spend more time in our other country - particularly in winter when it's dark and miserable here. The restrictions of work and school holidays prevent that atm.

I'm retired.
I'm at this very moment laid on a sunbed in the Canaries.
I'm single but have a very very close relationship with my daughters/ Grandkids and sister.
I'm also disabled .
But being in the sun is the best medication.
I don't particularly do anything different other than holidaying more and spending more time with my family .
If was able l think l might..
I used to love DIY and going to thr gym which l would have done more of.
I do go swimming .
We visit different towns and cities .. places of interest.. drive to the coast once a week.
I tend to read more.. but always been an avid reader.
I'm just happy l wake up every morning and my heart is still beating and it's receiving and giving love.

No idea if I will make it to retirement. It’s difficult to think about it as we have another 3 years plus of uni fees so not thinking about anything until that financial weight is lifted.

I WFH and can do it from abroad and enjoy it - so can’t see stopping any time soon. Maybe at 65 I’ll reduce my hours. I’d like to go to Greece for a couple of months May-June, although that’s the best time in our garden at home….

DH and I were pondering letting out our house and renting a 2 bed flat in London for say 6-12 months for a different experience. We both lived in London pre kids and miss it.

I probably know more what I don’t want. I don’t want to become wrapped up in village life - politics, fundraising, do goodery. And this will sound awful - I don’t want to give any more. No volunteering. No caring. I’m done with looking after other people and I’m done with doing grunt work for free.

I’ve recently retired and I’m living my dream life.

Flat-share in London (so I don’t have to worry about maintenance, and I can move at short notice if I get bored) - and my cost of living is considerably less than when I lived in a Home Counties village, so even on my pension, I have more disposable income
Gym or swimming most days - so I’m fitter than I’ve ever been
Theatre, opera or ballet two or three times a week - I get the cheapest seats up in the gods so I can go to more things
Loads to do during the day - museums, art galleries, historical and cultural places, free lunchtime concerts, plus the fact that walking anywhere is always interesting
Local WI and walking group to meet people
Free public transport anywhere in the London area

I am fortunate that I don’t have to take anyone else’s wishes into account - I suspect it’s a lot harder for couples because you have to take two people’s dreams into account.

I am sort of semi-retired. I'm 62 and got my occupational pension at 60. I'm still working part-time though and probably will be until the State Pension kicks in at 67.
My 'ideal' retirement would probably need a lot more money than I currently have. I'd probably like to stay living where I am now (London) but I'd like to travel a lot and that's expensive.
I would like to get a dog too.

@LoserWinner That sounds wonderful! Did you find it easy to find a suitable flat share?

Love your list OP. To the PPs who are worried about social isolation can I recommend you see if there is a branch of the National Women’s Register near you? I’ve recently moved, slightly pre-retirement, and joined to get to know people. Fabulous sparky older women who do loads of great trips out as well as the more usual book clubs, games get togethers and quizzes. I look at what they are up to during my workdays and feel envious! They also seem to be a group where you can see if anyone fancies joining you if there’s a film or show you want to see. The subs are £32 a year.

No - I already knew the couple I now share with, so when they were looking for a place to share, they kept me in the loop.

I am 55 and retired, I am very happy with my lifestyle.
I go on holiday abroad every 6 weeks.
I am a member of a lovely health club and I go twice a week to do different classes and chill. It’s very friendly, I have made a friend and also have chats with other members.
I have a few very good friends and see at least one friend each week. We usually go to the cinema, shopping or out for dinner.
I have a day out with my DH once a week (plus our normal weekend stuff), we usually go for a walk and have lunch out.
I plan to move areas in five years or so when my young adult DC ate a bit older.

Generally our activities & interests haven't changed that much since retiring, but not working allows us to take longer or do things more frequently.

For example, we enjoy walking, would try to fit in a long walk once a month when working. Now we try to get out once a week and add in a leisurely pub lunch.

Gym: i worked long hours and sometimes away. I never had the energy before or after work so was limited to the weekend. Now I take classes most days.

I have a huge collection of cookery books. I had the shocking realisation that even if I cooked something new every day , I'd never make even a fraction of the recipes. Now meal planning can take a lot longer than it did, including looking through cookery books and meals can take longer and be more interesting than the usual repertoire when working.

My work pattern meant that my volunteer activities had to be ad hoc not regular. I now have a weekly commitment.

Travel used to be a week at Easter and a fortnight in summer. Now we go somewhere every couple of months, slowly working through a list of places we want to visit.

We don't want to invest in a holiday home as we like visiting different places but I can see the attraction of that.

I can also see the attraction of relocating eg away from a town to the coast, but I am enjoying the opportunity to meet up with friends and enjoy life in the community wr have lived in since we were first married.

We are just talking about this. I’m 42, he’s 50. We are thinking of buying a place somewhere warm to spend half the year at. Not sure what to do with our home. It’s gorgeous, I love it but it’s too big for old age. I’m planning to retire at 55. But hope he takes more time to himself from 55 too. Youngest is still only 6 so need to get them through college and into independence.

Campervan, dog, husband, surf and paddleboards and travelling around the coast - England to start with and the Europe if we have time and money.

Twoshoesnewshoes I married a local, and have Catalan DC and residency. Very lucky, I know.

In the ideal world, a campervan, holidays abroad, meeting up with friends, finding a new hobby, lots of reading In reality it'll be current mini UK breaks we do now (still nice to do), the odd trip abroad, meeting up, a new hobby lots of reading. I like the thought of volunteering, but haven't come across anything I'm really passionate about (will be retiring in three years I'm keeping my eyes open).

I’m sort of semi retired (I do supply teaching to top up my teachers’ pension until state pension comes in, but I’m keeping it to as little as I can get away with - I’m also fortunate enough to have a some savings from the sale of my late parents’ house to top up any cash flow issues). This is how it looks:
I moved to near a city so I knew I’d be able to access hospitals etc as I age. Countryside and old age are not a good mix. This also opened up more supply opportunities as I used to live very rurally.
I go to choir.
I joined a concert band and an orchestra.
I’ve done an adult course at the university on the history of Wales.
I’ve joined U3A but not done anything with them yet.
I’ve started as a volunteer dog walker for the local dogs’ home.
I do a book club.
I travel a fair bit (4 places in the next month and a half, but not normally as much as that!).
I go to the theatre.

I bloody love it. Money can be a bit tight, but being free of all the nonsense of full time teaching is worth a bit of charity shop dressing and lentil based meals…

Ideal retirement would be largely based in Tuscany