Anyone else does not want to retire early?

[CeRaVie]

There are so many posts about burnout, loss of enthusiasm for work, people are desperate to retire early. Personally, while I may have a tough time occasionally, I do not want to retire early. I have not found my true calling but do a decent job and feel valuable. Working keeps me current and mentally active. I am aged 46, paid off mortgage few years back, good marriage, DD is mid twenties and independent, so financially I have more options than many yet being lady of leisure does not appeal. Hating work seems so normal, I have wondered if there are others who get up motivated to work most days?

Same here. I'm 66, get a state pension, a senior railcard, reduced entry to cinemas and other attractions and a free travel pass for buses and trams.

I love my job. I work part time and enjoy the structure and the mental stimulation. It keeps my brain exercised. I also feel valued at work.

DH doesn't really like going anywhere or doing anything interesting and if I stopped working I would just be out of the house volunteering, so I might as well continue doing something I enjoy and get paid for it.

I started a similar thread a while back, OP. I'm 62 and work 30 hours per week and have no wish to retire. I enjoy the structure of work, the routine and social interaction.

I enjoy weekends and holidays but would struggle to fill endless days of retirement with "hobbies."

There's a retirement board on MN full of people "going" at 52 or 55. Good for them but to me it seems young to be "done."

@LornaDuh - my thoughts exactly. I had colleagues who retired in their mid 50s and they do seem "done".
I think the structure and demands of the job have kept me going through very difficult times, and kept me alert and fit. You've got to be on your toes with 30 teenagers in the room. In some ways I don't want to retire, but I've got lots of projects planned.

Thank you! I never comment on the burnout / retire early threads but feel the same way as you all.

Only in early 40s so this may change but I often say I could never imagine fully retiring. Not because there aren't other things I enjoy doing (piano, travel, languages, art) but I love my career and am good at what I do (City FS).

You feel different at 46 to what you do even a couple years later when peri starts making your joints hurt and you’re all over the place physically and mentally. I had quite a swift change from loving my job to wanting to quit and retire and I think peri changes have had a lot to do with it. Hopefully things will change again since I have a long time before I can retire yet.

I’m 58 - 30 years into career as a secondary school teacher and have no intention of retiring. I get the bulk of my pension at 60 - I have to take it at this point so I’ll probably go part time at that point but I’m even havering about that. Brilliant colleagues and a real sense of purpose. My DH who has been teaching a similar length of time but is only 54 would love to retire so it’s not always age related.

You feel different at 46 to what you do even a couple years later when peri starts making your joints hurt and you’re all over the place physically and mentally

For some women, yes, menopause is very challenging but for the majority it isn't. It's important to talk about it but we shouldn't scare younger women. Menopause has become an industry in the UK.

I retired from teaching at 60 in the pandemic but did get bored . I found a day a week volunteering but didn't really like it. Then I was asked to do 2 days per week supply teaching and found I enjoyed that more so I gave up the volunteering I thought I might as well just do the supply and get paid which I still do 2 years later . My DH is 71 and not really one for days out . I meet my friends at least one of the other days and supply teaching means we can take a couple of term time holidays a year. All good !

You can get through the menopause. It seems to be a default problem issue on MN, when in fact often the problem is the husband, or difficult teenagers or whatever. I don't want to minimise what some women go through, and mine wasn't a cake walk, but you can get through it. Then - brilliant, no more periods!
Keep active, keep your brain engaged and you'll function better.

I also think late 40s / 50s is when a lot of women find they’re being pulled in all directions - teenage children, elderly parents and in-laws and work - and it must often feel that work is eating any chance you might have of rest or doing anything for yourself. I do acknowledge that I’m lucky there; we only have one child, DH pulls his weight domestically and we’ve always prioritised my career as it’s a field that pays much better than his. And we’re down to only one parent- my mother, who at the moment is doing OK.

I'll be lucky if I can retire at 85.

I went through a challenging time when one of my DC had difficulties in their teenage years, my husband became very unwell, and I had an elderly relative to care for. So at times you can feel the exhaustion of various demands.

that describes me well, too.

I know people (both sexes) who developed very difficult health conditions at all ages. Every day am grateful for my good health!

I'd be very very bored by retirement. I have managed or ended up working PT a lot which probably helps reduces burnout a lot too. My dad worked until age 78 & my mother intended to do the same. My grandfathers also worked into their 70s.

I retired recently at 60 having thoroughly enjoyed my job. I'm really loving the freedom and time to get things done properly. I'm doing loads more exercise and helping out with grandkids. I see my elderly mum more regularly too and do odd jobs. I do miss my job but retirement is better. I wouldn't consider retiring before 60 though as seems too young.

That's really interesting, we've been having this conversation. We are on track to be able to retire moderately comfortably in our late 50s, but assuming we are still able to work and happy to work (ie decent health, no burnout, enjoying our jobs up to a point) I can't imagine quitting easy, very well paying jobs and enjoying a life of leisure while watching our young adult DC struggle in a housing and jobs market that is objectively much more challenging than we faced when we were their age. I'd rather work for another couple of years and plough all of our earnings into levelling the playing field between our generation and theirs.

It’s lovely to read positive comments!

For those asking about jobs - I am a sales manager in a stock market listed corporate. The job pays well and while we have all the challenges of a matrix organisation, I have been lucky with good bosses and have freedom to hire my own team.

Ref. peri - comments; it’s in full swing already. I exercise mostly daily - if I don’t, that’s when everything aches. This has turned running and gym into self-care instead of a chore. Changing to mini-pill has fixed miserable PMS.

I doubt I would have adopted AI if I was not working. My MIL is 80 and still works as a cleaner, my DM is 74 and still tutors in her subject. DH wants to retire asap, but he is hard worker by nature, so I expect he will be very active with house, garden, car. His weekends are worse than office days 😂

I’m still working at 66. I’ve deferred my pensions. I enjoy my job - I’ve worked hard to get here! I’m fortunate that I’m in good health and not on any medication. I don’t want to retire at the moment - I’m not going anywhere!

I’m a little younger than you, have a very successful career and I really enjoy it and love the people I work with. That being said, I’m looking forward to retiring at some point (hopefully early as he works too hard and we are planning for this). Not because I don’t enjoy my work, but because I’m looking forward to more time with DH, travel etc

I'm almost 65
Have always loved work but had a fabulous 7 years off with the children.
I'm cutting down to three days a week from the end of summer.
DH is a year younger and has the sort of job where he may keep going into his early 70s.

What we are both feeling, however, is the need to pace. If we have a very busy weekend, the following week is a slog. Similarly we can't keep up if we happen to have a social thing mid week. Add in elderly mothers and commitments there and full time becomes trickier.

I am surprised at how much more tired I get now than just a few years ago. Also we lost a friend recently who was 67. It pulled us up. We'd like some quality of retirement.

I started a new career in tech at 54 (15 months ago). I really like the brain stimulation and sense of purpose it gives me, enjoy collaborating with colleagues and the feeling that I am making a contribution to the world.

It's the first full time role I've had for 20 years after being part-time self employed while raising a family.

It's given me a new lease of life, I feel very motivated and don't have a sense of burnout.

I'd like to continue while I'm still capable of doing the job. I've been through menopause so don't have that to contend with. I do my best to stay reasonably fit and healthy, have a good marriage and my DS are doing well and almost independent.

I don’t see myself retiring but I equally absolutely do not understand people who say they would be bored without work/wouldn’t know what to do without it. I could fill months with non-work fun and activities without having to repeat an activity. I was a SAHM for 9 years and fucking loved it, and without the kids around would be next level!

I’m lucky that my job is something I’ll do for the rest of my life whether paid or not. But millions of people aren’t so fortunate and just do whatever job to pay the bills.

Saying you can’t imaging not working (I know you’ve not said that per se but it’s a common MN thread) often makes you sound a bit condescending and 1-dimensional 😬

I enjoy the challenge and structure of work (and the money). I am mid 40s and plan to continue working until at least my late 60s. I have recently started exploring opportunities to start to take on non exec roles so I can have a portfolio career in to, and beyond retirement.

It is really common in my industry for people to do senior and board roles in to their late 60s and even 70s (the chair of our organisation is 76!) So all these people with desk jobs retireing their early 50s baffles me somewhat.

I don't think I do now though maybe I would like to work less days as still full time at 62. I wouldn't be bored I think as have many intetests but I have recently realised that I would probably be negatively affected by lack of office buzz and conversation with younger people as well as feeling useful and productive. I may be one a bit of a house sloth if retired and the weather is not great but am forced to walk to work now

No-one has said they "can't imagine not working", and I don't think there's been anyone condescending on here. It's a response to several threads with people wanting to retire 20 or even 30 years early, which does indicate giving up being economically productive well before time. I suspect that there are other factors at play, though, and I'm always surprised on here by the number of women who have useless partners.

My dad retired at 55, it was not good for his mental health although neither was work. Watching that play out showed me that retiring early required structure.

my mum retired two years ago at 74 and every single conversation we have she complains that she misses working 😂.

i do think work ethic is somewhat inherited / learned. DH has a really strong one, as do his parents, as do I. our kids seem to be inheriting it so far. But all of us are fulfilled by our work, living with purpose is crucial.