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?

I can't imagine retiring I would be bored to tears & just end up sat at home in from of the tv drinking wine. No good for anyone

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

Actually, it's you who could be accused of sounding condescending (though I'm sure you don't mean to).

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

You're implying that you have a richer hinterland than those of us who aren't in a rush to retire. Everything I enjoy doing - walking, reading, Pilates, seeing my adult daughter, being with DH, travelling - I can fit into the evenings and annual leave. I like my job, love my colleagues and don't want to trade that for more leisure time.

I retired at 67, I really enjoyed my job and felt a bit scared as I liked the structure work gave to my life.
Then I just decided that I had had enough, my DH had retired earlier in the year and we are financially secure, so I retired that Christmas.

I miss that 'Friday feeling' buzz and Bank Holidays are just another day, but I still meet up with my old colleagues.
I have hobbies outside the home, plus the babysitting! and my garden is an ongoing project.

But there will come a time when you know you have had enough.

I dont think I would physically be able to do my job til government retirement age. 12 hr shifts on my feet and dodgy joints just dont go together, I'll be lucky to make it to 60!

I imagine its much easier to work longer if you have a sitting down job though!

Few people with physically demanding jobs keep them until retirement. They move up (into management) or sideways (into less physically demanding roles that might be more desk based) or go do completely different work (like Lucy Kellaway switching from Financial journalist to teaching in schools).

I am 74 and do a couple of days a week in a supermarket. We really have a good laugh and I am busy and happy

I imagine its much easier to work longer if you have a sitting down job though!

Maybe but there are lots of musculoskeletal problems can arise from long hours sitting at a computer. Plus eye strain.

If your job is very physical and you don't want to/can't retire, you'll need to look gor something else.

Recently went from 40 hours pw, half hour drive to work to a new job, 35 hours a week and it's very local so I walk to work. A couple of years ago, I was struggling with work - doing shifts with 7am starts and a 40 minute drive. Would happily do what I am doing now for as long as they'll have me.

I don't have elderly parents to care for, if I did I think I would feel differently.

Sitting down job usually means more mentally taxing, at least it does in my case. Brain fog and tiredness from insomnia is not conducive to doing a mentally challenging job.

I absolutely loved my job and would 100% have said I would never retire.
When I was 50 it was like a switch flicked - I was done. I retired that year.