Aibu to ask where and when to retire

[Daffodildainty]

Name changed as outing and a bit boasty. I’ve inherited a large amount of money. I’ll be 54 when probate is granted. I’ve a good job which is relentlessly busy. I keep fanaticising about leaving work and moving somewhere naice - maybe the Cotswolds. Is 54 too young to retire (I’d have enough to live very comfortably using my inheritance a pensions I can access at 55 and 60) , where would you suggest I settle. I live in London and would like to stay in the South East to be near my DD.

It is young to retire. Now you have no money worries, could you have the option of working part time? Just to stop you getting bored?

Of course it's not too young to retire. Having money gives you the luxurious option of making choices like this. If you get bored, you can always find a p/t job. Do it op and enjoy yourself!!!

When you say “comfortably” do you mean you can do what you want, so for example holidays, travelling? Or more you could pay all the bills. The later is fine, but I wonder if you’d get bored - you could easily live for another 30 years?

How about a sabbatical from work? What about going PT? You might find actual what you need was a good break not to permanently retire.

Whilst we all have dreams of roses round the door, that reality is, community is very important. If you move you will have no friends, no pattern, no structure, the chances are you could become very lonely in a new environment.

Cotswolds are lovely though, but more Londoners living there now than locals! So it's all very home from home.

My "dream" would be to sell up in London, buy a little cottage in somewhere like Cooden (nicer end of Bexhill) , rent that out and mover to one of the Spanish Islands until my hips pack up and I need the NHS. I have friends that have done this and love their life.

However the reality of my DHs health means I would never move away from premier hospitals in London, not even to the south coast.

Go for it but make sure you live somewhere with things going on. Use this time whilst you’re still young, to learn something new. I love Suffolk.

Retire does not mean do nothing. You will have the choice to do work because you like it, even if it pays badly or not at all.

Get out of London and enjoy. Where? Think climate ( if you want less rain then not Cornwall or places on the wrong side of mountains), transport , health, prices and tourism.

I'm the same age as you and if I inherited enough money to mean I'd never have to work again I would retire so fast you wouldn't see me for dust. I'm not that au fait with the south east but my friend lives in East Sussex and she puts loads of photos on Facebook and it looks lovely

Sounds good to me!

I'm 37 and plan on retiring 45.

I would def retire at 55 if I had enough money to pursue my interests and travel.

I wouldn’t want to move away from friends and family tho.

Retire and do something interesting part time as a way of meeting people and settling to a new area.

I’d be careful retiring to the cotswolds. Nearly fatal for Agatha raisin on several occasions

I’d go for it!

I do think you need to consider location comarefully as new areas can be quite hard to meet people. If you move to a new area and leave your job at the same time you could feel quite groundless. It could work if you make a plan to throw yourself into local activities.

I’d be careful retiring to the cotswolds. Nearly fatal for Agatha raisin on several occasions

I thought this 😂 but that said back in the real world there are some lovely villages- I’d choose a bigger village near to a town with lots going on and find a volunteering interest and/or church I think. Sounds idyllic.

I would buy the place in the Cotswolds, rent it out for a year to 18 months, and go and travel the world. I’d then come back, get rid of all the rental furniture, and spend my time doing it up beautifully and gardening, maybe get involved in local events. In the last five minutes this has become a fully fledged fantasy

OP retire my dear. Make the most of the money enjoy it and spoil your DD and your other children if you have them and any grandchildren you may be lucky enough to have. I have just retired after 38 yrs , very fortunate to have an inheritance left me and I finished 9 months ago I love it . I have not looked back once. I went through a very difficult time trying to decide but in the end I thought if l do go then hate it l can do volunteer or get another job. Go for it !

I retired in September at the age of 54. Love life without work and am never bored. I have extended my hobbies and have time to look after my house and family for the first time in my life.

However, I have made sure I have a group of people I socialise with to replace the vibe at work so staying where I live is important to me.

I will do voluntary work if I feel the need to contribute again but for now I wake up every day with endless possibilities ahead of me and am so grateful to leave the stress of work behind me. Go for it!

I am nearly 50, I will not be retiring just yet. I have two friends, both are 50.

One is planning to retire at 55. Her husband is 10 years older and they share two hobbies which they plan to do more of.

The other is planning to retire at 54. She has a partnership in a business and the landscape is changing within her profession. Her husband works away all week and is home at weekends; he also travels abroad for work often. After many years of this they have had enough.

If you are considering the Cotswolds maybe avoid the tourist areas. If you can afford it go for it. I would like to be able to retire at 60, but we will see.