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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Will you travel when you retire?

108 replies

Storm4star · 08/06/2018 17:52

Having read a few threads about retirement, mainly people discussing pensions, and also from real life conversations. People will often say they need a certain amount of money in retirement so they can still travel or, in some cases, start to travel!

Now I can understand more if people like beach/poolside holidays where you literally just laze all day and maybe eat out in the evening. Or a very gentle cruise. Of course you can still do that at 75 (health permitting). But I genuinely hate those kinds of trips. I like to be doing activities or going off exploring for hours. If I want to just chill I'm happy to sit on my sofa with a book for free!

I just feel that by the time I'm in my 70's I just won't have the energy for long haul, or intense busy trips. I already feel a difference in energy levels/tolerance for jet lag etc in my late 40's compared to in my early 30's so I can only imagine how tough it would feel at 75.

So I guess I'm asking when people say that about travelling, are they talking about just continuing their usual fortnight in the sun or whatever, or something more strenuous? In which case do people think they would have the energy for major worldwide trips?

I do know a couple of people IRL who say they will go on major trips when they're old, AIBU in thinking they're kidding themselves a bit and should do it now while they can enjoy it?

OP posts:
Iflyaway · 08/06/2018 20:09

I've been a single parent for ever.

Did it all alone as well as working and taking care of my elderly parents, luckily with family members.

Now I have time for myself, son is adult and I go solo whenever and wherever I get a chance to.

It's brilliant. And the more you do the more confident you get.

Like the Lama reminded me ("No-one will be lying on their death bed saying I wish I had spent more time at the office/Wish I'd kept a cleaner house").

I don't want to be lying on my death bed saying "I wanted to see that great big beautiful world out there but had no-one to come with me!"

Grin

Oh, and I'm third of a way through my 60's.....

MinaPaws · 10/06/2018 08:03

@Iflyaway - I love that attitude. I feel the same. Big world out there. Really have spent far too long not seeing it.

Claystone · 10/06/2018 08:14

We have retired and technically should have the time to travel. However, looking after two sets of elderly parents means even getting a week away once a year is difficult

justilou1 · 10/06/2018 08:18

My great aunt just came back from an Alaskan cruise - she celebrated her 104th birthday on board. She has done all kinds of amazing trips and she doesn’t see the world from behind her iPhone either. (Yes, she has an iPhone...) She has the most amazing stories of places she has been, people she has met, food she has eaten, etc and is one of the most energetic and youngest-thinking people you’re likely to encounter. Puts me to shame, really.

Taffeta · 10/06/2018 08:22

If we both make it to retirement we have a few plans for luxury trips to India & Japan

No backpacking or hostel accommodation thanks!

QueenofLouisiana · 10/06/2018 08:32

I hope so. My DPs retired about 8 years ago and have pottered around Europe for most of that time- road trips mainly so that their beloved dog could join them. The dog sadly died 2 years ago, so last year they decided to do things they hadn’t been able to earlier: Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean.

I think retirees have a much younger mindset than in the past and often have many years when they can expect to be healthy enough to travel. I’m not sure I’ll have the same number of years as the retirement age has increased and will probably do the same again before I get there.

I’m planning on Southern Europe and Asia.

Thursdaydreaming · 10/06/2018 08:36

It's a bit of both I think. Often when I've taken a tour I've noticed that it's half retirement age people. Especially if it's an active/adventure type thing, eg, Everest bade camp, Inca trail, cycling holiday. As PP said the older people are usually the fittest in the group.

On the other hand, I've known a couple of people that didn't like travel, but liked to imagine they did, and talked about all the things they would do in 40 years when they retired. Of course, if they really wanted to do those things, they would do them now.

PinkSuitcases · 10/06/2018 08:40

My parents have just retired and have stepped up their travelling which was already pretty non stop. In the last year they've fitted in two US trips, a month in NZ, 3 weeks touring India and a beach/relaxing holiday in Malaysia.
I think they intend to do similar as long as they can! They're both around 60 and fit and healthy so not particularly old though. I can see them slowing down in the next 10 years or so maybe.

Furrycushion · 10/06/2018 08:42

My parents travelled into their 80s. Mainly cruises & road trips (South Africa, USA, Canada). They had a great time & I'm so happy they were well enough.

lynmilne65 · 10/06/2018 08:43

My sister and bil hiked around South America for 3 months, both in 70's!!!

exLtEveDallas · 10/06/2018 08:50

Once DD has grown the plan is to downsize here and buy a place abroad (Canaries, Cyprus or mainland Spain) and spend blocks of time there, maybe 3 or 4 month stints.

We'd also like to do a US road trip (Inspired mainly by DDD and Man Vs Food!)

If we stick to the 'when DD is 25' rule we made up, then I'll be nearly 60 and DH 65. Hopefully still fit and heathy.

BitchQueen90 · 10/06/2018 09:03

No. I likely won't be able to retire until I am of state pension age. Which will probably be 70+ by then. I might have health issues or may not even live that long so I'm not waiting until retirement.

I'd rather do it while I'm young and fit to be honest. I'm a single mum and I go on trips now with DS. I had him young and by the time he's an adult I'll only be 40. So if I want to do any child free trips I'll still be plenty young enough then, I'll just fit it around work.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 10/06/2018 09:08

We travel in England, but can’t afford overseas trips now. But we live near the sea and have access to nearby countryside.

I’d love to do road trips and see places outside Europe that I’ve not been to, but it won’t happen unless we win the lottery. I like being at home though and wouldn’t want to lose that.

Clutchcar10 · 10/06/2018 09:38

I always thought that I would wait until retirement to travel long haul or camper van more locally. However, due to a few events in life and hearing stories from older people who have been unable to travel long haul due to ill health, I have started traveling much earlier than planned. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed travels to lots of local and long haul destinations. I don't want to look back and say I wish I had done that or gone there. I am fortunate that I can afford travels now and I already have some finances in place for retirement. I have just enjoyed 3 days away on a sporting holiday with excellent weather, it was worth every penny spent. You cannot put a price on doing things that you enjoy.

RisingPheonix · 10/06/2018 09:42

I have done a lot of travelling in my life as I lived overseas for a total of 19 years on Europe and Asia. I still want to do lots of travel when I am older though if I can.

Don't want to travel though. My mum died suddenly just after her 60th birthday. She used to say she was looking forward to being 60 and would use her free bus pass to go here there and everywhere. My mum died and a few days later we got a letter about the bus pass. That has stuck in my mind.

RisingPheonix · 10/06/2018 09:43

Don't wait, not want.
Bloody autocheck in here weeks havoc Hmm

RisingPheonix · 10/06/2018 09:43

Did it again!!!!!!!!!

HRTpatch · 10/06/2018 09:50

I'm retired at 58 and my dh will semi retire in a year.
We plan to go away every 6 weeks for a week ...somewhere in Europe.
Plus a couple of nights every month in this country.
We want to do big holidays in America and Canada..road trips.
Not interested in beaches.
We are lucky that we can afford to be able to that and not worry about sticking to a budget.

AlessandroVasectomi · 10/06/2018 09:53

2 of my children live abroad (long haul) so if we want to visit them, we have to travel to China and the USA. One got married in Mexico, the other in New Zealand. I had never done long haul before I retired but now I have many air miles!

People in their 70s and beyond may not have the energy to travel, but if you retire in your 60s (as we did) you should still be able to cope. We’re doing as much as we can while we can.

RisingPheonix · 10/06/2018 09:54

I am 50 next year and already setting goals for the end of the next 10 years. My DH said we can sell up and buy a place in Spain and he can work M-Th in London then work from home and have weekend in Spain. I can stay there FT.

Bloody brilliant!!!!

AnnaMagnani · 10/06/2018 09:59

Absolutely I will be travelling with my DH but neither do we want to wait either.

DH has severe glaucoma - by the time he is 75 he may not be able to sit by a pool reading a book anymore as he may not be able to see the book.

I work in end of life care. One of my earliest patients was someone of retirement age who had spent their life working to buy a house in Spain and then died having bought the house but never getting to set foot in it.

On this basis we want to do things now and later. Yes, we can't do bigger trips now but we don't plan to leave retirement too late either and are financial planning now to make this possible.

Fuckitbucket13 · 10/06/2018 10:03

Hopefully yes. I've done loads of travelling already & I'm not the sort to wait & do things when I have more time/ money. I've watched too many friends & family put things off 'until' only to then get ill.
One of my friends has always been & still is obsessed with money even though she's too ill to actually do anything.
It's an excellent lesson, just do it!

WowLookAtYou · 10/06/2018 10:08

Presumably people will do what their health and interests dictate, surely?
My parents went all round the world, on a variety of trips, but as they got older and less-mobile, adapted the trips to fit.

Sevendown · 10/06/2018 10:09

A relative travelled round South America at 69.

grauduroi · 10/06/2018 10:13

Absolutely hope that we will travel and explore. My parents (late 70s) have just taken their caravan to spain/portugal for 6 weeks to explore! My father has some mobility problems but they have adapted the car/caravan and off they've gone....with our best wishes. I hope that I will have the same drive when I get to their age.