To wonder if any of you are retired, and what did it feel like?

[Lydiaatthebarre]

A woman in work is retiring today and is quite choked up and tearful about it. We're all saying that we'll have a big smile on our faces when it's our turn to go, but in reality I know that it must be quite a strange day and I can imagine feeling a mixture of euphoria and sadness.

Just wondering if any retired MNetters can remember how they felt on their very last day at work?

Some way away from retirement yet but I remember when my old boss was retiring, he actually went on a course about how to cope with retirement. It seems like it's a happy moment and it probably is but it's a big life event and I'd imagine life changing too. A lot of people live their lives through work and when they leave work, it feels like that lose their sense of purpose. It probably sounds a bit sad but it happens to many. That's why they keep telling us all to keep hobbies and build lives outside work.

I retired in September 2017. Well over retirement age ++. I loved my job in the NHS and had gone down to 3 days which worked well. Over the previous 2 years my DM had been in a care home. I felt guilty about it but realistically there was no way I could become her carer. I would have resented it and she wouldn't have liked it. I decided to keep working until she passed away which she did in the August the year before I retired when she was just over 100!
Then I thought its time for DH and me. Its all been good, I did a course for a year with students who could have been my children, great fun, thoroughly enjoyed it and got my Diploma.
What I had noticed is DH's mobility had decreased quite considerably and going off at 7.00 am and coming home at 4.00 pm when I was working I wasn't so aware of it. I would say now I'm too introspective about everything, health, aware of our ages etc and its got to stop! Financially we are fine and I'm gradually getting the house "oldie proofed".
DH has been home for years and enjoys his life so now I need to find something I really want to do. I miss the company but I'm making new friends so that's good. Its also nice to be on hand for DG. Also like the fact we can go out for lunch and not look at our watches.
Sorry, didn't realise how long this was.

I would have preferred to go part time, or alternatively would have carried on working for 2-3 more years, but was offered redundancy (though it was entirely my decision). I did worry a bit about how I would manage as I’ve always been pretty wedded to my work, and I also worried about interaction as I live alone and always enjoyed discussing all sorts of topics with my colleagues. It did feel very unreal walking out of work on my last day, I couldn’t really imagine that I wouldn’t be coming back the next day.

I actually haven’t missed work at all, as although I need interaction I’ve discovered I don’t need it for 12 hours a day. I’ve started activities I never had time for while working, see much more of my friends and family. I think I’m healthier as I’m not permanently tired, get more sleep and have more time to exercise. It’s blissful not to have to waste time on a stressful commute, and I can do things on the spur of the moment if I want, as well as not having to fit in with 8 other people if I want to take a holiday.

The poster who says that there is evidence that continuing to work halts mental decline isn’t wrong, but I think there’s also evidence that the older you get the more chance you have of contracting a serious illness. I’ve been lucky to have pretty good health all my life, and I didn’t want to be the person who carried on working and then got sick 6 months after I retired.

bananaskin123 my post was long too! Obviously because of all the spare time we’ve got to write our posts!

Loved my job and thought I would miss it but absolutely don't. Not for a moment. I spend more time with my animals, my hobbies, my grandchildren, holidays, not stuck indoors all day

The first 6 months are a bit strange, the first month is like a holiday then it feels a bit aimless and purposeless until you get organised and replan your life the way you want it. If you like to feel needed there are plenty of ways of doing that

In answer to the question about money, I wouldn't want to manage on my state pension because I didn't want a massive change in my life style. I like clothes and holidays too much - shallow as a puddle, me!

And, like some pps, I have no idea how I got myself out of the house at silly o'clock, all dressed up, hair done and full makeup, it feels miraculous to me too. I do miss the intellectual challenge of work but I'm planning on doing a Masters and that should challenge me plenty!

Nothing but relief - it was lovely

@abitlosthere yes I did stop work early!! I was moving abroad though and knew I wouldn't be able to work until my residence had been sorted out (and that would be a while) and planned to have children. --

Also, there aren't really jobs where I live that I can do. I could travel for work but the cost of that would make it pointless plus I don't want to!

I have been retired for 10 years now, I have many interests and volunteer as well. Would I go back to work? YES in a heartbeat, I can honestly say I detest every minute of being retired.

But why, lovesugar?

I was looking forward to seeing more if my parents when they retired. I think I see less of them as they are so busy!

I enjoyed my work and colleagues very much, felt very sad on retirement, felt I had become a second class citizen, life not the same.

My DH (66) retired early November ‘21 from self employment in building trade...I’m 61 (self employed) managing/cleaning holiday homes which I love and plan to continue doing.
We are very different people and herein lies the problem.....I love being busy, have friends, voluntary work , strong supportive family and like new experiences however my husband lives a very solitary existence (no friends and not close to his family) just walks the dog, watches tv and play's his guitar.
I have tried talking to him many times about his plans for retirement and the importance of having structure, keeping busy and meeting new people but he seems to resent it and gets annoyed. I suggested we join something together ie learning to dance, singing or anything which is fun and asked him to find out about it.... nothing happened.
So here I am feeling “suffocated“ by his constant presence at home and concerned that he is ageing too fast and the thought of years of this ahead of us...anyone going or been through the same thing? 🤷‍♀️

@Lovethespring this is a zombie thread, best start your own - Relationships would be a good spot.

I retired at 57, from teaching. So glad l got out.

I thought I’d struggle but l love it. Never get bored.

It's glorious. I used to get a long break over Christmas and New Year which was lovely in itself but then there was the heartsink moment when I had to go back to work. I don't miss my old job in the slightest. It did help that a friend who is still there has been keeping me up to date with a nasty situation that kicked off after I left and which would have been very unpleasant indeed to be caught up in. The infighting and office politics is the thing I am most delighted about waving goodbye to.

I wish I'd ever had a job that I really loved, but sadly I never did. I don't deal all that well with stress, and that made working very difficult at times.

I have been retired some years now and loathe every minute of it, would go back to work tomorrow if I could.

Oops. Missed it was a zombie!

I know this is a zombie but I’m posting anyway. I retired two and a half years ago and to echo a pp it is glorious. And to echo another thread, Fridays are not quite the same but they are still nice. Weekends still feel like weekends only more relaxed because there’s no pressure to get things done in preparation for the working week - food shopping, washing/ironing etc. and there’s no Monday morning feeling. Don’t miss my job at all.