Morally obliged to volunteer if retired?

[notnownorma]

Just that, really. If one has no grandchildren to care for, is one morally obliged to give something back to the community if no longer working and in good health? If so, how much time is "enough"?

Inspired by a conversation I recently had with someone thinking of retiring soon.

Do what you like. You worked for decades and paid taxes etc. if you are enjoying yourself then you are probably brightening a few people’s days anyway.

I'm nowhere near retiring age but I have two volunteer jobs. One on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. The Tuesday one is at Age UK as a Telephone Befriender and the Wednesday one is at an independent charity which I will not name.

Yes, I'm actively looking for a paid job before anybody asks. I would like nothing more. I'd just rather be contributing something to society in the meantime and making myself feel good in the process.

It was me who said those things.

No one needs to volunteer but the people who, for no good reason don't bother, are leaving more to others.

It's an observation people are entitled to make, whether you like it or not.

I'm afraid you've massively got the wrong end of the stick @Arbesque as nowhere in my post did I say that volunteering has no value. I merely mentioned that I felt massively undervalued at previous jobs and didn't wish to repeat that experience for no financial reward.

FWIW I have volunteered in the past for a cause I believed in and worked with good people but I'm no longer sound enough in wind and limb to continue.

I don't think it's always as simple as leaving more to others. You can't give what you don't have and a lot of volunteering needs very specific skills. There's not going to be a good fit for everyone.

Fuck that

Well That's not how the tone of your email came across.

Perhaps because of the attitude displayed by some posters who find volunteers in their organisation to be a complete pain, (see above) along with the experiences of other PPs, ex-volunteers, who tell us they were put upon, not valued and generally exploited.
Frankly after working hard for over 30 years, paying additional voluntary contributions into my pension so that I could retire early, (and still paying taxes on my pension and other income) I don't see why the hell I shouldn't just kick back and enjoy life.
And go on holiday whenever I like without officious (paid) charity workers moaning about it. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

But there's a million and one things you can volunteer for. I mean there's no point in me offering to be treasurer of the residents association or to be a legal expert for the local citizens advice Centre.

However there's lots of other areas where I can contribute when I retire.

Arbesque, you have commented on Bucket's "tone"; yet you refer to people who don't volunteer "for no good reason". Can you really not see that you are coming across as preachy?

No
I'm answering a question on a chat forum with my honest view.
I don't go around telling people in real life that they should be volunteering. There's a difference.

They're not necessarily all going to be on your doorstep are they though?

So are you going to acknowledge that the OP didn't say what you said she did?

In the sense of "what we owe to each other" then yes I do feel an obligation to volunteer. As part of society, I feel a duty of care for it, and for others. I want to be treated kindly, and helped when I need it, so if I want that I should give that. Those are my personal values.

I'm not making laws about what other people do.

For me, volunteering has been a huge part of my life and has made it a good life. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to work with other people on meaningful projects, to make friends and learn things, and in a small, personal way, improve the world I'm in a bit. I live here, after all.

No but some will.

And sometimes nothing will. We don't all drive or live in cities.

Nopethey need to be spending on holidays, in shops, restaurants and propping up the economy

What volunteering are people talking about actually?

I am retired but my time is extremely precious and I definitely have far fewer years ahead than are behind me.

However I am happy to support various charities close to my heart with regular donations. They seem appreciative.

There should be no moral obligation. And if it wasn't constantly stuffed down people's throats as their obligation to give something back or whatever to society, maybe people would be more willing to do something.

No there isn't and after nearly 50 years in the NHS I won't be doing anything but my hobbies. I'm worn out.

The very definition of 'voluntary' is 'acting of one's own free will'.

This is a bit of a strange thread. Someone upthread said that people who retire in their 50s should be made to do unpaid work. I think this person is probably taking the piss but there are plenty of people (women?) in their 50s who are both looking after elderly parents and teenage children. Or grandchildren (I know of some who were expected to do some fairly serious childcare as soon as they retired). Or looking after an unwell spouse.

I’d love it if we (society?) started valuing women’s labours a bit more. A lot of what women do is unseen - it may look like someone is having a marvellous, relaxing retirement but there’s a good chance that a load of other people are actually relying on them in various, small ways.

Why do people talk about volunteering like you can just ring some number, and be in a role the next week?

For many volunteer roles, it is like applying for a paid role. You need a CV, references, sometimes a DBS check, go through an interview etc. And at the end, you can still get rejected.
I can understand why someone would not want to put themselves through that unless they really wanted to do it.

I still don't get this "pay back to society". Did people not do anything good or beneficial to others before retirement or something?