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.

It's not stuffed down people's throats as an obligation. I've never been made feel obliged to volunteer and neither has anyone I know.

I am 69, in reasonable health and retired but I do not volunteer which means I am one of those who let others do what is needed. I became a child carer at 10 and continued on as a carer for different relatives until 2020 ( two weeks before lockdown). So 57 years of caring responsibilities. I also used my working life skills as a volunteer before and after retirement.
Being alone in my home for three months during lockdown gave me a space to consider my life and I decided to not take on any more commitments. If this makes me selfish and lazy, so be it. For the next while, I am going to focus on myself.

If I had wanted to do something I would have carried on working but I didn't

So you have volunteered. And also had caring duties.
I'm not sure what your point is. No one has said you should be out there contributing more or you've let others do what is needed.

What are you trying to twist things?

I think that volunteering is partly driven by a need to keep busy. Both my parents have volunteered since retirement because they would get bored just pottering about. Some people are happy just pottering about. It's each to their own.

The problem is pensioners on final salary schemes retiring in their 50s then just enjoying life at our expense,

What on earth are you talking about?

Yes, DH gets easily bored and starts pacing about if he hasn't much to do and he's stuck inside so he does some admin type stuff for his sports clubs

The problem is pensioners on final salary schemes retiring in their 50s then just enjoying life at our expense,

What do you mean, "at our expense"? Someone on a final salary pension scheme financially contributed to their pension for many years, worked for it and EARNED it. It wasn't a free gift.

@thetemptationofchocolate what is it you do at home? I don’t discount the idea of volunteering (unless some self-righteous Mumsnetter is trying to tell me it’s my moral duty) but having been in a profession with very rigid time constraints for over thirty years, there is no way I will be volunteering for anything that ties me down to a set weekly timetable.

Be specific, please?

OK, fair enough. I'm staying in my deckchair, though 😎🍷

This is getting strangely close to quoting my own posts, my own responses to posts plus notnownorma, biscuit and arbesque ad infinitum...
If you read back you'll see that I have responded to individual posts -make of that what you will, I haven't misquoted anyone. 🙃Really .Pull up a chair and have some cake.🍩

Can I also add that even though you're volunteering and not paid you have to be reliable. Someone constantly not showing up for their stint at the charity shop or their rostered morning for delivering meals on wheels is more of a hindrance than a help.

@Arbesque not at all the point of the thread (or even your post) but where do you live that meals on wheels is still a thing?

@MrsFezziwig This is absolute nonsense - you don't pay anything towards the final salary scheme of pensioners. Their enjoying life at their own expense!

Tax payers pay for the state pension, which is essentially a benefit - just like today's pensioners did for their elders.

@MrsFezziwig Sorry I aimed that at the wrong person - totally agree with you!

Oh dear, I owe you an apology Ilovesooty, I've just trawled back, and did say OP when I was replying to Arbesque 😮Apologies to OP as well.

I would do it for selfish reasons - people who volunteer have better community connections and feel better about themselves, which contributes to better health.

Thanks. Sorry - scrap the post I just made.

Dont' be sorry, you were right to call me out , thank you 🍫

It's also good if you are serial killer no one will suspect! "Oh no but she volunteered at local church😳"

@BloodyHellKen In a society as described I think that raising children can be compared to building a house. We need people who are younger/stronger/physically well as we age, or during times of illness. Young people are as good a resource as a building. Women risk their lives to provide them. Traditionally those women would be running the home and still foraging, cooking etc. In other words, the grunt work that keeps societies going.

There'd be a lot more money needed for social care if it wasn't for mainly femal neighbours, making up what's lacking in care plans. Women have always seen to the human side of things. It's frustrating how we have a lack of recognition towards the women who reformed prisons, asylums, the work houses, care of the poor etc etc.

Volunteering should be a positive experience. If people aren't your thing, most animal charities need volunteers. I'm thinking of trying out volunteering in a community kitchen. I loved my times working in professional kitchens. I just couldn't earn enough and get hours to suit to make it a career.

I also think that volunteering can be the best anti-aging thing that you can do.

Oh come on. Prople don't have children for society. They are risking lives because they want them. While society may benefit from some of the children, the act of having them is not altruistic but purely selfish "I want it". Which is fine, but it shouldn't be sold as some massive goft and sacrifice for society

Excuse me? I never said any such thing, but thanks for the threat of violence.😳😳