Warning: this post may cause a little envy… but only a tiny bit 😏

[Flowerofdestiny]

Does anyone in their 50s actually exist who does nothing all day?

I feel a bit silly asking this, but I’ve been wondering…

Does anyone in their 50s exist whose kids are grown, who doesn’t work full-time, and literally has days completely free of obligations?

I’m genuinely curious: is it as boring as it sounds, or actually a little paradise?

I feel a bit nosy for asking, but I’d love honest answers 😅

My Mum. She’s 58 and has been retired for about 5 years or so. She volunteers twice a week, sees friends, walks the dog (constantly), does lots of exercise classes, and goes on weekends away. I’ll also be retiring early and will do much of the same.

My Dad is 64 and has been retired for the same amount of time.

They both lead very happy and fulfilled lives, together and separately. They always seem busy. I’m happy for them.

OT but I hate the word ‘potter’ used this way so much. I have to work so I don’t ever have to talk about spending my days ‘pottering’ around ;-)

I'm that age and work full time - my younger children are still at school.

I could only enjoy not working at all if I was very wealthy indeed in my own right I think - I'd mix volunteering in my own community, being around for my children and once they were all eighteen plus a lot of "slow travel" (as in not bombing around on long haul flights to different destinations for a couple of weeks, but comfortable first class sleeper train travel and staying in a different European city for a couple of months at a time).

"Pottering" is what my elderly mum does - she doesn't have the energy for much else now but it's what she always has spent her free time doing and retired early to do (gardening, going to church related gatherings, drawing out domestic chores over the whole day) and I'd find it dreary and depressing tbh. It makes having a conversation with her quite difficult too, as she simply doesn't have anythinng going on except speculation about what the neighbours are up to and third hand "news" about the children or grandchildren of fellow potterers I'd never met whom she'd chatted to on a dog walk...

I do find "is this it?" depressing - the idea of not having options after having pottered full time for years would be incredibly bad for my mental health I think.

If I had enough personal income from working three days per week to do everything I wanted, I could get to grips with that though.

I wouldn't be bored day to day, it'd more be the "is this all there is now?" existential crisis. I also can't stand not being independent so definitely couldn't psychologically cope with the stress of being reliant on a partner to finance me pottering about.

Prince Andrew ?

To all of those in their 50’s who have retired good on you that is absolutely wonderful for you. Women work so bloody hard within the home for years and for some as well as holding down a job. If you have set yourself up in life for being able to take early retirement well done for looking after yourself truly well done, I really do admire you.
For those saying I couldn’t rob the tax system for not paying tax is an uneducated way of looking at it. Most of us have a household of family members who will continue to pay tax for years whilst you are doing your bit keeping up with your home and maybe volunteering your time for charities.

You go for it and enjoy your time necause you absolutely deserve it.

My DH has retired in his fifties and does nothing useful.

He finds places to go most days and exercises but doesn’t work or do volunteering which I’ve got to be honest is causing issues for me. I still work p/t and the resentment is real.

I retired at 58. Mortgage paid, dc live 250 miles away, no elderly parents. No responsibilities at all. Dh has gc but we don't do childcare .
8 years on I have a good life.....I am healthy, lots of interests, comfortable money wise and dh retires shortly so am looking forward to that. Never bored.

Some people may not have a choice to live this lifestyle
They have very bad mental illness,or be physically ill.
They may be a carer for relatives ,or in an abusive relationship where the man insists she stays home .
Your comment is designed to make people feel bad ..why ..why would you want to make people feel bad

Hes 65 and simply ignores his obligations rather than not having any

50 and no job. Still got teens and youngest is eight, and life revolves around them, so absolutely not able to please myself in life but am alone 9am until 3pm.

I do house stuff badly, a morning volunteering and an exercise class a week. The house still looks crap, I can't deal with paperwork stuff as it makes me almost explode with anxiety, I feel guilty about pretty much everything and I struggle with sleep. Not working for a long time makes me feel useless and worthless to be honest so much so that I'm not able to do it. I wouldn't advise anyone to go down my path in life.

Thank God for the loveliest partner and kids who give me a place in the world.

Hard agree!

Late 50s usually work 2 1/2 days a week so I'm off work more than I'm in. No children and a mainly self sufficient partner. I can spend my days fannying about, a bit of shopping, tidying up but getting massively distracted, crafting, cooking, listing items in my freezer, making lists of stuff I have. Some days no real purpose, I love it.

I am 48 and work 3 days a week. Both DC are not home (one and Uni and one working in London), I live alone. I do very little on my days off and it is utter bliss, I often feel guilty for being so lazy but the reality is I love it. I can retire at 60 but I worry I will simply rot away on my sofa so I will be found after being eaten by my cat.

I was going to say my parents until I realised it's not 2010 and they are nearly 70. 😭

I know lots of older family friends & relatives who never even worked or worked very p/t. The majority do help with gc, attend clubs eg yoga, most have holiday homes so often spent a month or two away.

I'm in my 50s and will never be able to retire - I'm single and only have a small pension, no savings, and a mortgage - I just pray I still can work/ have a job when I'm older. I think not working at all would be boring, but working less/ being able to chose when to work would be a bliss.

Pretty much everyone who I know who doesn't work are financially supported by their other half. Nor sure I would be able to live happily knowing I'm 100% dependent on someone else...Also know a lady who's husband left her when she was late 50s. She never worked and had nothing to her name - he made sure she got nothing... Not a nice situation.

Doont know anyone like that and I'm in my 50s with lots of friends a similar age. Sounds extremely boring tbh

I worked since I was 14 and a half full time payed tax on my pension and now at 70 retired and getting a workplace pension and state pension which I again am having to pay tax on. I took out some of my draw down pension ( I already have had my 25% tax free when I was 66 so I have had to pay a hefty amount of tax for something I have already paid tax on. So You never ever live tax free and I love being retired and don't for one second feel guilty be cause I have and still am paying my way.

I work part time
i would be bored to fk if I gave it up

I'm 52 and haven't worked since I was 31 (when we had eldest DC). Now the eldest has finished at Oxford and living at home again to do an MSc in London. Middle DC at LSE and never left because there was no point paying rent to live in student accommodation when we're quite close by anyway. Youngest is in final year of A-levels. I've never been bored. House is always busy. DH made a lot of money through his companies and there just wasn't a need for me to be working as well. He doesn't really work much now either - he's always been self-employed and works from home so his hours are whstever he wants to make them. I've never been bored, it's London! We travel a fair bit. Various cats and 2 dogs. Lots of friends around me in similar situations. Love our house which I renovated. I've done some other renovations over the years too. I just enjoy freedom and time really. I genuinely don't care what anyone thinks because this is my life and our family and we're doing fine. Sorry if this sounds entitled, but you did ask OP.

What different life would you have chosen?

Some of these replies are ridiculous and the one about not contributing to society is batshit! The OP is clearly talking about women in their 50s who have worked, not those who have never had a job or haven’t for about 35 years! I’m nearly 50 and can’t afford to retire yet but I plan to as soon as I am able to. Worst case scenario for me at the moment is 60. I know lots of people around my age who have retired or who are planning to in the next few years. I also know of a few people who have waited until they are in their 60s and have died soon after. Life is too short, absolutely retire as soon as you are able to and don’t feel any guilt!

My parents retired in their late 50s - theyre mid 60s now. My dad spent a little bit of rhat time caring for my grandmother. Then when she died, they moved house, they have completely renovated their new home, go on lots of uk holidays, walk rhe dogs for miles, go to the pub for lunch and just generally potter about. Theyre not wealthy by any stretch, but comfortable. They both love it, after both working since they left school.

@HoskinsChoice virtue signaling 🤣

That sounds really hard. I hope you find the role you’re looking for. Just to keep you in the game, mentally, would you be able to do any interesting volunteering in the meantime? Being a trustee of a local school? A magistrate?