Aibu Retiring at 55 - 30 years of idleness?

[Scotsknowbest]

So this is the thing: so many local friends have given up working in the last few years in their early to mid 50s, aibu to think what on earth are you going to do to stay interested and interesting?
I thought perhaps they would shut the house up and set off on a big trip but holidays have been more like 2 weeks in Greece instead of one.
I thought perhaps they would volunteer but that seems too restrictive for them.
I thought some might use their professional skills to join executive boards as NEDs or in advisory roles. But no.
Some have upped their golf or tennis, some are focusing on the garden (what, every day?) some walk the dog, read the paper.
I just think they will become so boring!
In contrast I caught up with 3 old school friends this evening who I see about once or twice a year. I asked them when they thought they would retire and each thought mid 60s.
Many of my friends have inherited recently and I think this has been the nudge. I have also inherited but I don't feel any different!
Just for context I am 57, work in 2 roles, one executive, board level, one professional but different area (social work) which takes me to about 4 days a week but I also run 4 properties as a landlord and have an aging dad who lives a mile away who I help with admin, appointments, organising stuff. I also have 2 grown kids the youngest at uni, 1st year. So, not as busy as when I worked and had little kids, but pretty busy in a good way. Personally I can't imagine stopping working so aibu, is 50to55 simply too young to be retiring even if the catalyst has been a windfall inheritance?

I retired at 57, last year we spent more time out of the UK than in it ... great to have the time to travel.

TLDR: I move in elevated circles and am a BIG FUCKING SUCCESS. I'm so great and impressive I can't imagine doing anything other than great and impressive things. Tell me how brilliant I am.

Yes it is absolutely wonderful to be able to go away whenever, wherever and for as long as we want, to be able to book a last minute mid week break.

The meetings to decide on meetings about other meetings. " Am I actually needed at this meeting" " Good for you to sit in I think" . Pointless ,pointless shite 99% of the time.
My son works at a university in Wales. Endless meetings about the new building toilets and what they should have on the door ( indiviual ,totally self contained, corridor opening facilities). After 4 meetings it was decided 'toilet',with the same word in Welsh, was the best option. Two further meetings to agree whether the English or Welsh word goes at the top.

Minimum age for getting a pension will be 57 in 2028 ... just for info.

I often wonder this. It’s like there is a need to justify having time to yourself by giving something back. No thanks. I’ve spent my life caring for others. I’m not doing any of that in my retirement.

My husband is retiring this year at 55, I am retiring in 2 years I will be 51. We have hobbies, a bit of land and my horses at home, we will get a camper and do lots of UK mini breaks, last minute weeks abroad in the winter. Mostly we will just slow down , I am sure we will have some days in the depth of winter where it’s a bit boring but that’s fine. We have worked hard to be able to self fund early retirement and leave our children with a good inheritance, in short we will do what we want when we want for as long as our health allows and I can’t wait.

I think we’ve become too used to the concept of work defining us. I personally intend to retire as soon as I possibly can. I’ve always been of the mind set that I work to live and not the other way around, but we’re all different! Do as you please.

If your life revolves around your work and that is all you talk about then you could find the loss of status very difficult when you retire. However there are many opportunities to. e,g, be a magistrate, prison visitor, sit on various disciplinary panels, volunteer for your local food bank, national trust property and so on. https://www.doit.life/volunteer Or get yourself a different sort of job - become a gardener, handywoman, learn a trade, take free courses https://skillshub.online/ou-free-courses-on-openlearn/ Some people say they dont know how they ever found time to do their previous work.

Of course some of the people you know who have retired may have done so because their health now prevents them working full time. No-one knows what they will be capable of it 5 years time. See some of your colleagues die before they got to retire and you may see life differently.

It’s all very well if you have an interesting and fulfilling job however many haven’t. I always read these posts and think people aren’t very imaginative if they think they’d be bored. Life for many isn’t about filling every second, perhaps some people are happy puttering whilst others want to play every golf course in the country.

You sound a bit superior to be honest and that you find them uninteresting and uninterested. I’m sure they’re very happy doing what they want!

We like art exhibitions. Fabulous to be able to go to something at 10 on a Tuesday and then go somewhere nice for lunch. It's not crowded, you can see everything/ take your time. Absolutely wonderful.

There's more to life than being interesting. Being content for example. I will be so happy to retire when I can and I will NEVER be bored - how can you be, with media to consume, books to read, instruments to learn, plants to grow, food to make, etc etc etc? You don't even need a lot of money to have a full and happy life. Just because other people don't find it/you interesting is no reason not to do what you love. This is life, not a performance.

Oh god there's nothing more boring than people who bang on about their jobs all the time. So no I don't think they'll become boring - they'll actually have time to engage in the stuff that they find interesting.

You sound utterly insufferable. I’ve been in a sort of forced early retirement, in that I followed my DH to another country where working was not fiscally beneficial. Before that, I was a SAHM after the birth of my son. I filled my time whilst DS was little volunteering for multiple charities, spreading myself actually too thin.

I started work at 16, albeit part time whilst I was still at school, but racked up enough contributions for the full state pension. When I was working FT, I used to start at 6am, and often do a 12 hour day (City). I’ve done my time, and feel no guilt about not working.

I enjoy my time. I dedicate myself to my son and his learning a new language. I love my coffees and lunches with friends. I walk, and visit galleries and museums. I garden. I’m rinsing the city I currently live in. I’m part of a voluntary organisation that welcomes newcomers. In short, I keep busy.

Having lost two family friends last year, way before their time, I know that life is short. I’m lucky enough to be able to afford not to work. I intend to fully enjoy the years that I have been allotted, because you never know when they’re going to be snatched away from you.

Of course some of the people you know who have retired may have done so because their health now prevents them working full time. No-one knows what they will be capable of it 5 years time. See some of your colleagues die before they got to retire and you may see life differently.

Yes - a former colleague died of liver cancer just after I retired at just 40 leaving two small children, so very sad.

My parents never got to have any retirement together. DF retired at 60 from teaching and died at 67. My mum was 12 years younger than him. DH and I have a similar age gap and that was a big factor in my wanting to retire at 58 when I got the chance. DH is 75 now but still fit and well and still doing some academic work and we’ve had some fantastic holidays all over the world since I retired.

I agree (I also don’t think the OP’s name helps).
Smug.

I retired early (57) and 3yrs on, am still loving every minute.
My OH is 3yrs younger than me and although he went PT when I retired (2-days) he is now retiring completely and having had a "trial-run" he is really looking forward to it.

We find plenty to do and are never bored, we have Ddogs which keep us busy, get away most weeks in the MoHo and spend a lot of time in the garden.
Being financially secure makes it a lot easier.

Each to their own, what suits some would not suit everybody.

I don’t fancy it at all. Also everyone I know who retired young is fucking boring!

About 25 years ago now, I got a job as a manager. I cut AOB at the end of the meetings as they went on and on and on. If it wasn't important enough to be an actual thing, then until it is, lets not hang on to discuss it randomly when EVERYONE WANTS TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY ME.

One staff member cried in the toilets at not being allowed to AOB us to death at the end of every fucking meeting.

DM retired at 51 as DF was 65, they did voluntary work out of U.K. 6 months of year and more local volunteering rest of year until DF was mid 80s when travel insurance became too expensive
DF died at 93 and was mostly active up until then cycling, walking, gardening etc
DM IMO became more and more insular even before he died - now has dementia at 87 - she gave up after he died and rarely moved from the sofa or tv
Im 62 and started a new part time role last year which I can continue until 75, my other job hours means i

Absolutely, bored of people who bang on about work so we clag up your free time talking about pottery and gardening and coffee.

YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.

No idea why rest of my post disappeared!
…..means I’m more than FT - I also volunteer for 2 charities and provide care for DM
Hoping to have more time to travel when I retire from my main job at 67 and also spend time with DGD and friends
I don’t have enough time for cleaning or gardening so outsource that where I can

I said YABU because it's a completely personal choice.

Thank you. You have just inspired me to open a brokerage account!

My FIL died suddenly at 55. My own Dad couldn't give up (despite several decent pensions) Still working in his 80s.

I wanted something between the two. Finished at 58.

I've done a lot of DIY in our house (which was neglected somewhat whilst I was working) DIY in children's houses. A lot of volunteer work.

Still busy - but not over worked as before.

But each to their own.