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?

Hi, I don't think the way you feel is normal at 48. I would get a check-up at the doc. I felt like you do, and it turned out that my blood sugar was too high, making me pre-diabetic. High blood sugar makes you very tired. Good luck!

You have an odd view on life and what makes people interesting. ..

There is more to life than just work.

These people are perfectly right to enjoy themselves while they still have their health.

Nothing wrong with focusing on hobbies, sports, family, friends, travel or just relaxing.

So many people in this country have been brainwashed into thinking their 'value' is only tied to their job and mKing more money for their boss/the governmenf to waste. It is sad really.

Good on them! Life is short.
Some people don’t see work as the most important thing in their lives. And that’s ok.

Is that all there is to do where you live? Work, walk, golf or tennis? I couldn’t live somewhere like that. It’s great you find your work interesting. I don’t have many friends who talk a lot about their work but apart from the niceties and the more serious stuff it’s deeply uninteresting to hear about someone else’s day to day job! If you enjoy it you carry on, but others can find interesting and enjoyable ways to fill their time and I don’t blame them.

My parents work together in a couples job. My mum wanted to retire at 50, they are still going at 68 because my dad recognises all he does is play tennis. He’s tried other sports over the years but I think he’d rather work than golf. He’s seen some of his friends slow down, and hates what’s that looks like- so they carry on working…

So, all you talk about then is your bloody boring job!

I'm 54. Can't see me retiring anytime soon. Id be bored Although I'm not a wage slave to an employer so I can take a couple of months a year to travel

My partner retired two years ago. He's doing e done travelling but day to day he reads, watches tv and goes for a walk ( same route). It would drive me mad living like fhat. He had all these things he was " going" to do when he retired and done none of them

I resigned from my professional job at 50 and I haven’t bothered trying to find another. So, I guess I have retired. I am not bored, my youngest is still at school and I still do a lot of ferrying him around after school etc. I spend the rest of the time going to the gym, gardening, various diy projects etc. I don’t think I have to work to be interested or interesting, and I am not
the committee type.
None of us know how long we’ve got- my ‘fit, healthy’ mum was walking 6 miles per day a week before she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 71. She died 7 weeks later. I am enjoying life while I can!

DH and I are in our early 50's and would love to retire and just potter.

DH has worked a very physical job since he was 16 and is ready to give it all up (he has plans to leave work in 18 months time). His best friend has worked like a trojan all his life and was planning on retiring next year at 60 but now has just 3 months to live and will never see that retirement , spend time with his wife and grand kids or get to potter in his garden.

If you are happy to keep working then carry on but if someone wants to retire and do sod all for the rest of their lives then that is entirely their choice (I know which one I'd rather do).

Life isn't a competition.
You're not ready to enjoy retirement until you realise that.

People who retire early might do so because the workplace is no longer valuing them. It might be because they are looking after elderly parents. And for some, grandchildren too.
And they are worn out. And don’t want to get to 67 and find themselves completely frazzled altogether.

Making it so people cannot retire early ( which I wondered was the theme behind the post) will show up gaps in society such as elder care and childcare. Really bad idea.

Everyone is different. Some people like the quiet life. I retired at 62. I had caring responsibilities first to my mother then my husband until I was 70. Now I live on my own and I love the days when I have no plans. I read my book, potter in the garden a bit, walk my dog, do keep fit online. I do meet up with friends some days or see family but the relaxed pace and no responsibilities is great and not boring to me. I live as I like and not to impress anyone else.

It's not for me, but that's because I faffed my 20s away and didn't fully get launched into my career until my late thirties. I hope to keep working till I drop, because I love it.

How does working make you a much more interesting person than someone who is retired? Do you have the same opinion of people who can't work due to disabilities or health issues?

I'm sorry to tell you this but listening to someone else drone on about their work is also fucking boring.....might come as a massive shock but one wants to know about your job.

Erm so they have the financial security to make that choice and you want to know if YABU because you're too busy and don't want to retire and think they will become boring?
Perhaps they find your interest in everyone else life choices boring... whatever they become is up to them if it doesn't fit with you anymore then you adapt or find new friends.
I'm retired age early 50s for other reasons and find it restricting in a lot of ways because of other factors but not once would I consider how Interesting I am to others to be a motivating factor... couldn't care less what others think

Amen to this.

It depends. If you retire and watch TV all day and not much else. Then yes, you can get boring. No more so than someone who has only got their job to talk about mind you!

But there are a multitude of ways to pass the time that are interesting and satisfying. If you can’t see that I’m afraid you lack imagination!

A lot in my case.
I’m 57 and have been retired over four years and am loving it. I travel abroad 7 times a year, do lots of exercise classes at the spa I belong to. I’ve made many new friends and am currently learning tai chi that I am really enjoying.
One of my adult DC needs a lot of support so it’s nice to have the time and energy to help them.
I enjoy going to the cinema and on long costal walks.
I’m still paying lots of tax and contributing to society.

These people who can’t imagine what they would do if they retired sound very one dimensional to me!

To me thinking that years of retirement signifies boredom just shows a massive lack of imagination.

I am 45 and don’t work at the moment due to cancer. I do the whole walk the dog, bit of gardening, some reading, tend to my chickens, have a nap, maybe do some baking thing. I mean, it’s okay when you are fatigued to the bone and spend your other days at the hospital. But I could not imagine doing this for 30 years. 😳 I’m bored.

That said, my mum retired only slightly early, but will likely have 20-25 years of retirement. They have sold up their house (their nice secure investment), moved to the seaside and now rent at a cost of £2500 a month. It’s a flat. That’s more than the mortgage on my 5 bedroom detached house on 5 acres! They are presumably living their best life. But what happens when the money runs out? When care is needed? We don’t live in the same country so I couldn’t provide care. She will be on her own with no support and no assets. I think it’s a bonkers way to live when you could have security in your later years. I feel the same way about all these early retirement folks. All well and good to run down your savings at 56 playing golf every day. But one day, you may be 75 with complex care needs and wish you had a safety net.

Indeed. A colleague kept on working past when he could have retired,mostly to pay for his two daughters' weddings (neither marriage lasted past 4 years) and give them both money towards deposits for houses. He died in the night, aged 68.

Yes it begs the question, do they do nothing with their lives apart from work? Surely they have interests and friends away from work they could do more of if they retire? Surely they have things they’ve always wanted to do that they would do if they retired? If not, they must have fairly empty lives in reality. What would they do if they were made redundant or became sick and unable to work. It doesn’t sound the most resilient place to be

I retired from a senior role at 55. I’m not well off but I have enough to live how I like to, when I want to.
I am very capable of living a full and happy life without having to go out to work to prove it.

DH wants to retire early 60s - he is a business owner so could retain his share and employ a manager so have a v limited day to day input.
i work in the business too but would probably find another job or at least volunteer until I was mid60s if possible.

Unfortunately I do have health issues which are a bit restrictive employment-wise.

I remember asking my late (and widowed) mum why she still worked in her late 60s as it wasn’t for the money and she said it was the routine, She worked 3 half days a week, volunteered one afternoon and went to a couple of clubs/committees on the other days. Was always at home one full day a week though.
i have always wanted to travel more widely but unfortunately health issues may preclude this too. We shall see. I’m mid-50s and still learning new dulls!