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?

me too

this

I see well I would reply to people who think you should not be working: are you happy to chip in and help fund my retirement ? That should nip it in the bud

You do you. Why are so angry about it?
I retired early (ish) for lots of reasons. I haven’t had this space and time to myself since I was probably 20. I’ve never had so much time to enjoy my family, my friends, my grandchildren, my wider family. And I’m loving it. I travel, I work on my hobbies, I’m slowly getting through a house that been bottom of the list all my working life. I’ve worked hard. Really hard. I’ve chased every job and every promotion to feed my family. I’m personally enjoying the sit down. I’m personally enjoying the lack of an alarm call. I don’t particularly care if it doesn’t sit well with other people, I don’t care if it makes me boring and uninteresting. I’m living for me. As selfish as that might seem, I’m living for me for the first time in years and years and years.

If you keep busy its fine. Would find days endless.. Im 53. Dog would get me out. We all different though

People who can't cope with the loss of structure / status / identity / busyness of their work roles should stay working. Otherwise they swarm onto the steering committees of charity, voluntary / community / hobby organisations and start monstering everyone else as they try and turn them into copies of whatever terribly important job they used to do and competing with each other Game of Thrones style. If you consider yourself an important professional with lots of drive and organisational energy to bring to U3A management you should work til you drop, volunteer in a lighthouse or take up solitary bee-keeping.

Then who's going to run the charities and hobby clubs? 😉

The nice thing about being retired is that most people are in a position to please themselves. It’s no longer necessary to impress anyone and if they think what you’re doing is boring, lazy etc who cares. If you want to be super busy then fine, if you want to chill out at home that’s fine too. I no longer feel it’s necessary to impress people with my range of activities although to be honest I did my job because it was something that interested me, aimed to help other people and paid a reasonable wage.

but I have been "socially disengaged" all my life. I have no wish to study, volunteer or be more socially active. I think that "intersting" is very much a value judgement. You might find me massively boring because of my interests or we might be able to talk for hours.

are you me?

people who don't see is as a competition?

People are all different. If they can afford to retire and if they just want to potter, watch TV and involve themselves in other people's lives they can do that. I'm not going to be openly critical of their choices. I don't however think it's unreasonable to expect them not to be openly critical of what I choose to do.

I have no problem with people working for as long as they wish and can do the job.....just do not ask me to do it!

This. I have an older sibling who still works because she loves it and good for her.

How about you do you, and let them do them.

at 51 I cannot wait to be in a position to work less. I am parenting both my elderly parents, and my children (teens), my job is constantly stressful and feel like I am always spinning too many plates.

I would love to be able to take life at a better pace, be less anxious, and have time for sports, learning new skills etc. there is nothing idle about having worked to have a decent pension, and allowing the pace to be more healthy.

everyone is different - I probably would do more voluntary work (have always done some and worked in the sector), but what motivates and keeps once person motivated is not going to be the same for everyone.

I would love to retire! I only work 3 days a week now, but with commute and only one day at home the days are long.
What is the obsession with being busy? I can potter as an Olympic champion.
I don’t give a toss if I’m boring, people don’t need to be my friend!
My job is stressful and boring at the same time, as I talk to the general public. You never know if someone will be angry and aggressive or nice and polite.

I retired early.

It really is an individual thing. I had a job with no job satisfaction. I remember when I did and loved going to work. Days off were spent wishing I was back at work (yes really!!). Then it all changed and got progressively worse until all the joy was gone.
By then stuck in rut with commitments.
Jumped at the chance to retire early.
If I had had a job I loved I’d still be working.
i don’t hanker for stuff to do and feel stir crazy like some people do. I’ll graft from morning till night if I want to but I’m also a lazy bastard so it balances out.

i do think it helps to carry on if you really enjoy your job, many don’t though and hence the rush for early retirement -

Spot on.

I agree. Although I'm fully retired 12 years now (early retirement also OMG), I've never felt the need to be "busy" all the time after my last day at work. I love life now, I can do nothing or lots things (that's rare ha ha).

Without wishing to judge anyone, I'm getting a feeling that those who constantly need to be busy and doing things may not be happy in their own company and try to keep busy to block out other things going on in their lives. Which is fair enough, but not everyone is like that!

I was thinking that🤔

I can retire at 50 from the police but realistically it is better for my pension to go at 55 now that they’ve meddled with them. I may get a part time job doing something totally different but I could also fill my days with gym, wild swimming, hiking, travelling, I don’t I tend doing anything stressy, I can’t wait!

Love this, you’ve been sat on a PCC meeting recently haven’t you?!

I couldn’t retire so early. I need purpose in my life. Whether that’s a job I feel fulfilled by or a volunteer role that means I’m contributing to society. I couldn’t live for 30 years without doing either.

DH and I are hoping that a big investment of ours will pay off in our 50’s meaning we won’t have to work. He will still farm. I would do a lot more volunteering. Neither of us would just travel and enjoy our family - we’d do that as well.

God, it's the dream to be able to afford to retire at 55. The opportunity to travel more widely/longer trips; study more (for pleasure); pick up a course to go back to painting; get fitter/swim more; do some home improvements. Just because I would like to give up working, it wouldn't mean I wouldn't exercise my brain, and body.
Unless I can marry money, I'll be working until 67. Or longer, if they change the pensionable age again. (All dependent on being able to afford to live on an HE pension.....)

I wouldn’t be retiring either in your position, that sounds like a nice balance. But for someone who has worked 5 days a week in a demanding job for 30+ years, either manual or non-manual, they are likely to want a rest and to devote time to life on their own terms.
I think a lot also depends on if you worked part time or had a break at any time in your career. Working 4 days a week means you get 50% more rest time which makes a massive difference to your energy levels.
As long as they are then not claiming any money from anyone else, let them do as they like and free up space in the workforce for younger people…

Probably too busy with their very important job @loveawineloveacrisp .I am also with you @Pennyfan These sort of posts always bring out the competitive retirees. I am happy to admit to being largely idle in retirement and probably spending too much time on MN. My sympathies to all those on this thread forced to keep on working. May you be retirees soon and of course do exactly as you please.