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?

Agree. I wake up and don't dread the day. I think about breakfast before I eat it and I do my correspondence.

I loved my career until post COVID toxicity crept in. People seem to have forgotten their manners. Men especially so.

I use to earn big money but I don't need anymore handbags, jewellery or clothes.
As soon as I've sold my house I'll be happy as a pig in s*it.
Life is for living and when you think that's all folks ask yourself are there any pockets in a shroud? (My mother's favourite saying).

Not sure why it bothers you so much. Jealous? That's how it comes across. If people can retire early and live their best life doing what THEY want to do then good on them. It's really none of your business tbh. What you consider boring and what they enjoy are two different things. They probably feel sorry for you and the stress in your life (of which there will be some when you are juggling so much).

We all have one life to live so instead of criticising other people's life choices, why don't you concentrate on yours.

Oh and lose the green eyed monster and try and be happy for your friends.

Nothing but jealousy from me! I am 55 and have friends who are starting to retire.
I am so done with work but will likely be working until I am 67. It doesn't help that my boss is awful of course....

Yes. In fact this is likely to do with the effect that covid infection has on the brain
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/understanding-impact-covid-19-personality-brain-function-grim-reality-wake-up-call-

I volunteered at the CA for 6 years. Over 200 people applied for my job. When I started I found it very rewarding but towards the end it was just so frustrating and bureaucratic.

I can understand doing a job you love and not wanting to retire. But why would you think that someone else doing what they want to do would make them “boring”? I can’t think of anything worse than being friends with someone who droned on and on about their day job, and their day job is the only thing that has changed.

It's interesting that a previous poster mentioned giving younger people a chance. I was an MD/ CEO for thirty years. I'm sixty.
I got a call a few weeks ago for a role in London and I asked re the competition. I know the other candidates were 40/45. And I thought you know what they need this job (school age DC and career markers to make). I'll just be doing it for the money. I didn't want the commute, the stress or the politics.

Before the politicians buggered up retirement ages women retired at sixty for a reason. Elderly care and helping the children with childcare. It was doable because people weren't burnt out. You're a bit too old at 67 to do much childcare. I dread the thought as I'm too disabled to be of much use. Now we have a social care crisis as there is no one to help. I wish these daft buggers in policy making looked at the total picture.

Men if in the professions retired at 55-65. Professional men also tended to have had a more comfortable home life with lots of jobs done by others ( cleaning, property maintenance etc, SAHW).

Healthy Lifespan in England for women is around 62 years. I think having a few good years is a good idea. There is the idea of three phases of retirement, go-go, slow-go and no-go…

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mortality-insights-from-gad-december-2024/mortality-insights-from-gad-december-2024

What about those of us that are unable to work because of medical conditions? Are we boring too? The problem is that if you get ill in your late 50’s and early 60’s then no employer wants to know and you actually end up not having a choice about not working.

I could easily fill all my time without work, with things that I am far more interested in doing.
I'm not sure I am an interesting person anyway, but if I am, it definitely isn't work that makes me interesting.
If you love your job, then great. For a lot of people they would rather be doing something else.

My Mum died in her 60s, one year after retiring. They had plans but that year was mostly spent battling cancer. They didn't get to do any of their plans. I'd never be assuming I've got til my 80s. Life doesn't always work out like that and if you've got things you'd rather be doing than work, and you can afford to do it, then why not?

How does that apply to people who lost their manners yet weren't infected

I do occasionally get bored with my semi retired life but you know what, work also bores me at times (and I work for a fast paced start up 1 day a week) when it’s routine compliance stuff.

but if I am bored when not working then I can just shake myself out and plan a trip to cinema or find a new tv box set or book or whatever I fancy. Work I am forced to do whether bored or not. Rest of time I can choose to be bored or go and do something else. Or just YouTube all afternoon then plan something for next week!

I'd love to know where the person who posted your quote got their statistics from. I do get that loneliness can be a serious problem for some retired people and that retirement is much easier with a comfortable income. I'd also like to know why "just being" doesn't come with plans and activities? To me "just being" is about exploring and manifesting my inner me in a way that wasn't so possible when I worked.

My in-laws both retired in their mid-50s. They are now early 70s and are really happy. They have done a fair bit of travelling (although that has slowed down a little in the last couple of years), have done loads of stuff they wanted to do to the house and garden, and spend a lot of time with a good group of friends.

You never know when you could die or how much time you'll have where you will be well enough to do some of these things. So if you can afford to do them ,then why not?

@thornburyi am so sorry. i am 4 years younger than you but in the same position otherwise. It’s so hard. I can’t believe how quickly my unspoken expectations and plans for the future have been be snatched away. Good health truly is your wealth, but you don’t appreciate it until it gets taken away.

Do they? I don’t know any who do. When you become frail I can see it could be boring but that’s a good reason to retire while you are still fit and active, surely?

me either. And I still wonder where that poster got her statistics from?

Blimey that’s a scary read!

Are they happy or have they just had enough?

I am mostly busy but at least now I can choose what I do. And if that's nothing...bliss!

I reckon most people were infected but some showed more symptoms than others. I know people who were in jobs which required weekly testing who tested positive with no symptoms at all.

I remember an elderly man saying that to me. He added “and I’m now in the third phase. I recognise it and I don’t like it”.

I’m 40 and if I could retire today I would.

There are so many things I could be doing with my time: spending quality time with family and friends, helping my parents, having more time and energy to invest in my children, voluntary and community work in which I can make a difference, making my own clothes, keeping on top of housework (including having a full clear out of my house) etc.

With the cost of our mortgage and cost of living I will not likely retire until I’m in my 70’s.

How could you afford to retire at 42-lottery win? Inheritance?

And I know people the same with weekly test you never showed positive. Didn't stop them getting attitude

I had plenty of tests. Not one positive.

I’d suspect working in the City and not splurging. Part of me wishes I’d stuck it out for a few more years as then I could retire at 42.