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?

You think working is the only thing that makes you interesting?

I would LOVE to never have to work again. I would 100% be doing my garden (yes, possibly daily), growing vegetables, cooking delicious meals from scratch. Bliss!!!

I would probably take up some more hobbies, read more books, watch more interesting documentaries on youtube, do more slow trips by train / ferry.

I don't see anything boring about that.

Seriously, how much Reformer Pilates can you do in a week?

If you have enough money to retire, retire.

The main reason most people don’t retire young is because they need the money, boring isn’t even a consideration.

I don’t know a single person who works so that they are not “boring”. I know many many people who work because they have to to make money.

So it's fine for very wealthy people to never have a job and live their whole lives doing what they want, or for stay at home parents to live the life they choose because their other half can fund them, but people who have a job should stay in it until they drop?

Live your own life, that's the only one you get to control.

Those early retirees are also freeing up roles for younger workers, which seems like a good thing to me.

When you retire, whether it's aged 55 or 67, you realise that for the first time in your life, since you were 5 years old, you are in control of your time. You can do what you want.

Ok, I concede when we were babies we were on our own schedule. But it soon becomes a routine with people telling you when to eat and sleep.

And then there's school and holiday jobs. Then there's college with evening and weekend jobs, followed by uni with part time work. Then there's graduation and full time work and bam! that's it. You don't get free of that until you retire.

That's what hit me the most. From the age of 5 until retirement, your time is not your own. So no, I don't begrudge anyone having the retirement they want and I hope they love it, even if they spend it just sitting in a chair watching tv. If that makes them happy, why shouldn't they? They deserve it.

Backin the Middle Ages, when I started teaching, a woman could opt to either 55 or 60. Obviously, your contributions were monetry contributions were considerably higher to retire on full superannuation at 55, but many selected it.

That scheme was then closed down a few years after as they couldn't afford to extend it to men because of expense, and as it existed it was considered unfair. Existing members stayed put.

Everytime someone official from the Superannuation Scheme came to the school to discuss them, women who had opted to retitre at 60 did nothing but complain and grizzle for days about the choice they made at the age of 21/22, which might have been 30 years earlier. I had chosen 55, and felt very smug. And it was knowing that I only had to make it 55 that kept me going during my 40s

Exactly! I worked til 72 (had my own company with clients and staff, both absolute PITAS). I had to because I went through a financially crippling divorce in my early 60s and worked to max out my pension contributions. It was grueling, but definitely worth it, as I am reasonably comfortable now. I miss work not at all. When I wound down my business, I was so done! Retirement is full & enjoyable, I do advanced Spanish conversation weekly (group includes ex diplomats, v interesting), light gardening, gym 3x a week, ride my horse 3x a week. To afford the things I like to do we are frugal in many areas, shop carefully, eat out once a month, look for fee or cheap activities. We try to spend a month away in winter travelling somewhere warm. So far health is good.
The biggest issue with retirement as I see it is not what you do, but being able to afford to retire at all!

Your last sentence completely resonates.

I’m having a tough time at work and the knowledge that, at worst, I need to do this for another 10 years (before I can afford to change career rather than retire) genuinely helps.

Some people live and are well into their late 70s or 80s. Others die in their 50s or 60s or develop debilitating conditions that significantly reduce their quality of life. If I can afford to retire in my mid-50s, you can bet I'll be doing it without a single hesitation. I want to enjoy the fruits of my labours while I'm still able to do so.

I couldn't care less if anyone thinks I'm boring because my retirement doesn't look like whatever their ideal retirement might be. I might travel a bit, but I don't expect to be gone a lot, because I'm happiest at home. Yes, I might perfect my garden and grow all my own veg. I might spend hours every day making art or indulging in the other hobbies I never seem to have enough time for currently. Is that boring to other people? I don't care!

Do what suits you and leave others to do what suits them.

I'm 50 and hope to retire as soon as possible but just from my current career to write full time and hopefully another career. And if not, it would certainly keep me out of mischief. I have so many hobbies and can keep myself extremely busy if I want to. I don't dislike my job now but wouldn't miss it at all. I'd miss some colleagues but still meet up with older colleagues who have retired so I could still see them.

Only boring people get bored

Only boring people trot out hackneyed phrases like that.

@Scotsknowbest. Not everyone is like you.

Some people have the gift of repose.

My role was made redundant when I was 53, so I wholeheartedly took early retirement. I was idle for the month I had shingles but apart from that, nope.

I never thought for one minute 'aah, I can be idle now' so maybe this is more about you.

Exactly this. I couldn’t give a damn about being interested and interesting. I love my job but I’d love to not have to work even more.
My dad died before retirement and my mum only got a handful of years before she passed. I imagine I’ll go young too. I’d love to be able to retire and have 2 weeks in Greece rather than know I’ll probably be working the day I drop dead. And with my job, they’ll probably phone me the following day asking if I’m coming in for my shift…

My MIL retired at 55. She’s spent 20 years going out for lunch and going on holiday.

I’ve had 20 years of pictures of her food which she sends every time she goes out for lunch. She only gossips about people at her gym who I don’t know. It’s incredibly tedious.

It seems ironic that you post on the internet about what other people choose to do and call them boring

Following a distressing incident at work, I had some time off. Previously I loved my job but time to reflect made me realise I was done. I was lucky enough to take early retirement at 55. My DH had a good job and was happy to support me, after seeing the distress I’d been through. I was very poorly supported at work over the incident plus my dad passed away just after the incident.

The spare time I then had was taken up with helping to care for my dying sister. I was so grateful to have that time with her.

Shortly after that I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So that took up a few years of treatment and recovery. I also needed shoulder surgery, followed by gall bladder removal.

Gradually my health has improved but I’ve had to have further gynae surgery. Six weeks after my surgery I was admitted to hospital with pulmonary embolism, multiple clots, both lungs. I’m still recovering but then very unexpectedly my DH died. Since taking early retirement, life has been busy. Had I still been working things would have looked very different. I’m so glad I retired and I could look after my sister and then myself.

I don't understand people who think that the only two alternatives are doing the paid job for 40 hours a week or becoming couch potatoes with no other options.

If you absolutely love your job then that's one thing. If you feel it fulfills you on a deep level or is the sort of work which supports your community etc etc. Then don't retire.

But there's a whole world of other things out there after the working world - and that includes not having a schedule, not having to get up at a certain time and not being beholden to other people's demands.

If you retire in your 50s maybe you'll start another career or side hustle, maybe you'll travel. maybe you will potter and explore hobbies. Maybe you'll just take a break from the 30 years of having to conform to a schedule you hated.

Let people be.

I'm currently unemployed due to some health issues and I'm just going crazy with boredom. I don't know if being single maybe makes it worse

Would give up work in a heartbeat, currently aged 50. It’s all about freedom. In reality who would choose to spend 40 hours per week stuck in front of a laptop if they didn’t have to? Even though my job isn’t terrible and I do get some sense of achievement and social contact from working but would still choose freedom every time.
My Dad retired (walked out) of work at 55. They had very little money but he and Mum had a great 5 years until ill health hit, first Dad then Mum. Ironically they then inherited money but couldn’t travel or do anything. Both of my grandmas lived until their mid 80s but DPs died much sooner and had years of debilitating health. Nothing is guaranteed. I’m hugely jealous of those that can afford to go early.

This, plus going to museums and galleries, hiking, cycling, swimming, reading, going on days out whether it's a city half an hour away, the coast an hour or two away or a day trip to another country a few times a year.

And that's before proper holidays, volunteering, studying, looking after grandchildren and everything else that you can do when you don't have work taking up most of your waking hours.

My MIL has never been in the cut and thrust of the working world because she has been independently wealthy since her early 20s. Now in her mid 80s she is still more active and engaged with all sorts of activities and charities than I could possibly be - partly because she's never had to worry about money or be exhuasted or stressed by bosses or others in the working world, She's always just pleased herself.

She's incredibly engaged with the world, politics, local issues, charities. She stil travels internationally 2-3 times a year. She has two huge homes with gardens than she manages and spends time with. She regularly drives 4-5 hours to a dinner party or art gallery opening.

The working world isn't what keeps people sane and active. It's having the money to please themselves with the time available.

I’m finishing at 61- 2 more years. I couldn’t have retired at 50 or 55 personally as I have my last going through university now but it is very much each to their own for me. Why do you particularly care?