To wonder what retirees do on a grey, wet Tuesday morning

[BeaQuiet]

I'm just a few years from State Pension age but can't imagine giving up work completely (work 28 hours pw at the moment).

Summers like this, yes, I'd be perfectly content but AIBU to ask what retired people do on a wet Tuesday morning in winter. Especially as Wed, Thur, Fri etc are likely to be wet or grey too.

This was raised on a Mel Robbins podcast on ageing and it got me thinking.

Isn't a grey, wet Tuesday morning exactly when you'd want to be retired? Those are the days no one wants to get up and go to work, surely?

Wrap up and walk the dog. Meet friends for coffee and cake. Cook something delicious. Read . Work on the voluntary heritage project I am involved in. U3A language classes…. List is endless. I love being retired.

Go to the gym

Tuesday
Exercise class
1 hour social afterwards
Take relative shopping
Work on a home project or hobby

However, could be none of the above

Day out to visit somewhere
Or a holiday
Work part time
Volunteer
Pet sit

Lots of different things

We enjoy ourselves. We enjoy the pleasure of never having to deal with bullies and we make the most of the lack of structure and the ability to enjoy only the social interactions we choose.

I always think that people who can't picture how they would spend free time must have no hobbies, no passions, no friends or family, no desire to learn new things and no imagination.

I had this conversation with my DH this
morning. He is beyond retirement age but not
keen to retire any time soon. We decided we are
very good at doing what needs to be done but just doing anything for the hell of it seems absurd
to us. Think we are going to have to try hard to change our mindset.

Same as anyone else who isn't working. If I was healthy, I'd be able to think of millions of things to do-gym, meet friends for coffee, any kid of volunteer work.

Mind you, as a kid, I never got bored in school holidays!

Sit and smile as I'm not at work.

I'm still working but my DH did a master's in history, studied Arabic, did some family history, wrote articles for an amateur history journal. Went to the cinema. Did most of the housework. Met friends for coffee and chats. Etc

I’d fill my time no problem however my parents are a different story. Both retired and literally cannot get their shit together to do anything before noon. Getting dressed and making breakfast is bizarrely time consuming for them.

Pilates for me! On the Reformer machine. Then I might go for a walk on the beach near the Pilates studio, then maybe go to the nearby shops and have a mooch around. I might even knock myself out and have lunch somewhere.

I think it doesn't matter what I do though. I'm more than happy doing nothing, watching A Place In The Sun, reading my book, gardening. If you don't like these things then you'll find them boring and you'll be dissatisfied. Sometimes I just sit with my cat on my lap and that makes me very happy.

I'm longing for a grey wet any day of the week currently, OP! I live in London and the weather has been hot/too hot for weeks. In fact, the heat stops me doing lots of stuff, as I hate it.

I'm retired, and generally I meet friends for coffee, go to choir, book group, exercise, go to Pilates, read, bake cakes, clean the house, declutter, go to the cinema, theatre, museums or galleries (live in London).

Lots of retirees in my cycling club - they often do their big rides during the week as once rush hour is over the roads are much quieter than at the weekend. A damp and grey Tuesday certainly wouldn’t put them off.

Go to David Lloyd. Always plenty going on there. Classes, gym, swimming, tennis, padel, sauna, jacuzzi etc

I spent the last three years of my working life planning retirement. I realised I wanted to be healthy enough to enjoy retired life, so started by losing a lot of weight.

Things I do on a weekly basis, pilates, adult ballet and pickleball. I also have two different groups of friends that I catch up with. A basic catch up takes 3-4 hours minimum. I also walk every day.

Currently I'm also looking for a group where I can learn to play Mahjong before an upcoming trip to China.

This is apart from the usual things like sorting out the house, cooking, watching TV or streaming and reading. I also spend a lot of time planning out trips. Trying to do further away and more exotic places before I get 'too old'. We regularly go to shows or out for lunch/dinner.

Many people retire to get away from work and then get to that point and have no idea what to do. I wanted to have a good plan so That I'd be retiring with a good sized list of things I wanted to do. So far, so good.

Go swimming or a gym class followed by coffee. Practice the language I’m learning or the piano. Read, bake, watch a film, decorate the house. Surely you have interests & hobbies?

Lego

I stay in bed....late to bed late to rise in winter.
There is always something to do in the afternoons, and winter evenings are spent getting cosy, watching TV, reading, silver surfing, playing games, or just chatting.

Gym, meet up with a friend or ask them round, get my sewing machine out, binge watch, batch cook, declutter, the list is endless.

i’m retired. Like others have said, you do what interests you. You don’t hang around twiddling your thumbs!

Swim/gym
Bake
Cook
Language class
Coffee out
Volunteering gig
Library
Cinema
Supermarket shop/errands
Museum/gallery

Have sex

PT session at the gym to help ensure I’m as fit as possible as I get older - having gone from never exercising while working to cardio, weights and stretching at least 3 times a week. Best thing DH and I have done since we retired as it’s giving us the strength and energy to enjoy a wide range of activities as mentioned by previous posters.

My parents are both retired now (within the last couple of years).
They both play bowls- outdoor in summer and indoor in winter. This is 1-2 times a week minimum.
My dad has 2 voluntary roles which he is generally out with atleast 2 days a week and often dealing with phone calls about at home.
My mum is a member of U3A and is generally doing something with that 1-2 days a week plus she has a volunteer role on a weekend morning. She also visits her family member in a care home atleast once a week.
Plus they care for my daughter on average atleast 1 day a week in term time.
My mum is quite sociable and will often be going for a walk with a friend (only cancelled if it’s pouring) or meeting for coffee. Dad prefers more solitary time.