What Are You Hoping To Do In Retirement?

[lovestea]

Ok, there will be financial constraints, some really serious ones for some of us. But, what are you hoping for and what is realistic when you give up work?
A lot of people work well beyond retirement age now for a better lifestyle or for essentials. How do you see yours panning out? Off at 60? 65? Beyond?
Do you have a passion that you soooooo want to follow in retirement? Can you afford to do it?
Love to know what others think and want.

I’m 67 and I retired 3 years ago, before I could get my state pension but after my NHS pension kicked in. I had worked pretty much full time for 46 years, NHS and Third Sector and was pretty much in burnout. 8 months later I suddenly became seriously ill and that has dictated my life since.
I happily pootle around, I love my garden, reading, crafts and short walks. My DH retired last year.
I have my dog, I am reasonably content. My retirement isn’t what I planned (lots of travel, hiking, long distance walks etc) but at least I am living!
It’s strange how life changes but you adapt.

I reckon two more academic years to retirement. Covid has helped in terms of savings and we have been fire-lite for a while. So the plan will be

• travel
• visit places in UK during term time and pay off-peak prices (what a treat!)
• spend more time at my allotment
• go to the Hay Festival
• start my own small business (just don't know what yet)

@CarrieMathisonsTrouserSuit

Well I've just retired at 57 although I haven't worked full time since, DC. DH retired 8 years ago. DC 2 still at school. We are financially secure, but I have some recent but permanent health problems which none of you have mentioned. I don't know what to do. Need something to interest me and fill my time. Not voluntary work either. Been there and done that.

I took voluntary early retirement a couple of years ago at the age of 58, and tbh I am getting tired of people asking me "so what are you doing with your retirement" as though I'm supposed to have taken up some marvellous new hobby or doing loads of voluntary work. TBH I am for now perfectly happy pottering around the house and garden, going to the gym, meeting retired friends, reading and a bit of photography. It's just wonderful having my life to myself after 40 years of continuous full time work.

I'm 50, DP 56. We're semi-retiring this year. Both have properties to sell in London =900k so buying a house to live in and 3 flats by the sea for a decent rental income. Plus an on line business we can run for a few hours a day. So excited after working since I was 16.

I would like to chair an NHS board/ do some consultancy work/ keep some lecturing going.

Dropping back from full time obviously but a few days a week still doing something useful.

Sleep. Walk. Read. Maybe get a dog. I'm not even working atm but very busy with other stuff and been sleep deprived for years.

Semi retired recently at 50. Partner is 56. We are moving to the coast, a small lovely apartment overlooking the sea. Selling my London flat to finance the purchase and renting out his London house for regular income. Will continue to both work part time on our on line business. My kids are grown and earning and saving and are very lucky to have inheritance from their fathers side. My new property will, of course be left to them. My partner has no children.
We plan to live in our sea side home, entertain our friends and family, yoga on the beach (me only!) set up a vintage stall or similar. Get a couple of dogs. Walk and explore the coast a lot.
After a couple of years, sell the Camden house and buy a motor home, couple of air b n bs and bugger off most of the year! Been working since we were both 16 and can't wait!

This is so interesting same as lots of others I've worked since I was 14z.
Nhs nurse since I was 18 fairly senior but part time. Pension will be less than half my earnings but my DH will top me up.
I feel sick going into work each day at the new horrors that come up.
I have given notice and will finish in January
So many people ask me what will I be doing and I do not know!
All I do know is that I'm past my sell by date at work in any senior role there's so much IT and admin- no longer writing in the Katdex a
T the end of the day.
Hoping my health is ok and my husband- there's far more behind me than ahead and I do want to make the best of it if I can

I have quite simple plans - Pilates classes, joining a gym, art classes, joining all the choirs I can find and some volunteering. I plan to retire early so I can fit everything in.

I shall pootle about and sit awhile.

I have no plans and will just go with the flow. I would like to see Monet's Waterlilies, Michaelangelo's David and Klimt's Kiss... for real, but if I don't, life goes on...

I retired a few weeks ago at 55, after 37 years full time nhs nursing. Always was hoping to go at 55 and travel with DH. Covid put the kybosh on these plans for at least a year, but I didn't want to stay another winter in work so jumped ship. My work place was toxic, poorly managed, no leadership , very fragile and flakey colleagues etc who wernt pulling weight. The last year was absolutely awful with covid and pandemic. I was so burnt out and exhausted. I've been on antidepressants the last year and will wean off them come spring time.

The last 6 weeks have been amazing. Seeing friends and family. Time for ourselves, no alarms and sleeping and eating well. Simple pleasures like sea swimming, long walks, visiting museums and galleries, cinema trips, few meals out. Planning on decorating home this winter, doing up garden, then hope to travel in 12 months if safe.

I have a growing love of art, and plan to travel to Florence and other major European cities to see my favorite fine art. I am learning a language, go to a sports club and am a vounteer with a beginers group in the club. I am quite crafty and love making things. I'm trying to cook a new recipe every week. I would like to volunteer more in the future but don't want to commit too much to anything this early into retirement.

I worked through last years lockdowns so having time to sort stuff out now is wonderful.

I'm not dwelling on the things I can't do at the moment but relishing the things I can do as I have time and enthusiasm.

Keeping healthy is a priority for both me and DH. I really want this retirement in good health bit to go on for as long as possible.

I'm 62 this year and a tech contractor. I'd like to retire at 65. DH is older than me and has taken his pension but also works part time because he enjoys it. When I retire (or at least start drawing my pension - I can't imagine retiring fully) I want to downsize my house, upsize the amount of land I have, keep my horses at home, and breed sports horses for fun.

DH is in his 60s and could retire soon, he is not sure what he would do.
I am in my 50s and given he's older than me and has a long term health condition I'd rather retire at 60-ish (my pension isn't great but won't get much better after that!) so we can spend some time together.
However DS is 10 and has SEN and DD is 7 so they will be at home for at least another 11 years and we'll be tied to school terms for that long.
DS is not really independent after school and won't be for at least another 3-5 years, but we can get no after school care for him. He still needs us to go to Cubs with him and is likely to still need us at after school activities for a few years yet.
So I can't join all those choirs/evening classes etc.
I will probably walk/cycle/get fit and continue to do the school run (DS may well go to a school that is quite distant and DD's options also include one quite a drive away).

Day 1, Monday 22 August. I'll be eating croissants in bed with my dog next to me and a pot of Keemun tea, later on i'll take dog for long walk and maybe go to a yoga class. Long scented bath and out for an Italian meal, as our lovely local Italian is the only one open on a Monday. Oh yes, I've made my plans!

I'll be retiring from the NHS at 67 so 7 years time so I'm doing an advanced book binding course. Its what I've always wanted to do and I've got enough time to buy all the equipment.
I may also do a bit of podiatry home visits as that's my profession but really I want to move away from medical and into creative. I also make dollshouses and all the furniture.
I can't imagine anything better than doing that all day.

@CarrieMathisonsTrouserSuit

Well I've just retired at 57 although I haven't worked full time since, DC. DH retired 8 years ago. DC 2 still at school. We are financially secure, but I have some recent but permanent health problems which none of you have mentioned. I don't know what to do. Need something to interest me and fill my time. Not voluntary work either. Been there and done that.

Have you looked at a local U3A group. There are groups in most towns and these then run all sorts of interest groups, meet ups etc. idea being continuing to learn and expand horizons in older age. I move to a new area after I retired and I have made some great new friends and st been great to spend time with people who share my interests.

Travel during term time (school staff will understand) and do voluntary work, going to the gym and enjoy lunches out.
I think socialisation and having a focus to each day is really important.

One of things I always planned on, and have done since retirement 2 years ago, is to keeping learning. My job always involved learning new stuff, and I’m naturally very curious- so I knew I needed that to stay motivated. . So, I set out my retirement with that in mind about developing new skills and knowledge. 2 years in and I’m really enjoying it ….yep not exactly exiting and thrilling stuff but it gets me out the house, stuff to look forward to, mixing with like minded people and generally being happier than I was for last 5-10 years of work. I am development a lot of new skills- proud of what I’ve done, and Have meaning and purpose to get me on the go each day.

I will most likely retire on ill health in the next 10 years.

Will be pretty shit because everyone else will be working still.

I will probably solo travel around the UK in a camper, eat great food and read a lot.

Luckily I have a reasonable pension.

I am retiring at 60. Almost ready to start my countdown properly as from Easter it will last set of end of year exams, last sports day and all that jazz. Happy days

@purplemurple1

I want to be able to travel and relax with OH. We are just starting our baby yrs in pur mid 30's and mid 40's so think we will need to work at least some for the next 20yrs though we live in hope to drop to pt sooner. We both really enjoy our jobs so I can see us continuing or for longer than needed.

We've no idea what we will be able to afford just saving what we can (recently cleared the mortgage though so that's a start). Suppose we should actually do some research into this!

You say this now you are in your 30s ....you may say the same in your 40s....as you will feel pretty much the same....then the menopause hits and you get to your 50s and you are done with working....this is me anyway! I’m 57 and will retire this year or next....can’t wait

I posted upthread. Now retired, I do the volunteer weekly museum guiding and have been "promoted" to introducing lectures. I haven't gone into tutoring yet as I'm encountering what all retired people I already knew said: far too busy.

The simplifying of my garden goes on apace, which means minimising container plants to those that are genuinely low maintenance: aspidistras, jade plants. This leaves more time for the veggie patch.

Great thread. It's got me thinking. Dh and I are late 30s. We are making large AVDs and putting money into S&S ISAs. I think 60 is realistic for us.

In a dream scenario, we'd move to a house with a view of water (lake, river, sea not fussy), join a fancy private gym and go regularly, travel to places on our bucket list (the first being Japan, but lots of UK, European places too), do lots of walks, reading, cinema, courses.... Oh well, roll on 2 decades!

Shehasadiamondinthesky - dolls houses?! That's great. What a cool hobby.