Early retirement- was it as you expected?

[WiseOldBird]

I am considering retirement. I am over 50, my two kids are in senior school and I have come into a very sizeable amount of money.
I have loved working this past 30 years. My current role was fabulous for the first few years. I now occupy a very senior role and am very well-paid. Recently the culture in the company has become very negative and political. It is not my preferred culture at all anymore. It is very exhausting and unpleasant. So I have decided I am going to retire. But I don't know what to expect. I am concerned that I will get bored after a couple of years. I do have lots of projects planned and travel and I'm hoping that will keep me going. Did you get the chance to retire early and if so, what did you do? Did it turn out as you expected?

I can't tell you much as this is my first day! But interested to see responses. We've got a 2 week holiday then settling down to early retirement (I'm 59, DP 58). We're using inherited money (yes, very lucky and very thankful) so will be trying to live frugally. We have hobbies and plans so hopefully will not get bored!

I retired at 59 - so did DH but he is 5 years older than me.

That was almost 4 years ago and I absolutely love it. I can't imagine how I found the time to work.😂

I do think being financially comfortable makes a huge difference though. Work now seems like a lifetime ago and yet the almost 45 years - including p.t. Jobs as a student - I put in seem to have gone in a flash.

Can highly recommend!

Well the good news is that if you get bored you can do whatever you want!

Work again, volunteer, set up an entirely different life, retrain, write a book, learn something new

Oh yes! I took early retirement at 59. I found that my job was grinding me down, and I couldn't get away from it, so when I was offered a chance to go - I went. I've never missed it at any time. Which is a shame when you've worked for the same company for 40 years. I done lots of volunteer work, and am always busy. I just love it.

I retired at 36. Bloody love it. I wake up most mornings full of glee that I don't have to work.

I strongly recommend having a fairly detailed plan for retirement -- it has worked very well for me some 10+ years on.
I was a well-paid professional but left work in my early 50s with a (reduced) pension but very sizeable redundancy payout (Company decided to get rid of older and more expensive workers, but that's life. (And I completely understand what you say about the culture changing.)
So I took up bread-baking in a serious way, own sourdough starter etc etc went to French Circle classes once a week to brush up and improve my French, which it has done, and I also also went to art classes just for enjoyment and relaxation.
I still go to an advanced French class, I swim nearly every day and made lots of new friends doing Aqua-aerobics classes.
I haven't regretted it for a moment. My DH and I enjoy leisurely breakfasts together then go our own way for much of the day. Works for us!

I retired at 58, dh still works but only 4 days a week.
I love it...we go away a lot, do walking and generally enjoy life. I havent suddenly taken up lots of new things...I am not that sort of person.But I am never bored or regret stopping work

I’m virtually retired at 53, husband still works. I don’t know where the days go, and the weeks fly past

We retired about a year ago in our early fifties. I love it. To be honest I just potter a lot: write, paint, garden, cook, meet friends. DH does tons of exercise and is super fit. We go away when we can, though with one still in high school opportunities are a little limited, and we do a bit of volunteering.

We worked really hard for many years and raised four kids so this gentle pace of life is lovely.

Quite an easy adjustment. No problemo

Well I did it. Have retired. Only been a couple of weeks but loving it. No Sunday night thinking about what the week will bring. Had a great send off at work. Lots of lovely things said. Farewell lunches.

More time with DCs who are young teens. Planning to decorate the house. Still wonder if I have done the right thing but time and finances will tell.

I'm glad it's going well - I'm sure it's the right thing. Enjoy! Very jealous - I wish I were in your position

Best wishes ! I did it at 59 after receiving an inheritance, and becoming disillusioned with work. I've had no regrets. Still busy , but I do what I enjoy instead of feeling pressured. Have a wonderful retirement !

Congratulations! I’m hoping to retire at 58/59 in 2023, finances permitting. Aside from the financial side (which seems to be ok with you), I think the main thing is to have a structure and to keep physically and mentally active.

Good luck!