Chickened out of retirement

[PupInAPram]

I was intending to retire this September. Instead I'm going to go part time. I'll be close to 64. I realised when the time came to send the email to HR that I'm terrified of the thought of being 'unemployed'. Anyone else felt this way on retirement? I do think I'll have the best of both worlds, but at some point, I've got to go!

I've chickened out 3 times now. More to do with them begging me to stay to be honest, but I can work anywhere in the world I want, whatever hours I want, so not a bad set up really.

@caringcarer I like the sound of all of those things! I've wanted a dog my whole life and on retirement I will finally have time and energy to get one. I love walking so I picture me and doggo going on some walking adventures. I need to do a whole load of research about dogs and dog care though. That can be my Flexi retirement project.

Unless you are in financial difficulties or very lonely I don't know a single person who has wished they carried on working.
Do it. It's like a whole new life opens up.

Enjoy your good health as soon as possible. In my sixties the number of health things that went wrong accelerated. As I love gardening and walking this is a pain in the neck,( back, hips, knees, toes!). If you are thinking of a dog, try it out first with something like Borrow my doggy . Dogs are wonderful but a tie if you want to travel or get ill. Enjoy your health asap.

@Elsewhere123 I'd not really factored failing health in.....☹️

I don't think you've chickened out - it's a big decision and anyway you can still decide to do it. I've been working toward it for so long but I know I will feel anxious when my time comes.

There is a Facebook page called new leash for life where you can foster dogs that are being rehomed ? It might be an idea before deciding what to do ?

Thanks @Sureaseggs44 a short term trial might be a good idea. I was a single working parent then working too many hours to look after a dog. I was thinking rescuing a grown dog rather than buying a puppy would be the best approach.

When I think about being retired I do worry about what I would do with my days.

One of the greatest joys about being retired is the ability to do absolutely nothing at all whenever I want. Learning to do nothing, and just be, is a skill everyone should learn 😁

When I retired I found that having more time is precious! I used to rush around like a headless chicken when I worked, to get everything done but now I amble and potter. I make a breakfast tray and take it back to bed with my laptop and read the online papers, do the crosswords etc. This is glorious on a rainy and windy Monday morning! There are loads of groups and classes locally so I can go to yoga, pilates, watercolour classes, daytime concerts, University of the 3rd age events etc etc. By joining things I've made new friends and am invited to their events too. I'm never bored or stuck for company.

Yes, I did get a send off ( wasn't 40 years. In the same place) . Lovely present card wine speech and flowers, but because I didn't want a big ' do' we all went for a posh non-working breakfast ( my boss was big on working breakfasts) which I was treated to. I declined the prosecco breakfast though! !

I am currently sitting in the campervan which I used to sit at my desk fantasising about in southern Spain.. 🚐😀 ( paid extra AVCs into my local govt pension forthe last 15 years of my working life planning for buying it.. ).
But yes being ok with learning to do nothing is also important..And reading IS a hobby in my book!
I hope it works out for you..

Went straight out to a cafe and sat reading the paper with a large coffee and cake

I fear that if I retired I'd do that everyday 😊

Some people are better at filling their time than others. I want to carry on working part-time indefinitely.

Totally this. You only need to have a couple of friends who don't live until retirement age to understand how lucky you are. Go as soon as finances permit. You're not "unemployed", because you neither want nor need paid work.
There are so many opportunities just waitimg for you....

This is scary. I won't be able to retire until the state pension kicks in (although, I'll be lucky, I'll have another pension of about 4k per annum and savings by then). I am doing pilates 3 times a week, walking everywhere, avoiding sugar, alcohol as much as I can (slip up occasionally). I really hope I get at least 15 years of physical health after I retire at 67

I feared no oe will turn up at my leaving do, I'm like that but always had a couple of excellent work friends but we only met at work - I left after a small stint o sick leave as I was diagnosed with something, left 16 years before state retirement and my OH 15 yrs before that - we've never looked back as we because grandparents a few months after that

I do miss my workmates = some rang but I never rang back it was always them so we lost contact

I'm a very private person as is my OH

Go for it OP exepcially if you have fmily/grandkids etc and can afford it - good luck

I retired at 55 as soon as I could access my private pension. Never looked back

I was a s fit as a flea when I retired but my health went downhill after 60, breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and back problems to name a few. Never assume you will be healthy in the future despite eating healthily and doing everything "right".
Have a look at the Cinnamon Trust. A friend who was unsure about a dog signed up for it. They have volunteers who will walk dogs when the owner is ill either temporarily or permanently.

@Soupit thanks for that. Will definitely follow up cinnamon trust.

I could have retired last April. I wasn't ready so carried on working. Luckily my job for the last twenty years has been computer based, with my days of hard physical work long gone, so I knew I could carry on. I did reduce my week to four days in January this year. Idea was I would probably retire at 70 and my wife would retire then and we could enjoy more holidays in term time (she worked in a school)

Not wanting to side track the thread, but my wife passed away in mid January so our plans were completely destroyed. I'm now contemplating retiring soon as no interest in working any more.

I'm 'lucky' in a way that I have more than enough money to have a very comfortable life but it'll be on my own. I do play golf and also walking football so I do have those for social interests. I also have a dog which is the single reason to get me out daily at the moment.

just saying that as @EdgarsTale has written, best laid plans don't always work out.

I'm going to drop a day a week either this year or next year, I'm 56 this year. Then go to 3 days. I'd like to try and work through to 60.

But at 60 I want to go, I've got travelling plans and want to be fit and well enough to do it.

I'm kind of angling for a bit of consultancy work from my current job when I retire too...just for a couple of years.

But in my head I'll be happy pottering about.

A friend of mine changed careers completely at 65, and is likely to be working in a rather high powered job till she's 75, she loves it, loves working with young people. She looks pained at my description of wanting to start pottering about in retirement.

💐 @billyt so sorry about your wife.

@PupInAPram I am so glad to have found this thread, as I feel exactly the same as you. About two years ago, I started to come up with possible dates for my retirement- but have never followed through. The latest date I have come up with is 31 July 24.

Up until now, I have really enjoyed my job and as I had a temporary promotion, it was worthwhile carrying on. Work is now really stressful, there have been changes, which have led the morale of my team to plummet and I think that a round of cuts is looming.

Walking away is now a really attractive option - but I almost feel embarrassed at the thought of handing in my notice. I just can't imagine doing this, but I am 64 and would prefer something part time.

@Mayim - if cuts are looming, might it be worth holding on for a bit (set a time frame!) for redundancy?

I'm 61 and work 30 hours which is good for me. Gives me some free time but also brings in money to support DD at uni.