Not wanting contact with ex colleagues?

[SweetyPie22]

Hello:) I've got to my retirement and am so happy to leave my employer, as apart from it being time, my job had been personally very stressful over the years for multiple reasons and to the point that I feel that I have PTSD from it !
The people that I worked with were very nice and we were chatty about each other's lives in the office, but I didn't socialise with anyone outside of work, though a couple of colleagues do particularly do so with each other. One of them did say that they would contact me to meet up together at some point in the future. My problem is that I honestly don't want to, as I feel that that door has closed for me and I wish to completely detach from the job. So, here I am on pins waiting for the phone to ring to arrange a meet up. I am an introvert anyway, so this is all very stressful but I don't want to be horrible, but it really wouldn't bother me if they didn't call at all. Any opinions on this please...TIA

Well I think I would just say no thank you - you’re not obliged to meet them. I think what often happens is that when you leave a job for any reason - retirement or moving on to pastures new - people often say that they will stay in touch or that you should meet up in the future, but rarely does it happen unless you were close to them as a friend and not just a colleague. I don’t think you should be on pins waiting for a call that may never come, that’s not healthy.

Don’t worry about it. It’s probably something they just said to be polite anyway

I wouldn’t worry about it, even if they do call just say you’re busy.

They may well feel the same and have said that to be polite but have no intention of getting in touch. I say it to people sometimes and I know I’ll never contact them.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone:) I do tend to overthink🙁, so yes, it would be something that I would probably say too.

Loads of people say thst when you leave a job but never do. Honestly just ignore the call if it ever comes.

They'll just want to bore you to death about what you are "missing out" on in the office or wherever.

If you get a call or text just fob them off, saying you don't know when you'll have the time as you are filling your days with new hobbies.

They will soon get the message.

At most you will only get 1 invitation and then it will fizzle out. If it comes, just say thank you but you can't make it.

Enjoy your retirement !

Your task if you choose to accept it is to have worked out what you will say if anyone does contact you. And to rehearse so that you are very comfortable saying something like “that you for getting in touch, howdver, now that I have retired I won’t be maintaining any contacts from my working days. Thank you again and put down the phone.

and for anyone who feels similarly, an email is easier to ignore than a phone call. I only ever can provide CV my home email address to anyone who suggests staying in touch.

im not

I think it’s a thing people say, and probably even mean, but never get around to doing.

If you are busy, either don’t reply or just say you’re busy.

Thanks everyone 🙂

As everyone has eluded to - the chances of you being contacted by ex colleagues are relatively slim unless you were friends with them - I wouldn’t worry - just go and enjoy your retirement.

People say they’ll be in touch but based on what you’ve said, I think you’re unlikely to hear from them.

I think it was said to be polite. I doubt you’ll hear from them.