Retirement life

[BG2015]

So I retired in the summer from my teaching job after 29 years. I'm nearly 57 so I've retired, early but my love for the job just wasn't there anymore and after recovering from a cancer diagnosis in 2021 I just decided life was too short.

Im waiting to start my very flexible part time freelance job delivering speed awareness courses which I plan on doing for about 12 hours a week.

But I am loving having a slower pace each day. I can't say I've been bored at all.

I've enjoyed swimming three times a week, walking with a local Nordic walking group, meeting a couple of friends for coffee, reading, cooking new things from scratch for our evening meal ( I live with my DP, adult son and his gf), watching TV and just pleasing myself.

Anyone else newly retired? How are you finding it?

I retired from teaching at 57, 7 years ago now. DH retired at 60, 13 months ago. When it was just me retired I went swimming/spa, had lunch out once a week with an old colleague who retired the same time as me, visited my sister who lives 150 miles away once a month, read books, watched Netflix, worked in garden and cooked from scratch more especially making delicious soups. Now DH has also retired we eat lunch out twice a week, often go on day trips to nice places, have weekend and midweek breaks for 2-3 days at a time, have more holidays, both work in garden, redecorating our home room by room. DH does chess puzzles as well as play chess with online opponents. We both read. We have watched Grey's Anatomy from episode 1 as neither had watched it before. We sometimes go to the cinema for the afternoon matinee. One thing we both found is when we are feeling really unwell with flu or COVID we just have a few days in bed without feeling guilty for not being at work. My DH enjoys spending more time with his beloved 2 dogs. He has done a grooming course and can now groom them to a good standard himself. That would have been so handy during lockdown. DH has also bought a pizza oven and has made several hand made pizzas from scratch which we have all enjoyed.

Retiring jn your 50s seems like a luxury.

I have been following this thread with interest. Both DH and I are teachers (Secondary and primary respectively) and have inspections due at any time. I love my job, but have inspection anxiety. DH struggles more with work related stress and 3 weeks into term had blood pressure readings of 191/117. This was deemed a medical emergency and 111 said go to A and E straight away. Luckily after blood tests, an ECG and monitoring he has been given the all clear and put on blood pressure tablets.

This has really shaken him up as he was told he was a heart attack/stoke waiting to happen. He grandfather died at 51 to a heart attack, his grandmother also died of a heart attack. Therefore he has decided to resign/'retire' and put his health first. He is only 54.

I was hoping to go part time next year, but it looks like I will stay full time for a few more years. I still love every day of teaching and would struggle to fill my day and I would miss the social side. We are empty nesters and we try to go away 4 times a year. We love a city break. I am a bit obsessed by retirement slow travel YouTube channels. DH will probably do some tutoring; his subject is very much in demand and he is a great teacher. It is a new chapter for us. I realised yesterday that I am the oldest teacher (54) at my school now. When I first started teaching, I was the youngest by 9 years and a little girl described me as 'the teacher who does not look like a mummy'! How things have changed 32 years later.

Enjoying reading your stories and hope you all continue to enjoy your retirement.

I'm ten years out now, went at 57, not school teaching but in house adult education/training. It's a different animal to teaching kids I reckon!

Anyway, I spent the first couple of years looking after Mum who was v ill. Then she needed full time care. I'm glad I had the time for that. Then covid came along, Mum died, and life went on.

Just to say there are those of us like me, who are not bored with our own company, who relish quiet at home and don't need to be gadding about doing this or that to fill the time. I am never bored and I live alone too. I do keep up with friends and family regularly but not on a timetable, and I walk every day. My interest is Greek and Roman history, so that means I "have" to visit all those sites all over Europe now don't I?😊That's my passion so as soon as I return from one trip, I'm planning the next. Very rewarding for a quiet one like me!

I am financially comfortable now, so I don't have to worry about that aspect of things anymore. I'm very lucky I know, and I have good health for my age (so far anyway and touch wood....)

Am I the only non teacher/education sector worker on this board?

😂

Have you considered doing freelance work for an exam board? Writing, marking or school inspections (the latter can involve some international travel😉). It’s my plan when I retire. They advertise vacancies on their websites.

I've no idea, but tell us your story anyway!

I had an administrative role in a charity, before I retired.

@Hatty65would you mind me asking how easy it was to get ill health retirement with long Covid/chronic fatigue? I am 52 and was super fit and healthy till I got Covid in 2023 and I’ve just never really recovered my energy levels. My life is so tough now as I’m still working but all I can do is work and go to bed - I literally do nothing else and only have the energy to go in twice a week. I think at some point I need to look at ill health retirement but I was told it’s practically impossible for ME/CFS

@DogTiredAllTheTimeare you a teacher?
If so, it's very hard to get ill health retirement through TPS. My colleague and I both got a breast cancer diagnosis within weeks of each other and she continued to struggle with her mental health after treatment ended (she had lots of trauma from her mum and sister dying of cancer before her diagnosis). She applied for ill health retirement but it was refused.

Place marking as both DH and I will be retiring at Christmas. I have been reducing my hours over the last few years, so sort of semi-retired already. I do worry how DH is going to adapt as he loves his job and it has been a big part of his life.

I'm reading this with envy as I don't have a plan to retire and I need one! Following with interest!

I am a bit obsessed by retirement slow travel YouTube channels

I love a good YouTube retirement channel! My favourite is A Small Retired Life.

Nope, I work in the arts!

54? Teacher here too. That us young another 30 yrsdx of no work ? He could go sbrozd do z stint in Milan sfvghd brutish council. Too young to be pipe znd slippers. Imagine him there all the time. There are much less stressful education roles. Library mansgrmdbt ? I know several charities recruiting education consultants. Message me.

He could go sbrozd do z stint in Milan sfvghd brutish council

Come again?

Retirement Wanderlust is a YouTube channel I follow. Both ex teachers, downsized and relocated to the Yorkshire Dales and now travel around in their campervan.

Yes, I watch them. They retired from teaching at 51 years old. I also watch Brian and Carrie, Finding Gina Marie (I listen to them on podcasts when I go for a walk), nomad travellers, retirement travellers and frugal travellers. This is my Sunday morning guilty pleasure!

I retired at 58 after a stressful job working in education. We all just have to find something that interests us re volunteering/hobbies.

We decided to raise a guide dog puppy for just over a year and that was enjoyable and good for health as lots of walks. Was sad saying Good bye to him but the advantage of only committing for a year or so means you aren't tied re holidays/trips away for years and years.

Not doing any volunteering at the moment but I expect something else will grab my interest soon.

Thanks @BG2015 for starting this thread - it's interesting.

Following. Going next year at 55 after 37 years nursing. Interested to read the replies as it’s something I wonder about, although am absolutely done.

Too young to be pipe and slippers. Imagine him there all the time.

@ChaliceinWonderland Him there not all the time and in a morgue worries me more. My old HT has just had a major stroke and is unlikely to ever recover his mobility. He only got 14 years of quality retirement. He retired at 57 years.

I would be interested in the things you suggest though.

I'm in higher ed (full-time), early 60s, also had cancer late 50s, can't afford to retire but hoping to go PT and very much looking forward to retirement. I'd retire tomorrow if I had made more sensible pension plans.

I'm actually wondering how you manage being at home with your dh, ds and his gf? I am very unsure about having dd's bf move in with us but I can see the possibility looming. Having all of us at home - I think would be challenging.

@aterriblefish my DP is still working for now as his pension situation isn't as good as mine, he works away too. My DS and his girlfriend are both 22. He works fulltime for Ford and plays a LOT of golf. His girlfriend is at uni and training to be nurse. We barely see them. We discuss who's here for dinner each week and cook accordingly. They spend 1-2 nights a week over at my ex-husband/DS dads. They are great kids and I love having them around.

Ah I can see that would work better. In our case, they would both likely be WFH so we would all be home.

Congrats.. I haven’t worked for years but still have my adult dcs at home so I spend most afternoons making a lovely home cooked meal for us all. I use the gym in the mornings and might meet a friend for a coffee but yes I’m bored.. would love my dh to retire so we can have some fun.