What are you doing now?

[RetirementTimes]

Retired at the end of the school year aged 61. It’s taken me a year to wind down and to start to find me again.

Just finishing a crochet class and over the course of the last 5 weeks I have learnt to make a coaster and a granny square. One week left of the course. It’s taken me until 62 to learn to crochet!

Now off for a lunchtime meet-up with a friend. Just been thinking about how lucky I have been to retire while young enough to enjoy and to learn new skills.

So what hobbies or interests have you taken up or developed since retiring or starting to wind down? Other than travel as that goes without saying. I am fascinated by all the opportunities I did a sourdough course in the summer.

At the moment just enjoy that you don’t have to set the alarm and fight with rush hour traffic.
Nine years into retirement and the lack of alarm clock is still a treat.
I've finally got some treatment that works for my autoimmune condition and I'm feeling more positive and less lethargic.
When my DC were at home before I retired fully I did some volunteering. I think I'd like to get back to it but need ideas. Definitely not working in a charity shop, nothing physically demanding.

As well as the general themes (travel, time with/making friends, exercise, intellectual interests, gardening) I’ve done more with my volunteering and now get paid for doing some bits of it, which is very nice given volunteering is mostly just a hobby that happens to do a bit of good.

I’m also a keen declutterer and love having the time to just tip out a messy drawer or stuffed cupboard and only put back what I really want to keep.

And in the mornings I don’t leap out of bed - I potter downstairs, make tea, bring it up and read the paper (online) in bed. Sheer luxury.

I am grateful every day for this lovely phase of my life.

@olderbutwiser what do you do for volunteering?

I'm trying to volunteer at a charity called Read Easy that helps adults learn to read. The progress has been very slow. It's been nearly 18 months since I initially enquired about doing it.

I met with two coordinators in early October for a brief chat - they showed me the programme they use and explained how it worked and said I would be contacted to start some online training but I'm still waiting. I've filled in all the forms, had references done and a DBS.

It's terribly slow. I need to contact them to find out what's going on.

@BG2015 it must be frustrating. DS tried to volunteer for age uk as a befriender. Went to an interview and was accepted then - nothing.

I just wonder why these coordinators aren’t more pro active. Don’t want to criticise them as I don’t know their individual circumstances or how the process works but I’d be on it if it was my role.

My cousin volunteers for the Samaritans and coming from a local government background she has reorganised all sort of office /admin systems- all free.

We come from a line of very organised mothers! lol

I wonder whether the coordinator is a volunteer? That might explain it but if they are paid then they aren't up to much.
Yes I am a former civil servant and super organised. I remember when DC were little joining the PTA and dragging them into the 21st century. They used to keep hand written minutes that were verbatim for the entire meeting and even worse they insisted on reading them out at the start of the next meeting. This was in the early 2000s.

I didn't mean to quote! I can't remove it. Sorry
I retired early seven years ago. Since then I downsized and decluttered massively. It was very therapeutic. My first project was doing up my bungalow. The bones were good but it needed work. I took up art and have been painting for years now. I began to learn Spanish and I'm working on that. I also look after grandchildren two days a week. I meet up with friends too. At the start of the year, I offered to help in the school library and that's worked out well. I go in three times a week. I don't have good health so I'm keen to do what I can while I can

It’s great to be able to volunteer occasionally. I just don’t need any firm commitments to be places by a certain time at the moment other than attending craft or exercise classes. I promised myself that I would volunteer for anything in my first year after finishing teaching.

Like others have mentioned coordinators either haven’t got back to my friends who have tried or they have expected firm lengthy commitments where my friend had to apply for annual leave.

Anyway my plan for tomorrow is making the Christmas Cake which I love doing. I will also be uploading stuff onto Vinted and eBay as the result of my de-cluttering/ Swedish death clearing as I have found my inner Maria Kondo this weekend.

Go for it, that's how I started, the old Yamaha in the attic! I tried to get DD interested but nope not her thing.

Turned out it was my thing!

Wintery showers here this morning so got round to making the Christmas cake. I really like just having the time to do stuff when I want.

I've done 2 days of supply teaching this week but decided I'm not available for the rest of the week now. DP is off tomorrow so we've decided we might go for a walk tomorrow if it's fine.

The joy of being able to please yourself

That sounds lovely @BG2015 Like you I enjoy the flexibility after the ‘control’ of the education system. Schools are, understandably, incredibly rigid in terms of days off for anything.

I am popping into London to meet my daughter for lunch. Walking to the station shortly and having a mooch around convent garden first.

I retired from education on Friday I decided to bring it forward as what’s the point of ‘just another year’. It feels surreal as Friday was manic with it being my last day and we have had family visiting and staying this weekend. Tomorrow my husband and I will travel to the Caribbean to celebrate my retirement and I’m currently scrolling through my phone and because I’m not ready to fall asleep decided to pop on here instead. I still feel wired and I know it’ll take time to come back down to earth and start to enjoy my new freedom. I have to keep telling myself that it doesn’t matter if things aren’t done to time anymore but the whole school mentality of time keeping is emblazoned in my brain still. I love to see what you are all doing during your retirement.

@smileylady1congratulations! Have a fantastic time in the Caribbean (wish I was off there too!) - it’ll be a great start to your retirement. Teaching is exhausting, so put your feet up!

What a fabulous way to celebrate the start of your retirement 🥂🍾 @smileylady1 bet you will be very smiley when you board the flight! Hope you have a fantastic time and look forward to the many adventures to come.

@smileylady1 oh many many congratulations- you will not regret your decision believe me. It's the BEST thing I've done leaving teaching (although I do a bit of supply now).

I was chatting to a retired colleague on Thursday over coffee (we both worked to the same school) and I was saying how I can't believe that I've not missed the school environment in the run up to Christmas. I taught in primary and predominantly in KS 1 and early years so the Christmas madness was crazy - but I've really not missed one aspect of it at all. She said the same.

You will have an amazing time on your Caribbean holiday.

Enjoy

Thank you for your lovely comments. I’ve worked in EYFS for 26 years and now in my 60s I physically cannot do the same as I did previously. My health is great so I’ve quit while I’m ahead. There are other colleagues I see struggling to move around at school and I didn’t want to end up like that.

Presents wrapped and cake iced 🎄 The joy of having time to do all this stuff means that the festive period feels a lot less pressurised than it used to be. I am actually enjoying it this year.

What a fantastic way to start your retirement @smileylady1! Have a wonderful time.

@RetirementTimes I totally agree with you that the run up to Christmas is so much more enjoyable when you aren’t running around like a blue-arsed fly and have time to do enjoyable things as well as Christmas prep.

So I reckon I am now fitter at 62 than I was a 52 or maybe even 42💪🏻. Pilates twice a week, running twice a week and now I have added swimming to the list. I finally went to the local pool late morning and thought it is well worth £30 a month even if I just go once a month.

I was chatting to a retired colleague on Thursday over coffee (we both worked to the same school) and I was saying how I can't believe that I've not missed the school environment in the run up to Christmas. I taught in primary and predominantly in KS 1 and early years so the Christmas madness was crazy - but I've really not missed one aspect of it at all. She said the same

Funnily enough, that is the ONE thing I DO miss about school.
Since I left, I have to go and find a Nativity somewhere to watch every year
I miss all the glitter and the chaos and hearing Christmas songs as you walk down the corridor.

I became a charity trustee and got quite involved helping it keep afloat during the pandemic years. Also have a stand in a vintage centre where I sell all my declutter stuff. I have a few good friends who i meet up with regularly. Love to garden and potter about the house. No grandkids yet!

I’ve not retired yet but have started Scottish country dancing in preparation

loving it so far.

I did a 5km parkrun this morning and very pleased with my time. When I was teaching I would be fretting about next week’s lessons plans and feeling anxious about my GCSE and A Level classes