Over 50? NOW WHAT?! Time to get fired up!

KMK

I have just taken early retirement at 58 and I absolutely LOVE it. I worked in education all my life and very stressful it was too at the end. I live on the beach on the N Yorks coast and yet when I was working , I never went down there. Did not have time! Now that I am time rich for the first time in my life I take a daily walk on a deserted beach. It has been such a lovely autumn too.

I have also taken holidays outside of term time. What a difference! Cheaper, quieter and relaxing. I intend doing more of that.

However I get such delight in a leisurely breakfast, reading the paper in the morning, meeting a friend for coffee, shopping when it is quiet and sitting by the fire on a winter's afternoon listening to Radio 4 or reading a library book (never had time to go there before) It is also great to turn over in bed when the rain is lashing the windows. I also do some voluntary work in the community.

So what I am saying is that there is so much pleasure in enjoying small everyday activities that you never had time for, as well as going on exotic adventures.

Before I retired, colleagues said that I might miss work.They were so wrong. Don't miss it a bit. This is a wonderful new chapter for me.

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

What I like being able to do that young 'uns wouldn't do is going upto these 'mobile loudspeakers' that they drive now-a-days, when they're in places like SuperMarket Car Parks, and once they've drawn attention to themselves with the Boom Boom Boom Boom, I ask them if they're deaf and when they say "What!!", I stand back, cup my hands to my mouth and say

"I SAID, A-R-E Y-O-U D-E-A-F"

:snow_grin :snow_grin :snow_grin :snow_grin :snow_grin :xmassign:

grumpyoldgit_2

A man after my own heart :wave: - Grumpy Christmas to all kindred spirits out there
:xmassign:

lilac_lady

To Dora - I didn't know B & Q discount for over 55s. Do you need to get a card?
To KMK - I'm SO happy for you - that's going to be my life too (in a couple of years)
To Grumpy OD - love your Avator!
To Grumpy OG - keep grumping!

smartsaver

SnowyOwl wrote:

Why not do a bit of studying, and get some qualifications? At the minute I'm doing a course which is equivalent to 3 A levels. The teacher tells us that one of her former students who did the course kept on studying and graduated from university in her 67th year - it is never too old to learn something new. That lady and her kids must have been so proud on her graduation day.

I took up up an art history course with the OU a few years ago in my early forties and went on a summer schoool to Reading Uni. The oldest guy on the course with us was 83... I thought I was going to be old but many retired people find they have the time to study and get a lot out of it.. more so than when they were young. It's never to late to learn and you can study what you enjoy.

[Deleted User]

smartsaver wrote:

I took up up an art history course with the OU a few years ago in my early forties and went on a summer schoool to Reading Uni. The oldest guy on the course with us was 83... I thought I was going to be old but many retired people find they have the time to study and get a lot out of it.. more so than when they were young. It's never to late to learn and you can study what you enjoy.

I left school at 14 and never took an exam apart from my driving test until I was 60 and passed with an 'A' my English GCSE. I have since taken a Modern World history GCSE and passed, and I am in the middle of a Law GCSE. I also am doing the first module of a History course at Kent Uni. As Delboy would say 'The world's my lobster Rodney'
Since retiring I also learned to swim, another of my goals. There just isn't enough hours in the day for me There is so much out there to do and enjoy. Even meeting my grandchildren from school is a pleasure, as I was always at work when my children were small and someone else had to do it. Getting old has it's compensations

zenmaster

I suppose a 20-something supermodel would be out of the question ?

Anyway, I expect Mrs. Zen would have something to say about it.

mean.machine_2

Okay, how about a few 'funnies' on the subject? Btw, I am 50 - which means I am too old to have fun, too young to retire.

And they ask why I like retirement....??????

Question: How many days in a week?
Answer: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday
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Question: When is a retiree's bedtime?
Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.
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Question: How many retirees to change a light bulb?
Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.
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Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees?
Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.
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Question: Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors?
Answer: The term comes with a 10% percent discount.
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Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
Answer: Tied shoes.
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Question: Why do retirees count pennies?
Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.
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Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?
Answer: NUTS !
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Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage?
Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.
> >>
Question: What do retirees call a long lunch?
Answer: Normal.
> >>
Question: What is the best way to describe retirement?
Answer: The never ending Coffee Break.
> >
Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a Retiree?
Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.
> >>
Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but
misses the people he used to work with?
Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

Arkwright007

At 55 I decided to make a career change; sold the shop after 27years took a 'gap year' to get qualifications and do some travelling - Cambodia & Vietnam with my daughter. After getting the required GCSE's I started work as a classroom supervisor at a 11-14 school.
Whenever a holiday comes round (which is pretty regular in the teaching profession) I make sure I've a cheap flight and a hostel booked for somewhere interesting and an itinery planned. With that and an OU humanities course which will take the next 5 years to get the degree I promised myself life is pretty d***ed good!
I don't envy anyone else as I realise that most people get what they work hard for. Take each day by the scruff of the kneck and try not to waste too much time - although I seem to spend too much time browsing this site!

Dobie

I turned 50 in September 2004 & I think my generation is incredibly lucky. We had the benefit of a reasonable diet when we were growing up, unlike the war babies, so in general our long term health is better.
Last year at 51, I cycled from Derbyshire to Scotland with 7 friends, all but 2 of us are over 50. I think the biggest mistake any of us make is to think about age before we decide to do anything. As long as we're healthy we can do whatever we like - it just takes a bit longer.
I think this is the best time of my life. The kids are grown up & making their own lives. They come & visit & I love to see them but it's great when they've gone & me & my husband have our own space & can please ourselves. We now only need a little house so we have a tiny mortgage that will, with luck & hard work be paid off next year & then we can start putting money away into our retirement fun fund.
Much as I enjoy the social side of work, it keeps me in touch with such a wide range of people, I can't wait to retire so we can do all the things we're planning. We want to cycle across Canada & go on the Trans-Siberian railway & visit India. I have no burning desire to leave lots of money for the offspring, if there's some left - great - but if not, we'll have had a fabulous time spending it.
I know everyone isn't as lucky but getting older isn't all bad. In fact it can be great & in any case is MUCH better than the alternative.