Retiring is a real shock so what do you do in retirement

Bernie

We're coming up to retirement - but I'm still enjoying work (and the income) so we've a while to go yet.

Seen all the worthy causes and interests and thought I might throw a pastime into the ring that has got us out and about - Geocaching.

http://www.geocaching.com/about/

This pastime gives us varied destinations to walk/drive/cycle to wherever we go. It has led us to interesting places and things even in our own backyard.

Does require a GPS unit really but other than that, it can be as cheap or complex as you like. Dogs can be useful sidekicks too!

Our most recent outing was out and about York, got take all over the place.

The wife and I have participated in this pastime since 2001 and been caching all over the world on our travels.

Enjoy!

:beer:

Newly_retired

I am discovering that one snag to filling up one's week with lots of interesting groups, voluntary work etc leaves me in a bit of a quandary when I want to go away. Fitting in a suitable time to do so can actually be quite difficult ( can't miss that rehearsal/ that concert, too many others away from work that day....) My daughter wishes I lived nearer to help out when she is struggling with childcare and whereas I could do a few hours, with the journey it means a couple of days out of my week. I can'[t manage it very often, unfortunately, but nor could I sit at home waiting for her to need me.

viv0147

I retired in January 2009 through ill health at the age of 61 prior to retirement I was managed a Snooker club for the last 15 years and working gave me company and such a wonderful variety of people to meet day in and day out and some times not so nice. Since retirement being I live alone that was something I missed the company, well after about 6 weeks I was starting to feel lonely and useless and I decided to get out and about as soon as felt able. I joined a fishing club although it was something I had never done before I ended up from the Spring onwards going sea fishing off the Gower coast and it was great and good fun and of course after a little while I had good company there. Also needing to lose weight I went on a calorie controlled diet and weighing and planning my meals has been quite interesting and rewarding I have lost 3 stone. I also started swimming everyday after not being near a pool for 30 years. I have another hobby now and that is shopping I checkout the website hotukdeals and of course Martins most days and end up getting many grocery bargains, the challenge has proved invaluable because my income on pension credit is £130 a week, at the moment I am on stop I have nowhere to put anymore food lol. I joined a photography club so I am once again meeting people and learning digital photography. I joined the local library and occasionally get books from there. I bought an Iphone when they first came to the UK and even after a number of years I still find it exciting and a challenge. My computer I now have a Mac computer and that has been a godsend, and there is so much on there to learn once again another challenge, I use it for so many things and the hours on times just seem to disappear, and I talk via skype to people all over the world. On top of all that I have my children and grandchildren, my nickname with them is taxi, but I love them to bits. So if anything I don’t seem to have enough hours in the day but I am really happy about that, so I think the motto of my story is to get off you’re a*s and try everything.

balmaiden

Looking forward to reading your blog Sammie. Talk about living the dream, wow.

For me early retirement has meant finally taking my maths and english GCSE. Pilates twice a week. Enabling my daughters to go back into part time work by helping out with childcare.

Best of all has been the travel that Dh and I have managed to do in the last three years. Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Scotland, Wales and a fair bit of my own beloved county. All travel planned and saved for over a number of working years.

lilac_lady

Being retired doesn't mean that living has stopped because paid work has stopped. It's a time for having a rethink of priorities and deciding what the next stage in life will be like. I LOVE being retired after having a long working life. I started work at 14 as a shop Saturday girl and have always worked apart from a few years at home looking after my children when they were small. If you're lucky enough to be retired (and many don't reach that special age) enjoy it.

stargaze_3

Dont worry about being retired Lilac-lady, Treat it as the adventure you have never had time to go on !! You dont stop living, but for the first time isn't it nice to think you can choose - what you want to do, and where you want to go - AND WHEN !! without your boss telling you all the time.- It is a good idea though to get some sort of order and routine in your daily life, --- but it is still you who decides what order suits you, - not someone else. For the first time you can have a sense of freedom. Enjoy life now Lilac -lady - like me. all the best to you. Stargaze -you and I can try to put the world to rights on the net !!

oldsam

I worked for Post Office for 31 years retired at 60 in 2003, then took part -time work at the Local ASDA store till the end of 2007 , As long you are positive in your outlook on life being active in body and mind - I have health problems but even a heart operation has not stopped me, I planted potatoes in the allotment in the early March then in September lifted the crop by myself - If you want to do Boring it does not take much to count flies on the ceiling ! sitting in the armchair . But take it outside and Shoot it ! then burn it ! - That the advice I gave to the over 65's when delivering a state penny books to them - Now gardening - walking about- painting -woodwork-vist friends- collect stamps- grandchildren all seven of them- give yourself special days off out from chores - The problem is when change from full on to slowing down is pacing yourself - Give the calender circles to one job a day And DO IT !!

[Deleted User]

Well since retiring in 1996 I learnt to swim,spent lots of time with my grandchildren ,learned to use a computer and a digital camera,I knit,cook,go to craft classes have taken three GCSE's, passed them all, and at the moment am in my second year of Uni studying for my History degree.I toured the U.S with my oldest friend (we did a Thelma and Louise two years ago) During the past 14 years I sadly lost my husband of almost 40 years and went through extensive surgery for breast cancer, and lost my hair as well with chemo.But I gained lots of new friends, and and my hair returned eventually.Life is only what you make it, I can honestly say I could do with at least another 6 hours in my day to try to get everything done that I would like to do.My mobility is not as good as it was when I retired, but it makes you appreciate not what you can't do, but what you can do. I am the wrong side of 60 now but everyday is great as I get up feeling as though I have beaten the dreaded big C and the worst that could have happened to me did so nothing is impossible anymore .Life is for living and by golly I intend to make the most of it while I can.Onwards and upwards is my motto

lilac_lady

stargaze - I DO enjoy my retirement - very much. I agree with your sentiments entirely.

old sam - I agree with you too. I do voluntary work and look after grandchildren but still have plenty of time left over for ME!

JackieO - You're right - retirement is a time to have a new life but you have to make the effort to get the most from it. I'm full of admiration for what you've gone through and achieved in your life.

Oblivion

This is a really interesting thread, and reading all the varied responses, I think what comes out of it is that there is no 'one size fits all' solution to retirement. It will depend very much on your personal character, circumstances, health, attitude to life etc.

I retired nearly three years ago after 40 years in a high-pressure professional managerial role, much of being dogged by having to cope with an Ulcerative Colitis condition. I say having to cope, but towards the end I was barely coping with it and to say that retirement came as a huge mental and physical relief has to be the understatement of the century.

For me, retirement means not having to get up at some unearthly hour of the morning to beat the commuter rush hour, and particularly not having to drag myself into the office on days when I was in incredible pain. Even after nearly three years, I still haven't got over the wonderful feeling that comes with being my own master now, being able to do what I want to do when I want to and feel well enough to do it. Pure magic!

As for getting bored ... never. I have wonderful neighbours with whom I often stop and chat. I have a lovely garden to potter about in and tend at my leisure, and its filled with wildlife of all sorts to entertain me. I now have time to pursue my lifelong hobby of amateur photography which gets me out and about in the countryside when I'm feeling up to it ... for anyone interested you can see some of my amateur galleries here. And on bad weather days, I can stay in and 'process' my photos on the computer.

My only concession to 'work' is my involvement on the committee of our residents association, writing correspondence and maintaining their accounts, and that keeps me pretty active I can tell you. Other than that, it's a life of leisure for me thank you very much.

Dave.