Early-retirement wannabe

kidmugsy

OldMusicGuy wrote: »

We have found this. We have a lovely smooth collie but she is old (13) and won't last long. When she dies we will not replace her because we want the flexibility to go off touring (mainly in our classic car) at short notice without having to organise kennels. We will probably not get another dog until we are older and have enjoyed the active years of our retirement.

Well buy a tortoise. They cost very little to feed and you can hide them about your car or your person easily. They can have a little dawdle in your hotel bath while you are at dinner, and overnight. You could always take them a Tortoise Bag of salad from the restaurant.

Wednesday2000

Knowing me I think if I fostered a dog or cat I would end up keeping them.:D That would be the only problem as I can imagine you get quite attached.

bugslet wrote: »

Or you could look at volunteering for the cinnamon trust, they provide assistance to people that have maybe been rushed into hospital and want a home for a few weeks, or maybe recovering and can't walk their own dogs.

Oh, that is interesting. I've never heard of that before. That is a very good idea.

OldMusicGuy

kidmugsy wrote: »

Well buy a tortoise. They cost very little to feed and you can hide them about your car or your person easily. They can have a little dawdle in your hotel bath while you are at dinner, and overnight. You could always take them a Tortoise Bag of salad from the restaurant.

What a strange response. Not sure what you are getting at here, sounds like a weird dig for some reason.

I was just trying to share how our attitudes have changed since retiring. We are dog lovers and had assumed we would get another (smaller) dog to replace our current one when she died. One that could easily jump in the back of our classic car. However, since retiring we have realised two things. First, we like touring around in the car more than we anticipated. It's something we both enjoy, so we will probably do more than we had originally planned. Second, we felt that even a small dog would be limiting in terms of booking accommodation and flexibility of travel. So we have decided having a dog would restrict our flexibility. Can't see why you think that is odd, I was just sharing that attitudes can change once you retire.

We do still have a cat and we always will do. But they are easier to leave than dogs. Unless of course you propose we take the cat with us....? (my parents did actually have a friend who took his Siamese out with him to visit people....)

bugslet

Wednesday2000 wrote: »

Knowing me I think if I fostered a dog or cat I would end up keeping them.:D That would be the only problem as I can imagine you get quite attached.



Oh, that is interesting. I've never heard of that before. That is a very good idea.

When I used to do volunteer transport for rescues, I thought I'd coming home with them all, as it happened out of around 50, I was only tempted once. He was a dog I picked up along with another. He was just so switched on , so relaxed, just happy to be with people. GSD X, reckon he'd be a dream to train as well.

OMG, Siamese are half dog, certainly not typical cats!

AnotherJoe

OldMusicGuy wrote: »

What a strange response. Not sure what you are getting at here, sounds like a weird dig for some reason.

I was just trying to share how our attitudes have changed since retiring. We are dog lovers and had assumed we would get another (smaller) dog to replace our current one when she died. One that could easily jump in the back of our classic car. However, since retiring we have realised two things. First, we like touring around in the car more than we anticipated. It's something we both enjoy, so we will probably do more than we had originally planned. Second, we felt that even a small dog would be limiting in terms of booking accommodation and flexibility of travel. So we have decided having a dog would restrict our flexibility. Can't see why you think that is odd, I was just sharing that attitudes can change once you retire.

We do still have a cat and we always will do. But they are easier to leave than dogs. Unless of course you propose we take the cat with us....? (my parents did actually have a friend who took his Siamese out with him to visit people....)

Couldn't you do whatever you do with the cat, whilst touring, with the dog? Or do you leave it to its own devices, have a cat flap and have neighbor put food its in bowl now and then?

OldMusicGuy

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Couldn't you do whatever you do with the cat, whilst touring, with the dog? Or do you leave it to its own devices, have a cat flap and have neighbor put food its in bowl now and then?

We have an electronic catflap linked to his chip and neighbours that feed the cat (we do the same for their cat). Wouldn't work with a dog.

I'll add that some of our relatives recently bought a caravan so they could go touring with their dog. I'm afraid a caravan wouldn't be on our agenda but I can see the appeal (not enough to actually get one though).

tigerspill

DairyQueen wrote: »

We live in an age of 'look at me, me, me'. It has been my experience that you need to be at least 50 before most no longer care whether they are judged on their choice of car/home/spouse/whatever. Even so, the feeling remains that we are being judged. Appearances are important (to some) and misleading (for most).

For the record, I have a relative who drives an Aston Martin. You can arrive at his home in darkness and there will be a spotlight illuminating the car. No such courtesy is extended to guests trying to find the door. He is in his early 50s so I guess he still has loads to prove to himself.

The wealthiest person I have ever known kept a hanger-sized garage full of mega-expensive motors. The vehicle he drove daily was a battered. old mini. Now that's someone who has zero to prove to others. I suspect that michaels is in the same category.

Maybe they just enjoy cars for themselves.
I have ice cars and dont care two hoots what people think of them. I didn't buy them for other people.

Dandytf

As I have M.S. since 2012 approx.
Is it possible in financial sense to enjoy retirement from 55 which I've informed my employees DB pension scheme.
My concerns are:- earliest pension@60 from previous employers for a few years is only 2700 currently and frozen until 60.
My current employers DB pension which is currently 9k approx (since 2014 or 2015 I think) -that could be possible to access from 55 if I''m correct as that's what I've chosen as retirement target .
Then at latest stage will be gov standard pension with Nat Ins stamps paid.

I'm basing this on hopefully paying off mortgage before 55 -though it could be close.
Forgot to add almost 10 years non pension-stupid I never got to join a very good company pension during 90's
MSER's is retirement @55 years possible in my example.
Note I don't have the luxury of a large pension as I have changed career at least twice hence part pension funds -the latest being reasonably valuable and growing as was 1st pension before I changed careers.

MallyGirl

OldMusicGuy wrote: »

What a strange response. Not sure what you are getting at here, sounds like a weird dig for some reason.

I was just trying to share how our attitudes have changed since retiring. We are dog lovers and had assumed we would get another (smaller) dog to replace our current one when she died. One that could easily jump in the back of our classic car. However, since retiring we have realised two things. First, we like touring around in the car more than we anticipated. It's something we both enjoy, so we will probably do more than we had originally planned. Second, we felt that even a small dog would be limiting in terms of booking accommodation and flexibility of travel. So we have decided having a dog would restrict our flexibility. Can't see why you think that is odd, I was just sharing that attitudes can change once you retire.

We do still have a cat and we always will do. But they are easier to leave than dogs. Unless of course you propose we take the cat with us....? (my parents did actually have a friend who took his Siamese out with him to visit people....)

We have 2 high maintenance dogs - Alaskan Malamutes - and a cat. We spend quite a lot on kennels right now. My gut feeling at the moment is that we won't get another dog when we lose them. One is 8.5 and one is 5.5 - being big dogs they may make 12 or 13. The cat is very independent and is happy being at home when we go away - we have someone who comes in and checks on her every day. I suspect we will always have cats - they are definitely easier.
We plan to travel, particularly in the early years of retirement.
We have walked dogs for Cinnamon Trust (DD volunteering for DofE) and have links with a couple of rescues so I think we will be able to get our doggie fix.

Anonymous101

MallyGirl wrote: »

We have 2 high maintenance dogs - Alaskan Malamutes - and a cat. We spend quite a lot on kennels right now. My gut feeling at the moment is that we won't get another dog when we lose them. One is 8.5 and one is 5.5 - being big dogs they may make 12 or 13. The cat is very independent and is happy being at home when we go away - we have someone who comes in and checks on her every day. I suspect we will always have cats - they are definitely easier.
We plan to travel, particularly in the early years of retirement.
We have walked dogs for Cinnamon Trust (DD volunteering for DofE) and have links with a couple of rescues so I think we will be able to get our doggie fix.

I grew up with several dogs in the family home. I didn't realise until I had one of my own just how big of an investment of time and money they are. We have a Border Terrier and haven't once regretted having a dog of our own but I would think very very carefully before we had another. Particularly in the first few years of retirement.