Early-retirement wannabe

VDOT47

ratechaser, cfw - things I could think of to 'fill the time' in retirement, just from the top of my head and based on my own personal interests (although some can be easily tweaked to reflect your own interests):
- travel
- volunteering work
- setting up a small business from home
- learning a new skill/qualification
- spending more time with family (after years of being away from them for 50 hours a week)
- meeting friends for lunch/dinner
- reading
- Netflix
- trips to the theatre
- exercising (for me, running)
- walking/discovering new local places
- watching live sport
- DIY/gardening


I honestly cannot fathom people who say they would have nothing to do/would be bored - maybe my perspective will change over 20/25 years, but at the moment I can honestly say that I cannot envisage being bored in retirement.


The idea of a sabbatical has always appealed to me - maybe at some point in my 40s I'll try and have a 6 month 'career break' or unpaid sabbatical.

Terron

ratechaser wrote: »

But the reality is, what the hell am I going to do - I'm in a good job, the majority of my socialising is with colleagues, and the idea of playing golf to pass the time has zero appeal.

My Dad retired at 60, went back to work part time, then had to retire fully due to ill health after 6 months. He spent the next 10 years playing golf three times a week.


I wasn't given time to plan, though my job disappearing wasn't entirely unexpected. I am now involved in BTL but that involves little work. But I still don't have time to do all I want to do. There are far more decent books out there than I could ever read: far more to learn than I ever could. Add in walks in the countryside, watching cricket (an't play anymore since injuring my knee) and the few TV programmes worth watching. etc. ...


There is a whole world out there. Somewhere there must be something that would interest you.

crv1963

Terron wrote: »

There is a whole world out there. Somewhere there must be something that would interest you.

I found during my enforced 7 months off due to ill health in 2017-now recovered- that I did not have enough time to do everything that I wanted. The garden looked the best it ever has despite being banned from using any tools such as hedgetrimmers that needed lifting above waist height.

Being bored is not on my list of worries!

ratechaser

Ok, I know there is 'something' out there, I just haven't worked it out yet. In all honesty, I'm guessing it will be based around travel, I've done a heck of a lot of it to some quite interesting places for work, and it would be good to go back when I have time to see more than just an office or hotel room. And even better that I'll be getting business class for the price of economy because no more school holiday time travel!

Volunteering is certainly on the list as well, you get to meet an interesting group of people (ok it was mostly retired accountants, lawyers and bankers in my experience, but interesting in their own way!).

Walking is a big attraction, provided that there are suitable pubs along the route!

And so on... I guess it's as much a fear of no longer having the structure I've had for my entire life. That's what being institutionalised as a corporate wage slave can do to you... Don't want to end up being like Brooks from the Shawshank Redemption!!

As for the sabattical, well I just felt burnt out and was happy to take the very large settlement on offer. Was only supposed to be 6 months, then a year, then 2 years.... frankly I could have sleep walked into early retirement then and there!

MallyGirl

That would be my worry with a sabbatical- that I wouldn't be able to bring myself to go back at the end.

vulcanrtb

ratechaser wrote: »

And even better that I'll be getting business class for the price of economy because no more school holiday time travel!

I find that difficult to believe. Yes it's a bit cheaper when the kids are at school, but it doesn't make business class the same price as 'peak' economy prices.

ratechaser

vulcanrtb wrote: »

I find that difficult to believe. Yes it's a bit cheaper when the kids are at school, but it doesn't make business class the same price as 'peak' economy prices.

A generalisation perhaps but around a grand for long haul economy westbound versus not much more for business outside peak times (especially using the ex-EU trick) - definitely in the same ball park

shinytop

I wouldn't pay the extra. I fit quite nicely into an economy class seat. Aircraft food is rubbish whatever class you're in and I bring my own entertainment.

westv

There's no way I'd ever fly economy class if I had to fly long haul.

k6chris

VDOT47 wrote: »

The idea of a sabbatical has always appealed to me - maybe at some point in my 40s I'll try and have a 6 month 'career break' or unpaid sabbatical.

I had the option of a 18 month sabbatical in my mid fourties (on 15% of my salary - happy days!) and recently a 6 month unpaid leave of abscence. If you get the chance, or can engineer the chance, then do it!! It's a brilliant way of discovering both how you will cope, your partner will cope, your finances will cope and perhaps most importantly, whether you will get fulfilment from 'not working'. The downside is that going back to work is veeeerrryyyyyyy hard. :rotfl: