Retirement?

melanzana

OP, would you consider travelling somewhere on your own?

I do. And I love it!

Of course OH and I have trips together, but I adore my little travels by myself too. It sure did increase my confidence too. Anything is possible.

lessonlearned

Last November I went on my first holiday on my own - 33 day cruise round the Caribbean. It was a bit difficult at first but I soon got into the swing of things and throughly enjoyed it.

I felt that I went a away as a "new widow" and came back as a singleton. I met some lovely ladies and have kept in touch with three of them. In fact I have invites from two of them and am going to visit the first one in Thursday.

I have booked another holiday to the Baltic next May. And then we'll take it from There. I am not too keen on flying so cruising works well for me. I also fancy a couple of long railway journeys.

Travelling aLone for the first time was a bit scary at first but I had a great time.

Goldiegirl

My husband and I both retired at the same time, about 16 months ago. I had worked in banking all my working life and my husband was a civil engineer.

I had been made redundant in 2009, and found a good two day a week job in the same field that I had always worked in. I did this job for 5 years, and it was a good transition to retirement. In the end, I thought that the job was really getting in the way of my otherwise very pleasant life.

My husband went down to a four day week in 2011, so he also prepared for retirement by dropping his hours.

When we finally stopped work at the end of 2014, we felt we were mentally prepared for retirement life.

So far, neither of us have felt any desire to return to work. We have purposely tried not to have a routine or a structure. We had routine in our working life, so we feel we don't want it in retirement.

The time goes so quickly. We variously do holidays, days out, walking, gardening, theatre, cinema, reading, jigsaws, sudoku and other puzzles, family history, ebaying, seeing friends.

I did wonder, if I would feel I needed 'more', like going to a hobby group or other organisation. But that hasn't happened - I feel I don't want the tie of a weekly event.

At the moment we have more than enough to do, so we are happy to carry on as we are.

Neither of us felt defined by our work, even though we had fairly good jobs. Work, although sometimes enjoyable, was always a means to an end for us - to earn money for what we want to do.

I think this is why we have settled so well to retirement, as work wasn't hugely important to us.

nearlyrich

I am 55 in July DH is older and retired 15 years ago so I can't wait for the end of June to leave my demanding and stressful job. We plan to travel more and I want to spend time with my new grandson and do more of the thingsI enjoy like reading and knitting. DH has his hobbies and interests so we won't be together 100% of the time.
Watch this space!

melanzana

Goldiegirl wrote: »

My husband and I both retired at the same time, about 16 months ago. I had worked in banking all my working life and my husband was a civil engineer.

I had been made redundant in 2009, and found a good two day a week job in the same field that I had always worked in. I did this job for 5 years, and it was a good transition to retirement. In the end, I thought that the job was really getting in the way of my otherwise very pleasant life.

My husband went down to a four day week in 2011, so he also prepared for retirement by dropping his hours.

When we finally stopped work at the end of 2014, we felt we were mentally prepared for retirement life.

So far, neither of us have felt any desire to return to work. We have purposely tried not to have a routine or a structure. We had routine in our working life, so we feel we don't want it in retirement.

The time goes so quickly. We variously do holidays, days out, walking, gardening, theatre, cinema, reading, jigsaws, sudoku and other puzzles, family history, ebaying, seeing friends.

I did wonder, if I would feel I needed 'more', like going to a hobby group or other organisation. But that hasn't happened - I feel I don't want the tie of a weekly event.

At the moment we have more than enough to do, so we are happy to carry on as we are.

Neither of us felt defined by our work, even though we had fairly good jobs. Work, although sometimes enjoyable, was always a means to an end for us - to earn money for what we want to do.

I think this is why we have settled so well to retirement, as work wasn't hugely important to us.

You have just described myself and OH lifestyle since retirement better than I could!

It's great isn't it?

Goldiegirl

melanzana wrote: »

You have just described myself and OH lifestyle since retirement better than I could!

It's great isn't it?

Hell yeah!

lessonlearned

Goldiegirl - sounds like you are having a wonderful time ......andI think you have hit the nail on the head when you say that neither of you felt defined by your work.

This is exactly how I feel (my late husband would have been the same). All though we both enjoyed our work we didn't "need" it in order to form our identity. I think this is perhaps what happens to some people.

I just love the total freedom.........

It would be perfect if my husband were still alive but I am managing to gradually build a new life on my own. I still miss him but life goes on.

Today I'm off to stay with a friend, next month my eldest son gets married, then I'm going to start house hunting.

Plenty of interesting times ahead......

nwc389

We both retired just over two years ago , my husband was given a good VR package at the age of 54 and I decided that I had had enough of my job in retail banking and left age 58 .
We love our holidays and I am the holiday planner which I enjoy , we go to the gym , out for coffees and enjoy getting out for walks at the nearby coast.
OH loves playing the guitar and is learning the piano and I like photography , knitting and beach combing .
I couldn't imagine wanting to be back in the stressful routine of work but I still love to remember how much I hated it at the end because it makes me feel even more happy with the life I have now :beer::j

Goldiegirl

lessonlearned wrote: »

Goldiegirl - sounds like you are having a wonderful time ......andI think you have hit the nail on the head when you say that neither of you felt defined by your work.

This is exactly how I feel (my late husband would have been the same). All though we both enjoyed our work we didn't "need" it in order to form our identity. I think this is perhaps what happens to some people.

I just love the total freedom.........

It would be perfect if my husband were still alive but I am managing to gradually build a new life on my own. I still miss him but life goes on.

Today I'm off to stay with a friend, next month my eldest son gets married, then I'm going to start house hunting.

Plenty of interesting times ahead......

Life is good at the moment, and I have a real sense that I'm living in the good times when everything has come together almost perfectly.

I don't know what the future holds, so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Things will change one day, and when that day comes I hope I can go forward with the same fortitude that you, Kittie and the other ladies have shown.

Good luck with all your plans.

nwc389 wrote: »

We both retired just over two years ago , my husband was given a good VR package at the age of 54 and I decided that I had had enough of my job in retail banking and left age 58 .
We love our holidays and I am the holiday planner which I enjoy , we go to the gym , out for coffees and enjoy getting out for walks at the nearby coast.
OH loves playing the guitar and is learning the piano and I like photography , knitting and beach combing .
I couldn't imagine wanting to be back in the stressful routine of work but I still love to remember how much I hated it at the end because it makes me feel even more happy with the life I have now :beer::j

I was also in retail banking. My last job was only two days a week, but it was so intensive and manic. I'd had enough, and I don't miss it at all!

nwc389

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Life is good at the moment, and I have a real sense that I'm living in the good times when everything has come together almost perfectly.

I don't know what the future holds, so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Things will change one day, and when that day comes I hope I can go forward with the same fortitude that you, Kittie and the other ladies have shown.

Good luck with all your plans.


I was also in retail banking. My last job was only two days a week, but it was so intensive and manic. I'd had enough, and I don't miss it at all!

I only did three days but quite honestly the stress was disproportionate to what the job was . Six of my former colleagues have just managed to get VR and they are ecstatic at the thought of getting out !