Everyday Ordinary Man Approaching Full Retirement at 59.

gibbo9

I'm 60 in 2 weeks and made the jump at the end of March with my wife who is nearly 55. The idea being enjoy the summer rather than finish just in time for Autumn. Living off savings till pension kicks in. We have everything we need and live pretty cheaply and we've had a great few months. I had a melanoma 6 years ago and have remained clear since. Found a lump a month ago and just had it confirmed it has returned, now waiting for scans to confirm what surgery and treatment I am going to have. Well that wasn't in the plans. So anyone struggling to make the choice to go, you don't know what's round the corner so be brave and go for it, it will be the best thing you've ever done . As my neighbour says, there are alot of indispensable people in the graveyard. Fingers crossed

Misslayed

gibbo9 wrote: »

I'm 60 in 2 weeks and made the jump at the end of March with my wife who is nearly 55. The idea being enjoy the summer rather than finish just in time for Autumn. Living off savings till pension kicks in. We have everything we need and live pretty cheaply and we've had a great few months. I had a melanoma 6 years ago and have remained clear since. Found a lump a month ago and just had it confirmed it has returned, now waiting for scans to confirm what surgery and treatment I am going to have. Well that wasn't in the plans. So anyone struggling to make the choice to go, you don't know what's round the corner so be brave and go for it, it will be the best thing you've ever done . As my neighbour says, there are alot of indispensable people in the graveyard. Fingers crossed

If it's any comfort, I was diagnosed with melanoma in 2001. I had surgery, still here! It was part of the change in my outlook to "One day is here".

gibbo9

Thanks, long may you continue to be clear. I have appointment for scan results tomorrow so will have s better picture then of where things are going. Not being too morbid but we have camped and caravanned for many years with 2 close friends and relations and 3 of us are all 60 this year within the space of a month. I'm the only one of the 3 left. If in doubt, get out. On that cheery thought the sun is shining, the picnic done and we're off for a walk , enjoy the weekend

fatbeetle

gibbo9 wrote: »

I'm 60 in 2 weeks and made the jump at the end of March with my wife who is nearly 55. The idea being enjoy the summer rather than finish just in time for Autumn. Living off savings till pension kicks in. We have everything we need and live pretty cheaply and we've had a great few months.

Pretty much our situation, (except I'll be 59.)

gibbo9 wrote: »

So anyone struggling to make the choice to go, you don't know what's round the corner so be brave and go for it, it will be the best thing you've ever done . As my neighbour says, there are alot of indispensable people in the graveyard. Fingers crossed

Good words! I'd rather live reasonably carefully, but be time rich, and enjoy my life with my wife, than work until I'm 70 and drop dead with money in the bank.

(PS. please don't use "alot" it's one of my major bugbears! Its "a lot". :beer:)

pollypenny

fatbeetle wrote: »

Pretty much our situation, (except I'll be 59.)




Good words! I'd rather live reasonably carefully, but be time rich, and enjoy my life with my wife, than work until I'm 70 and drop dead with money in the bank.

(PS. please don't use "alot" it's one of my major bugbears! Its "a lot". :beer:)

Oh, dear. I agree with you about 'alot' and I remember when a single pupil used it. In the last few years I had to tell many that 'It's a lot.'

bugslet

Maybe a typo....I think fatbeetle is smart enough to know the difference.

I have a terrible trouble with transposing letter, especially with have. the amount of times I have typed ahve....aaargh. Sometimes I miss them.

philbostavros

I took early retirement at 59 (normally would have been at 60) in 2010. For the last 3 years, I'd worked from home so it sort of eased me into it.

I was surprised how quickly I forgot about work (despite 42+ years with the company) but I did miss the people I'd worked with around the country.

I spent the first couple of years busy helping my lads do up their houses with the intention of then sorting my own out, plus going on more holidays, breaks etc.

Unfortunately, my wife was then diagnosed with dementia in January 2014, which has scuppered our plans! I am now her full time carer.

Life can be such an !!!!!

Enjoy it while you can.

jh1407

I took early retirement 3 years ago at 55 after 30 years teaching.


I had reached the point of not wanting to go in each day, and although the actual teaching was still a passion, the feeling of being on constantly shifting sand, and jumping through smaller and smaller hoops of increasingly mindless and nonsensical bureaucracy finally made the decision to leave easy.


I also seeing at the time, changes coming to the Teachers Pension scheme decided after 8 months being retired to access my pension, albeit early and losing around 18%.


And while it is generally frowned upon by 'experts', my simple calculations led me to having drawn my pension 5 years earlier than expected, the amount received over that time meant even with the reduction I would be 73 years old before I was out of pocket. I wasn't seeking mega financial gain, rather comfortably being able to afford life and maximise enjoyment of it while I could.


With the SP kicking in at 66 on top of the TP, and strengthening my position further, it would for me anyway have been madness not to take the opportunity to go.


In the 3 years since retiring I have never looked back, or regretted the decision to go, and do not miss the job in any way. I do enjoy meeting up with many colleagues also retired, regularly throughout the year for organised lunches.


I have a very full and active life doing everything and anything I want, when I want, and taking adventure, opportunity and new experiences wherever I can.


I am now returning to full activity following a recent bi-lateral hip replacement, and am looking forward to it long continuing.


As others have said and a view I fully subscribe to, You never know what is around the corner in life, and if you are fortunate enough as I definitely was go for it.

joansgirl

Well...... I put my notice in this morning :eek:
The boss is away at the mo so I've e mailed her with the good news, just waiting for the inevitable response of......can you wait until I get home? The short answer to that is no, I can't. I'm expecting to leave on September 21st.

E.T.A. Just got the response from her :rotfl:

pollypenny

bugslet wrote: »

Maybe a typo....I think fatbeetle is smart enough to know the difference.

I have a terrible trouble with transposing letter, especially with have. the amount of times I have typed ahve....aaargh. Sometimes I miss them.

I'm sure it was a typo. I'm notorious for them. However, if you're pointing out errors, you'd better be careful.

I thought it was beautifully ironic.

In the days when I typed a lot, I'd get carried away and type nad and, like you, ahve! Just got cocky.