Retiring early

nannywindow

Hello, hope you don't mind me posting.
I understand that some people need a social life after retirement but in my circumstances I don't have the time or the inclination for socialising. My DH and I thought when we retired we would have more time to do the things that we had dreamed of whilst working, however the opposite is true. Life throws you a curve ball in that DH's illness was diagnosed out of the blue, meaning doctors and hospital appointments dominate a lot of our free time, an aged parent who starts to rely on your help more and more, and then stepping up to look after grandchildren when they are ill or attending school concerts etc whilst their parents have to work. It seems to me that life is never as you hoped it would be, but you just have to get on and make the best of it, as you only come this way once.

Floss

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The point I was making is that a lot of people move on retirement - and, if one has moved to a "quieter" (poorer) area - then more money is needed for social life costs than anticipated. Down to having to pay for every/virtually every social thing one goes to...

Quieter does not necessarily mean poorer - we live in one of the most deprived areas in the UK but it is not quiet by any means. There are free events through the year, we enjoy access to coast, countryside and hill walks and things such as U3A.

moneyistooshorttomention

nannywindow

Sorry your retirement hasnt gone according to plan.

I can see that many retired people find a lot of their time/energy goes on dealing with health problems (whether their own or other peoples). On the other hand - many people wish to be/have become grandparents and are using substantial amounts of time on that.

So - I know I'm commenting as someone that hasn't got health problems interfering with my plans and isn't a grandparent. There are a noticeable number of people that can choose (to one extent or another) what to do with their lives - rather than finding that choice has been taken away from them.

I was never able to get married - as I was not lucky enough to find Mr Right (despite much research LOL). So I've always taken the pragmatic view of "No point in feeling sorry for myself for not having met Him - and I'll have to have a good social life instead".

Slinky

Interesting comments about going out in the daytime as opposed to the evening, thanks for those. We're planning on moving when we retire, I've been looking at places within a short walk of a town centre that would be easy to walk home from at night time. The thought that we could be doing our night time socialising during the day hadn't occured to me but will make me look at opportunities and potential new homes in a different light.

Thanks.

usernameisvalid

Slinky wrote: »

Interesting comments about going out in the daytime as opposed to the evening, thanks for those. We're planning on moving when we retire, I've been looking at places within a short walk of a town centre that would be easy to walk home from at night time. The thought that we could be doing our night time socialising during the day hadn't occured to me but will make me look at opportunities and potential new homes in a different light.

Thanks.

We much prefer eating out at lunchtime, or afternoon tea time. You get much better deals. Most places here do two courses for £10 and offer a small wine or bottle of beer in the price and as I said above, we aren't rushed. We are also very lucky in that we live 10 mins from some of the most beautiful coast line in the world When we do get old enough to be classed as OAP,s then the day time deals become better, some places I've been given the pensioners menu already :eek::rotfl::rotfl:

Funny enough, this won't be our forever home as the time will come when car driving won't be an option so we will have to downsize to a village or town that has a bus route, a GP, a shop/post office and a bar at least. Hopefully that's not for another 30 years

Slinky

usernameisvalid wrote: »

We much prefer eating out at lunchtime, or afternoon tea time. You get much better deals. Most places here do two courses for £10 and offer a small wine or bottle of beer in the price and as I said above, we aren't rushed. We are also very lucky in that we live 10 mins from some of the most beautiful coast line in the world When we do get old enough to be classed as OAP,s then the day time deals become better, some places I've been given the pensioners menu already :eek::rotfl::rotfl:

Funny enough, this won't be our forever home as the time will come when car driving won't be an option so we will have to downsize to a village or town that has a bus route, a GP, a shop/post office and a bar at least. Hopefully that's not for another 30 years

Where we're looking is about 10 miles inland from the coast. I hope it will be our last major move, though haven't discounted having to move into something smaller/sheltered should the need arise. We've been trying to find something where we won't always need to get the car out, but have been looking for over a year already.

Floss

We're lucky enough to live on a good bus route, with a short walk of the post office, chemist, B&M Bargains, greengrocer, newsagent, then a little further to GP & dentist, Aldi & Lidl, and a 24 hour Tesco petrol station. We also have a futureproof home, in that we have the space for ground floor living with just a kitchen-to-wetroom conversion. The next challenge is to pay off the mortgage before its 17 years remaining, as we will both then be 70!

nannywindow

I hope I didn't give the impression that I'm not happy with the way things have turned out because I am. I know some days I wish we could get away from everything and everyone but we are a very small family, me and DH, my father ( mum passed away 3 years ago ) DD, SiL and the two grandchildren. ( 7 in total ) DH's parents and siblings have all sadly passed away so we have only each other to rely on in times of need. I don't think I could ever be someone who could walk away or indeed move away from my family.
Having said that, there are always two sides to everything and we each have to deal with whatever life holds for us all.
Moneytoshorttomention I am sorry that your life hasn't turned out how you imagined either but you seem to be more than capable to deal with it's shortcomings too and I wish you luck in finding many more social ventures.

Litchielou

This past week has made us more sure we are doing the right thing in retiring early. A dear friend who retired last September has been diagnosed with an agressive form of motor neurone disease
and is already in a very bad way. He told us live life to the full as anything can happen to change your life as no one knows what the future will be like.

Last week of work, I finish Wednesday DH finishes Friday. Didn't realise how much there is to get pension in place.
Had a lovely meal with DS, DD and there families last night. Didn't expect but had some great presents. Out with my work for an all expenses meal on Wednesday night and a party on Friday for DH colleagues past and present at the moment approx 120 coming, he has worked there for 43 years. He kept saying not many will come as they are spread across the county. No one has said they are not coming could be a higher number yet.(it's mainly men and they don't let you know if coming).

It feels strange that this time next week we won't dread Mondays. We have said the first couple of weeks will be like a holiday, the next 2 will be unbelievable then the next 2 we might realise this is it
and then start enjoying ourselves.

Take care love to you all xx

Gers

Litchielou wrote: »

This past week has made us more sure we are doing the right thing in retiring early. A dear friend who retired last September has been diagnosed with an agressive form of motor neurone disease
and is already in a very bad way. He told us live life to the full as anything can happen to change your life as no one knows what the future will be like.

Last week of work, I finish Wednesday DH finishes Friday. Didn't realise how much there is to get pension in place.
Had a lovely meal with DS, DD and there families last night. Didn't expect but had some great presents. Out with my work for an all expenses meal on Wednesday night and a party on Friday for DH colleagues past and present at the moment approx 120 coming, he has worked there for 43 years. He kept saying not many will come as they are spread across the county. No one has said they are not coming could be a higher number yet.(it's mainly men and they don't let you know if coming).

It feels strange that this time next week we won't dread Mondays. We have said the first couple of weeks will be like a holiday, the next 2 will be unbelievable then the next 2 we might realise this is it
and then start enjoying ourselves.

Take care love to you all xx

Gosh! That's come round so soon. I wish you both the best of your lives, some freedom and a ton of health. I've never regretted my 'retirement' and the little work I do keeps me fully aware of the perils of job culture.

Enjoy your leaving dos, and most of all, stay in bed on Monday! You may find it difficult though.