(NON FINANCIAL) Retirement plans/ dreams/ discussion.

bluenose1

Been watching a couple of holiday programmes and reading holiday blogs recently to spring into action when we can go on holiday!! 

Saying that with moving house just over a year ago still loads to explore in the local area, though have booked two mini breaks to Wales with free cancellation for later in year. One with my husband and one with my sister. 
 Quite like the look of the North 500, driving around the highlands, never heard of it before but it was mentioned on Amazing Hotels when they went to a five star hotel in Scotland.
So many potential holiday destinations plus I keep thinking of new things. Quite like the thought of doing a month in places like Mexico and Vietnam so not as rushed as a normal holiday.
I wonder if the fact we haven’t been able to go on holiday for so long will put people off going as much in future, or if everyone is desperate to resume their normal holidays. 

As retirement is at least 6/18 months off for me I enjoy fantasising about all the fab holidays I will be able to take, both in the UK and abroad.
Been reading quite a few Bill Bryson travel books and really enjoyed and got some ideas from his destinations in the UK. 

MallyGirl

We plan to do the nc500 in the camper but probably not this year as it will be stupidly busy - unless we wait till Oct/Nov. The Lakes will probably be it for us this year

ElmoR

Thanks for reviving this thread @Bluenose1, it's been a pleasant read.

Like many others who have commented, I'm a few years (7 to be precise) from our dream early retirement date and in need of knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel. Also, wondering how to develop those new hobbies, having tried a few and also dropped them after boredom sets in. To be fair, reading and gardening do seem to be sticking. Travel just doesn't appeal anymore though, but that is probably the result of having to travel for work and finding it stressful or doing lots of it in cheap hostels/tents and catching exotic diseases. Exploring the UK appeals though. Buying a large TV set is a good idea mentioned on this thread too!

Please leave the hatch open as you all escape through...

cfw1994

Large TV set?  Or small projector?  You can never go too large, I would say....

Counting the days now (20 working days), so fully expecting the markets to collapse any minute....nervous yet thrilling at the same time.  

Was amused by an email from one work pal who found out before I got to speak with him: “I don’t think I have ever been so jealous of another human being”   Reassuring!
Exploring the UK is a goal....after I’ve cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats first    

We had a few Scotland trips in the late 80s-early 90s (relative at RAF Lossiemouth, would visit for a ball or some fun, then go touring).  Did the NC500 before it was the NC500.  It was like driving on the moon!  Single track, miles without seeing anyone.  Camping, kite flying....visit Smoo cave....ahhhh.  Had two pals separately do it this year: one in car, another in camper.  Both enjoyed it, but it did sound a lot busier.  Spring or autumn would be ideal, I guess.
As to hobbies, we love lists.....once they are on the list, the decisions can begin!

ex-pat_scot

cfw1994 said:

Large TV set?  Or small projector?  You can never go too large, I would say....

Counting the days now (20 working days), so fully expecting the markets to collapse any minute....nervous yet thrilling at the same time.  

Was amused by an email from one work pal who found out before I got to speak with him: “I don’t think I have ever been so jealous of another human being”   Reassuring!
Exploring the UK is a goal....after I’ve cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats first    

We had a few Scotland trips in the late 80s-early 90s (relative at RAF Lossiemouth, would visit for a ball or some fun, then go touring).  Did the NC500 before it was the NC500.  It was like driving on the moon!  Single track, miles without seeing anyone.  Camping, kite flying....visit Smoo cave....ahhhh.  Had two pals separately do it this year: one in car, another in camper.  Both enjoyed it, but it did sound a lot busier.  Spring or autumn would be ideal, I guess.
As to hobbies, we love lists.....once they are on the list, the decisions can begin!

Fantastic - please do keep us abreast of the transition.

I'd much rather cycle the NC500 than LeJOG though. I think the next couple of years might be rather congested though, with lots of traffic, as @MallyGirl suggests.
As for TV - never been a fan of the huge screen. Sit closer, if you want the screen to fill your eyeline.

curly450

ElmoR said:

Thanks for reviving this thread @Bluenose1, it's been a pleasant read.

Like many others who have commented, I'm a few years (7 to be precise) from our dream early retirement date and in need of knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel. Also, wondering how to develop those new hobbies, having tried a few and also dropped them after boredom sets in. To be fair, reading and gardening do seem to be sticking. Travel just doesn't appeal anymore though, but that is probably the result of having to travel for work and finding it stressful or doing lots of it in cheap hostels/tents and catching exotic diseases. Exploring the UK appeals though. Buying a large TV set is a good idea mentioned on this thread too!

Please leave the hatch open as you all escape through...

ElmoR: I'd suggest expanding stuff you already like rather than try to develop hobbies now.
For me I liked travel so I took up language classes a few years ago.
I liked running so I took up walking and hiking.
If you like wine, get on a tasting or wine course. That sort of thing.
Even if you drop them after a while you might want to pick them up again once retired.
Also, I can vouch for volunteering as an absolutely brilliant way to use up loads of time. I do coaching for running club and hubby does scouts. Obviously not much going on right now but loads of opportunities open again soon and so much fun. 

Nebulous2

ex-pat_scot said:

cfw1994 said:

Large TV set?  Or small projector?  You can never go too large, I would say....

Counting the days now (20 working days), so fully expecting the markets to collapse any minute....nervous yet thrilling at the same time.  

Was amused by an email from one work pal who found out before I got to speak with him: “I don’t think I have ever been so jealous of another human being”   Reassuring!
Exploring the UK is a goal....after I’ve cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats first    

We had a few Scotland trips in the late 80s-early 90s (relative at RAF Lossiemouth, would visit for a ball or some fun, then go touring).  Did the NC500 before it was the NC500.  It was like driving on the moon!  Single track, miles without seeing anyone.  Camping, kite flying....visit Smoo cave....ahhhh.  Had two pals separately do it this year: one in car, another in camper.  Both enjoyed it, but it did sound a lot busier.  Spring or autumn would be ideal, I guess.
As to hobbies, we love lists.....once they are on the list, the decisions can begin!

Fantastic - please do keep us abreast of the transition.

I'd much rather cycle the NC500 than LeJOG though. I think the next couple of years might be rather congested though, with lots of traffic, as @MallyGirl suggests.
As for TV - never been a fan of the huge screen. Sit closer, if you want the screen to fill your eyeline.

I've cycled a chunk of the NC500, as part of an audax, and have intentions to go back and do it all. Slightly more leisurely this time though! 

bluenose1

cfw1994 said:

Large TV set?  Or small projector?  You can never go too large, I would say....

Counting the days now (20 working days), so fully expecting the markets to collapse any minute....nervous yet thrilling at the same time.  

Was amused by an email from one work pal who found out before I got to speak with him: “I don’t think I have ever been so jealous of another human being”   Reassuring!
Exploring the UK is a goal....after I’ve cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats first    

We had a few Scotland trips in the late 80s-early 90s (relative at RAF Lossiemouth, would visit for a ball or some fun, then go touring).  Did the NC500 before it was the NC500.  It was like driving on the moon!  Single track, miles without seeing anyone.  Camping, kite flying....visit Smoo cave....ahhhh.  Had two pals separately do it this year: one in car, another in camper.  Both enjoyed it, but it did sound a lot busier.  Spring or autumn would be ideal, I guess.
As to hobbies, we love lists.....once they are on the list, the decisions can begin!

Think I will self combust when I only have 20 days to go!!!  I am aiming now for 15 months, though if a redundancy scheme came up, which wouldn’t surprise me, will go ASAP. 

I wonder if a hobby could be scrolling through Instagram looking at nicely decorated, staged, tidy houses, which is what I seem to do each evening...
I am a nervous passenger so not sure single track roads are quite my thing, I am strangely worse being a passenger than the driver. Though that could be just my husband’s driving, who never gets fed up of telling me he passed his advance driving course whilst in the Police. Though from what I can tell all that has helped him with is high speed car chases cos he sure ain’t a careful driver. Actually think we better scrap the driving holidays all together as forgetting the hours of fun we have previously had..... 
We were thinking of doing Florida with our 18 year old in September but looks increasingly unlikely and if we did still do it would be a very last minute deal.

Feeling really stressed by work at moment so even more looking forward to retirement. 

IvanOpinion

We have been prepping for my retirement.  I had considered going several years ago when I was made redundant, but was offered a new position with a package that it would have been rude to turn down.  I am still there and love the job, so my rule at the minute is as long as I continue to enjoy the job and I have enough leave for holidays then I am happy to stay on in work - as soon as either of those two points changes I will be out the door.  I am also not convinced Mrs O wants me at home 24/7.

We have however been prepping for retirement.  In the last couple of years we have redone our ensuite, put in a new kitchen and utility room and I am currently in the process of revamping my home office (including all new furniture and dumping masses of old hardware that I have been hoarding for years - I have taken a hammer to 14 hard disks over the last few weeks).

When I do retire I want to travel - but, given the current lockdown and likelihood of limitations for another while, I am not in any rush.

cfw1994

ex-pat_scot said:

cfw1994 said:

Large TV set?  Or small projector?  You can never go too large, I would say....

Counting the days now (20 working days), so fully expecting the markets to collapse any minute....nervous yet thrilling at the same time.  

Was amused by an email from one work pal who found out before I got to speak with him: “I don’t think I have ever been so jealous of another human being”   Reassuring!
Exploring the UK is a goal....after I’ve cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats first    

We had a few Scotland trips in the late 80s-early 90s (relative at RAF Lossiemouth, would visit for a ball or some fun, then go touring).  Did the NC500 before it was the NC500.  It was like driving on the moon!  Single track, miles without seeing anyone.  Camping, kite flying....visit Smoo cave....ahhhh.  Had two pals separately do it this year: one in car, another in camper.  Both enjoyed it, but it did sound a lot busier.  Spring or autumn would be ideal, I guess.
As to hobbies, we love lists.....once they are on the list, the decisions can begin!

Fantastic - please do keep us abreast of the transition.

I'd much rather cycle the NC500 than LeJOG though. I think the next couple of years might be rather congested though, with lots of traffic, as @MallyGirl suggests.
As for TV - never been a fan of the huge screen. Sit closer, if you want the screen to fill your eyeline.

Thx for the interest.....I've learned a lot from this forum, it is inspiring to hear from those close to or into retirement.  I think of it as just moving away from the daily world of Corporate Tech & onto the next thing, which may (but likely will not!) involve paid employment ....after I have taught my body a severe lesson with the bike ride 
We enjoy going to the cinema, but I find the emergency lighting is always too bright for me (& you have other people crunching popcorn etc!).   We popped a big screen and ultra short throw PJ in our lounge & it is brilliant - so many different streaming services now available (& budgeted for the future ;-) - last summer we signed up to Disney+ & blasted through all the Marvel Universe with 'the kids'....it is extra brilliant for cold dark evenings!

Think I will self combust when I only have 20 days to go!!!

Yup, I am making sure ANY meetings/work I am involved in now involves others in the team.....and helped interview last week for someone we feel will be a great replacement (& I thought I was irreplaceable!!), so it is going well enough.   I am fighting the urge to ignore everything!    No plans for any "leaving do", which is a bit of a shame, but beers will be shared in the future.

I can vouch for volunteering as an absolutely brilliant way to use up loads of time. I do coaching for running club and hubby does scouts. 

I'd echo the volunteering - it does help give 'meaning' to part of the world we inhabit, for sure.    I've been involved in Scouting for many years (ran an Explorer unit for about 8 years that peaked around 35 scouts - nightmare!!), always involved our offspring into a volunteering ethos, & will continue to help facilitate Gold DofE.  It has been a rubbish year though....very difficult

We have however been prepping for retirement.

Same for us....past 5+ years have seen us replace windows, front door, deploy a mesh wifi, got into electric car ownership, etc, etc....garden needs more attention, but that is for the future....no 'big ticket' items outstanding.  
Onwards & upwards!