Retiring at 55

enthusiasticsaver

cfw1994 wrote: »

A friend of mine who had retired 'early' told me she had checked out a local group....said it was rather full of much older people: she didn't return!

YMMV

I belong to our local U3a and the age varies depending on which interest group you join. I belong to the higher level walking groups (5-10 miles) and the garden group and the age is between 50s and 70s. All are fit and active though.

zagubov

I'd recommend checking whether you can do higher education, perhaps up to degree-level. Challenging, mind-expanding, absorbing and one of the things that slows down the acceleration of time passing.

You can get financial aid for a full-time course if you can find a suitable one.

I'd mention the advantages of a part-time OU degree course but I'm always been upfront about the fact I've worked for them so you might not want to trust me on that.

MrDinosaur

I am not worried about what to do with my time as I have mentioned I have plenty of DIY jobs and also a couple of hobbies I want to build on. As for further education a big No. spent way took long lectures, classrooms etc learning my trade.

sheslookinhot

cfw1994 wrote: »

A friend of mine who had retired 'early' told me she had checked out a local group....said it was rather full of much older people: she didn't return!

YMMV

That’s is a shame. It’s not all about what you can take, it’s about giving too. I’m sure with a different mind set your friend could have made a positive contribution to her local group. Won’t be long till she is one of the older people.

Keep_pedalling

cfw1994 wrote: »

A friend of mine who had retired 'early' told me she had checked out a local group....said it was rather full of much older people: she didn't return!

YMMV

Seems a rather dumb reason for not joining. The U3A is about common interests and sharing knowledge, the age of the group should not come into it.

kangoora

I could go to the local over 50's with my mum (me 57, mum 88).

Somehow, I just can't bring myself to attend

PS: I do go and see mum 4/5 days a week anyway for a few hours....

DairyQueen

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Seems a rather dumb reason for not joining. The U3A is about common interests and sharing knowledge, the age of the group should not come into it.

I agree. Leisure classes and volunteer groups are dominated by those age 65-75 . Unsurprising given that the 65-75 cohort makes-up the rump of the actively retired.

I have been the 'baby' of my leisure and volunteer groups for nigh on 5 years. Now age 60 I am still often the youngest. Even so, a substantial %age of my colleagues are much younger than their chronological age in body and mind. I have met a number of fabulous people and two of my greatest friends, both met via these groups, are respectively 9 and 16 years older than me.

Age really is simply a number and cultural stereotypes are just that. Life is enriched by interactions with people of all ages, and who wants to deny themselves the pleasure of the company of any like-minded people regardless of gender, race, religion. sexual orientation... or age?

Not me.

mark13

Retire immediately as well. Going through the retirement process now. I'm 55 with pot of £640K.
More than likely , based on my own figures and not knowing your circumstances, you should be able to draw down £28k and still watch your pot grow. Good luck. Worth seeing an IFA for reassurance ?

cfw1994

sheslookinhot wrote: »

That’s is a shame. It’s not all about what you can take, it’s about giving too. I’m sure with a different mind set your friend could have made a positive contribution to her local group. Won’t be long till she is one of the older people.

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Seems a rather dumb reason for not joining. The U3A is about common interests and sharing knowledge, the age of the group should not come into it.

Don’t be too hard on her:rotfl:
She is already very busy in her WI (as evidenced by cake pictures I see;)), she’s now captain of her golf team, she now conducts weddings: keeping more than busy enough, and giving plenty back IMHO!

It was more a case of me having the first decent chat with her since she’d retired, and that was just a comment she made on U3A as our conversation roamed around a LOT of topics!

MrDinosaur

mark13 wrote: »

Retire immediately as well. Going through the retirement process now. I'm 55 with pot of £640K.
More than likely , based on my own figures and not knowing your circumstances, you should be able to draw down £28k and still watch your pot grow. Good luck. Worth seeing an IFA for reassurance ?

With similar figures it is reassuring to know that someone else is in line with my original thinking. I have gone through the process with a IFA, moved all my pot, so for me its just waiting until I am 55 and then taking that big step into retirement