What made you 'pull the trigger'?

barnstar2077

bluenose1 said:

Daffodil1234 said:

I've really appreciated people sharing their views of "what do we do now" /  "what aims to go for in retirement".  This is something  I've been thinking about - not yet retired but maybe in 2 years. 

I agree that people need variety and some form of goal / interest in whatever form that takes.  I'm currently thinking about how to set up a combination of:

1) Something physical - fitness, exercise, some goals around that, sports / gym - things that benefit health.

2) Something mental - could be Udemy, MOOCS, U3A, studying a language,  maybe linked to (3)

3) Some sort of project I'd enjoy (not quite sure what as yet).

4) Something "giving back" to the world, could be a form of volunteering.  Although not in a charity shop !

5) As part of all the above I hope - making connections with people.  Once people leave work, it's rare to maintain a true connection with colleagues (unless they aren't really colleagues but they are already friends).  Therfore having some social interaction / working with people in some way.

6) Time together with my spouse;  and also time where we are both separate and doing our own thing, according to different interests / hobbies.  I think it's also a good idea not to be permanently glued together 24/7.

I also came across someone's blog where he had set out rules for himself in retirement, I recall one of them was - Avoid travelling anywhere in rush hour where at all possible, as you no longer have to !  I like the idea of that.

I too have been thinking about how to make sure I have a variety of activities/ interests in retirement. There is a USA podcast I listen to and he said research shows the least happy retirees on average have less than 2 interests and the most happy had just under 4.
Re your points
1) i like going the local gym to do weights so will continue with that with the aim of reducing muscle loss due to aging, I also want to start doing yoga as can feel myself getting stiffer despite flexibility stretching I currently do.
I enjoy running in our local woods so want to maintain doing that. I also keep reading pickle ball is really taking off in USA so might give that a go, as noticed they have a local group.

2). Not sure what something mental will be for me, have toyed with the idea of learning a language, though know how difficult it is, and not sure I would be interested enough. Maybe I could take up something musical, though as  the recorder is the only thing I have ever played maybe not

3) I want to get back into knitting and sewing so that would be a hobby I would enjoy. We are getting a pup in next few months so that will be like a project, you wouldn’t believe how many puppy behavioural books and videos we have watched already as we don’t want a dog that will take over our lives, possibly famous last words.

4) Have volunteered a lot at Park Run so may do something like that. I don’t want to feel obliged  to volunteer though and make too many commitments. 

5) Agree important to have social interactions, think  I may join a rambling club and possibly some groups in U3A. 
I still meet up with friends I met up through past jobs over 20 years ago, WhatsApp has made that much easier.

6) My oh and I do a lot of walking, meals out, several holidays a year together etc, though he also plays / watches football and golf so do a lot separate as well. As I have got older I am more and more conscious that one of us will be left alone when the other dies, so really important to have a separate interests/ life. A widower on a podcast said recently “we all know how the movie ends” and it really hit home with me

Similar to not going out in rush hour we intend to have our meals / days out midweek when everywhere is quieter and the weekend spent on local walks in our nearby woods/ pottering in the garden etc. There again we may not have much choice as we live near a popular beach/ tourist destination and it can be practically gridlocked if we venture out on sunny weekends/ Bank holidays etc. Worth it to us though as we love living here and as the village with various shops, coffee bars etc is a 10 minute walk could be worse. 

My main rule is I want to be able to say “no” without any guilt, and enjoy the retirement I want to have.

Have you thought about getting a rescue?  My sister got two quite young dogs that needed a home from one.  So many people got dogs during lockdown that many rescues are full of cute little fur balls now.

It will be my mission to save one or two myself when I eventually manage to retire!

SouthCoastBoy

I've finally made retirement decision, leaving start of June, bit worried about it all but I can't keep putting it off. If the summer goes badly and I find I'm not enjoying retirement or worrying too much about money I will go contracting, but currently that's not in the plan. After 37 years of working it's going to feel odd.

Cus

SouthCoastBoy said:

I've finally made retirement decision, leaving start of June, bit worried about it all but I can't keep putting it off. If the summer goes badly and I find I'm not enjoying retirement or worrying too much about money I will go contracting, but currently that's not in the plan. After 37 years of working it's going to feel odd.

Finally 😄

SouthCoastBoy

 I got there in the end 

arnoldy

barnstar2077 said:

Have you thought about getting a rescue?  My sister got two quite young dogs that needed a home from one.  So many people got dogs during lockdown that many rescues are full of cute little fur balls now.

It will be my mission to save one or two myself when I eventually manage to retire!

General thoughts amongst many is the last thing you need when you retire is a dog or cat as they will stop stone dead many holidays and short breaks. Again think long and hard about that.

barnstar2077

arnoldy said:

barnstar2077 said:

Have you thought about getting a rescue?  My sister got two quite young dogs that needed a home from one.  So many people got dogs during lockdown that many rescues are full of cute little fur balls now.

It will be my mission to save one or two myself when I eventually manage to retire!

General thoughts amongst many is the last thing you need when you retire is a dog or cat as they will stop stone dead many holidays and short breaks. Again think long and hard about that.

Don't worry, as I have discussed before on these forums, I take dog ownership very seriously and plan to do a lot before getting one.

Ebeneezer9

I am in my 46th year of work and I love it, 4 years till my official retirement date and I’m dreading it. I enjoy my commute on the underground, have a brilliant laugh with work colleagues and work with nature, more like an adventure every day than work.  The one bright light on the horizon is the chance to get another dog, plenty of time to sit and enjoy each other’s company, go for walks, pet friendly holiday destinations ( St Ives in Cornwall, everyone seems to have a pet accompanying them ), I and my sweetheart miss our departed pets every day.

SouthCoastBoy

I'm pleased you enjoy your job, many don't. If you enjoy your job there is no mandatory requirement to retire you can carry on working

Ciprico

Ebeneezer9 said:

I am in my 46th year of work and I love it, 4 years till my official retirement date and I’m dreading it. I enjoy my commute on the underground, have a brilliant laugh with work colleagues and work with nature, more like an adventure every day than work.  The one bright light on the horizon is the chance to get another dog, plenty of time to sit and enjoy each other’s company, go for walks, pet friendly holiday destinations ( St Ives in Cornwall, everyone seems to have a pet accompanying them ), I and my sweetheart miss our departed pets every day.

They were probably walking around St Ives with their dogs as most Cornish beaches and National Trust places don't allow dogs... Especially in summer

Ebeneezer9

SouthCoastBoy said:

I'm pleased you enjoy your job, many don't. If you enjoy your job there is no mandatory requirement to retire you can carry on working

Indeed, as long as I’m able I intend to keep working, my sweetheart is eight years younger than myself so won’t retire until 2035, I will be 75, but I am well aware of “ if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans!”