Retirement is great!

handful

Just turned 61 and seriously contemplating retirement next year. I will try and reduce days first if I can just to ease into it!

trevjl

I can go now if I want (60 and a half), been back at work 7 weeks after 6 months on the sick. Thoroughly enjoyed the time off (ignoring the illness) but still went back , Why ? I have no idea, I just really need that kick up the jacksie to chuck it all in.
I am going down to 3 day week in a couple of weeks time though.

SOLOMAN

Like Drummersdale....also into partial retirement (3 years in) and also Tue, Wed & Thurs (now 63) . Work for a specialist area of the CS and still retain a passion for the job. Have become somewhat accustomed to the bureaucracy and red tape, endemic in most public service depts now...much of it goes over my head. Still have time to travel, long walks etc plus the added benefit of flexi to build up leave for those much longer trips. Aiming to depart in early 26, with the benefit of Navy and CS pensions. Can fully understand 

people wanting to retire early, specifically if they don't enjoy the job or of course, have health issues. All the best, whichever path you choose.   

lisyloo

Thumbs_Up said:

lisyloo said:

Sounds like some jobs are a lot better than others.
I'm lucky that my job is a lot better than that.
yeah sure there’s still frustrations and restrictions but generally it’s fun.
puts a different spin on it.

You must have walked to work then. I’ve done it all one time or another, traveled by company car, by train, the underground, and the bus. No so bad when you are young, I do not miss that crap, road rage, women pushing you out the way to get the last seat, nah, stuff work.

I work from home 4 days a week, but I have few issues on my commute - mostly by car but sometimes by motorbike.

GrubbyGirl_2

3.5 years since I retired and as much as I loved my job I will never swap retirement and go back.

Has anyone else noticed that when you can go to bed and get up when you want you tend to go to bed earlier and get up earlier?  I think I've needed to set my alarm twice since I left work but only just to be 100% sure I was up, and even on those occasions I was already up.  The other thing is the fact that the pace of doing things is slower, but time goes so much quicker.  I don't know how I would fit work into my day now!

zooks

fly-catchers said:

Been free of work for over 2 and half years now. No more battles with the boss or infighting with fellow colleagues! No more needing to check before I book a concert, theatre etc to see if I can get the day off or by luck it’s on my day off! I can start late and carry on in my garden to whatever time not thinking it’s time to make supper, have a bath and get to bed. Go for long countryside walks when most people are at work so nice and peaceful! All the time knowing that my old place of work has got a million times worse since I left! With others leaving or off with stress for months at a time! Only real downside is I lost my beloved cat last year and really must give another a good home…
 

Good to read you're happy in retirement. I retire the end of this month at 56. I will admit to have had a couple of last minute wobbles so thanks for the positive post.

Johnnyy_Boy

I am coming up to 68, got more than enough money and still go to work because I enjoy it. At the moment it would seem very strange not working. Just thought I would give the other side 😉

Ebeneezer9

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I am coming up to 68, got more than enough money and still go to work because I enjoy it. At the moment it would seem very strange not working. Just thought I would give the other side 😉

I’m due to retire March2027 but concerned about the impact on my mental health.  I love every aspect of my job, get a massive kick from passing on my knowledge and skills to apprentices and even enjoy my hour commute on various TFL transport networks.  If my health is good enough I would like to carry on working ( arthritis  ) but if I have to retire I will miss good people, and the challenge of delivering results.  I can’t bear the thought of doing relatively nothing all day, just having a weekend off work drives me insane with boredom leading to depression. My OH is eight years younger and will not retire till 2035, by which time I will be 75 (if I’m still about) and probably a miserable curmudgeonly pain in the rear.

Albermarle

Ebeneezer9 said:

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I am coming up to 68, got more than enough money and still go to work because I enjoy it. At the moment it would seem very strange not working. Just thought I would give the other side 😉

I’m due to retire March2027 but concerned about the impact on my mental health.  I love every aspect of my job, get a massive kick from passing on my knowledge and skills to apprentices and even enjoy my hour commute on various TFL transport networks.  If my health is good enough I would like to carry on working ( arthritis  ) but if I have to retire I will miss good people, and the challenge of delivering results.  I can’t bear the thought of doing relatively nothing all day, just having a weekend off work drives me insane with boredom leading to depression. My OH is eight years younger and will not retire till 2035, by which time I will be 75 (if I’m still about) and probably a miserable curmudgeonly pain in the rear.

There are a lot of early retirement types/people who do not like their job very much on this forum, so always good to hear the other side.
I can understand that you are worried you will be bored if you retire, and you will not be the first to worry about that.
However this is a bit extreme. just having a weekend off work drives me insane with boredom leading to depression. Maybe you need to have a think about increasing non work activities/interests to protect your future mental health?

zooks

Ebeneezer9 said:

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I am coming up to 68, got more than enough money and still go to work because I enjoy it. At the moment it would seem very strange not working. Just thought I would give the other side 😉

I’m due to retire March2027 but concerned about the impact on my mental health.  I love every aspect of my job, get a massive kick from passing on my knowledge and skills to apprentices and even enjoy my hour commute on various TFL transport networks.  If my health is good enough I would like to carry on working ( arthritis  ) but if I have to retire I will miss good people, and the challenge of delivering results.  I can’t bear the thought of doing relatively nothing all day, just having a weekend off work drives me insane with boredom leading to depression. My OH is eight years younger and will not retire till 2035, by which time I will be 75 (if I’m still about) and probably a miserable curmudgeonly pain in the rear.

Good to hear different points of view on the subject and If your alternative to work is doing relatively nothing all day I would say you have made the right choice for you.

I too will miss some of my colleagues but won't miss the shift work or 160 mile commute!