The Senior Wonder Years!

SuzeQStan

[Deleted User] said:

Generally, feeling a failure across a whole spectrum of things at the moment. 

Hope you’re ok

[Deleted User]

Thanks. Feeling ok after a a good sleep. I think I spent too much time yesterday reading about rich and successful people lol! I was reading about someone who was moaning about have to pay a £160000 a year service charge on his £175 million apartment in London! Made my few thousand look a bit pathetic lol. I think I’m over it this morning.

srn

You should not feel a failure.  It takes huge courage and determination to work out what you are going to do with your retirement and you are still pretty new to this, as am I.  I also have an inkling that we will think we have it all worked and something will change, life does that. 

Regarding vast wealth, I can't imagine anything worse.  Having to deal with the responsibility of it and everything that that entails would be awful.  You only need enough money for you and that equals happiness.

Personally it has taken me 65 years to realise that that the grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence after a lifetime of moving around.  I am finally content in my little corner, long may it last.

Clowance

and dont forget the pleasure and education we all get from reading your posts Baron-Dale. Your retirement is to do what you yourself want to do after a lifetime of work, comparison with others is never a good idea. 

Katiehound

[Deleted User] said:

Generally, feeling a failure across a whole spectrum of things at the moment. 

Maybe you need to make yourself a realistic bucket list?

Write a gratitude diary

I have to say I got very early retirement and was able to do something I had always wanted- go to art college!
I also worked as a volunteer for a national animal charity- loved doing that & working on the stand at Crufts.
Or even small things like doing what I want... when I want, and not be tied to the clock

Just read this on another thread:
Charlie Chaplin  

"You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down."

Onwards & upwards

helensbiggestfan

[Deleted User] said:

Thanks. Feeling ok after a a good sleep. I think I spent too much time yesterday reading about rich and successful people lol! I was reading about someone who was moaning about have to pay a £160000 a year service charge on his £175 million apartment in London! Made my few thousand look a bit pathetic lol. I think I’m over it this morning.

Glad to hear you're feeling brighter.  Remember the old saying "comparison is the thief of joy".  

There will always be people better looking, richer, more accomplished than me but I don't care.  I have discovered the secret to true contentment is to simply be happy in my skin and not to measure myself against others.  

Like srn points out the early days of retirement can be a huge adjustment.  Even people who are desperate to retire can be taken aback when it actually happens.  It can take a while to "find" yourself.  

Two books I recommend....

"Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life". 

"The Little Book of Lykke/Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living".  

I too enjoy your posts but I do sometimes think you judge yourself rather harshly. We don't need to be perfect, good enough is good enough.  

Had a fantastic day yesterday. It was my youngest sons 38th birthday.  Had all the family here to celebrate.  I cooked up a storm and we even got to spend time in the garden when the sun finally showed its face.  

Who needs a £175m appt in London.  Probably no outside space and even if it did have a roof terrace the air is sometimes not fit to breathe.  My sister, who has asthma, lived in London for a while and often ended up in hospital with breathing difficulties.  No thanks.  

If I had that kind of money I would buy a nice country house for a fraction of the price.  Then if I wanted to spend time in London now and again I would book a presidential suite in the Dorchester.  😁.  

 

[Deleted User]

@Katiehound Many thanks for your response. I am not one for bucket lists. For me they would become stressful chore. I did not actually retire early. I stopped full time at 58 and worked the next 7 years at varying amounts of part-time from 0.8 to 0.4.

@helensbiggestfan. I agree with the idea about a country house. I maybe would go for a house in SW London as well lol. However, I rarely if ever visit London now (I was born there ). It has no interest for me at all these days.

Savvy_Sue

srn said:

Regarding vast wealth, I can't imagine anything worse.  Having to deal with the responsibility of it and everything that that entails would be awful.  You only need enough money for you and that equals happiness.

You are quite right: I had a well-off friend at University who said they really struggled with the responsibility of the money they had (which of course most of us did not). They didn't think their parents would ever criticise them for any life choices they made, but they just felt they had to use the money which had been made available to them (I think partly through inheritance) wisely. I don't think that feeling ever left them, even when they married and had children of their own! 

Arthurian

Your life seems great.

Skint_yet_Again

You have been through a major life change, giving up work and retiring. It’s not unusual to have some worries and doubts. I’ve felt similar myself, but things do settle down. Cut yourself some slack @[Deleted User] just do what makes you happy not what you feel you should be doing according to others / convention 😉