What to do with all your time?

tinsy

Pat38493 said:

zagfles said:

I'm semi retired and have been looking for stuff to do to fill time, clearly there's loads of solo activities you can do eg cycling, running, gardening etc but if like me you prefer more social activities I've found there is SO MUCH going on in terms of daytime activities mainly with pensioners that I'm spoilt for choice. 

There are no-strings sessions for various sports like badminton, tennis, table tennis, where you can just turn up and play, hiking clubs, sailing clubs, bowls as mentioned, for the mind rather than the body there are bridge and chess clubs which have sessions for new members who've never played to learn, astronomy clubs, there's U3A if you want to learn practically anything (or even teach if you're an expert!), choirs that welcome new members even if you can't sing!

It's also blown out of the water the myth that by the time you get to your 80's you'll be a doddering old fool who'll be sat watching daytime TV, complete rubbish, I've just been on a 10 mile hike where there were several people in their late 80's strolling casually up steep hills while I (reasonably fit I thought) was struggling, played badminton with some incredibly good players in their 80's and even one in his 90's. Played against some really good bridge players in their late 80's.

My original plans for what I'd do to fill my retirement have changed completely, I thought I'd be travelling all the time, taking flying lessons, cycling, walks with wife, pub lunches, canal boat trips, mainly solo/couple activites. Now my social life has never been better, my physical fitness has never been better, and there's loads to replace the intellectual challenge I'm used to at work. With the extra bonus that all these social activities are far cheaper than the stuff I was originally intending to do!

Also most are without committment, so I can just turn up when I feel like it, the idea of planning to fill "21 slots"...nah. I want some time when there is nothing at all planned, when I can just watch a film, read a book, whatever I feel like.

Very interesting thread.  How did you actually find out about all these activities - was it through friends or did you find it some other way?  I am aware of U3A as they had a stand at an event I went to last weekend.

I have become conscious that I am so focused on saving enough money to retire that I've not given much thought to what I will actually do.  I wouldn't say this will stop me from retiring but it might result in a bit of an existential crisis if I'm not careful after I've stopped working.

I use an app called Eventbrite lots of ideas on there depending on your interests and location.  I love the outdoors so I do quite a lot of free/reasonable ones.  

Auti

Am special guardian to a child so a hands on parent again for quite a while to come. Volunteer in child’s school several times a week. Time to myself is a luxury . My ‘retirement’ has been put on hold but child awesome so no worries (apart from making sure I last fit and well until he is grown up).

Supermac555

I retired ten years ago age 53 , bought a motorhome and spent five winters abroad before covid and brexit stopped play 
I have four grandchildren now who love motorhome jaunts and keep me busy . I still go to Spain for a month each autumn in it and get about the uk as much as possible too.
I belong to a large church community that has endless volunteering , learning and personal development opportunities.
I was able to heal myself mentally and spiritually and am now working on physically.
once had time to study and do the therapy needed .
Retirement has been a time of self nurture having been a single mother and single carer for poorly  parents as well as working . 

I re located two years ago to help with grand babies which I love . I’m working hard at joining a new community because we are not meant to be alone . 

tinsy

I semi retired 2 years ago at 60 and just work 1 day a week due to financial necessity 🙄.  Although I do still enjoy my job (NHS), I can't wait to fully retire although I don't think I will ever get my dream of a campervan. I enjoy walking, birdwatching, photography, member of organisations such as NT, RSPB local wildlife trusts, so always have somewhere to go and happy to go on my own, sometimes just to enjoy the peace and quiet of your own thoughts. Still enjoy going to gigs music and comedy. Meet up with various friends through the month for social get togethers. Ive always loved learning and long may it continue. Have just done 'learn to sew' classes, learning a language on Duolingo, do line dancing. There is an app called Eventbrite and through that have found events such as bat walks, photography skills and the latest was bioluminescence basically wander around in the dark with a UV torch and see what glows..  fascinating. I enjoy holidays couple of times a year usually UK as can't do the heat anymore, and now planning a tour of Ireland and Scotland, try and join up done dots of the family tree. My house also needs decorating so that will be a job to do when my son comes back (to hold the ladders lol). I don't know how I ever found the time to work full time....
A lot of what I do is either free or small cost, just a balance so I can still save some towards proper retirement hopefully in the next 12-18 months

GingerTim

I'm an academic - retirement will be a chance to do all the research and writing I've always wanted.

stuart746

GingerTim said:

I'm an academic - retirement will be a chance to do all the research and writing I've always wanted.

I'm also an academic but in retirement plan to disengage from writing, research and academia completely. Nothing wrong with keeping at it, but having spent 30 years doing it I would like to make things with my hands, meet people, and be more creative. I know most of my colleagues like to keep their hand in post-retirement but I just think I'm done with that part of my life and having nothing more to say.

katejo

stuart746 said:

GingerTim said:

I'm an academic - retirement will be a chance to do all the research and writing I've always wanted.

I'm also an academic but in retirement plan to disengage from writing, research and academia completely. Nothing wrong with keeping at it, but having spent 30 years doing it I would like to make things with my hands, meet people, and be more creative. I know most of my colleagues like to keep their hand in post-retirement but I just think I'm done with that part of my life and having nothing more to say.

I am not an academic but I work in an academic setting with postgraduate students (law librarian). I now spend hours at a laptop compiling research guides. I want a break from that! Maybe I might go back to studying but not initially. 

Sarahspangles

stuart746 said:

GingerTim said:

I'm an academic - retirement will be a chance to do all the research and writing I've always wanted.

I'm also an academic but in retirement plan to disengage from writing, research and academia completely. Nothing wrong with keeping at it, but having spent 30 years doing it I would like to make things with my hands, meet people, and be more creative. I know most of my colleagues like to keep their hand in post-retirement but I just think I'm done with that part of my life and having nothing more to say.

I’ve been asked if I’m interested in becoming a NED. And often on this board, people enthuse about opportunities to volunteer in retirement. But I don’t need to top up my pensions and I’ve been an unpaid director/trustee for more than 20 years, so I don’t feel like I ‘owe society’ or something. Nor is it a challenge anymore (though I plan to continue for now).

So yes, making things and possibly mingling with other people who like making things is more my plan.

I can still scratch my itch for planning and analysis when the urge takes me!

GingerTim

stuart746 said:

GingerTim said:

I'm an academic - retirement will be a chance to do all the research and writing I've always wanted.

I'm also an academic but in retirement plan to disengage from writing, research and academia completely. Nothing wrong with keeping at it, but having spent 30 years doing it I would like to make things with my hands, meet people, and be more creative. I know most of my colleagues like to keep their hand in post-retirement but I just think I'm done with that part of my life and having nothing more to say.

I think there's a lot to be said for this view, too. I like to think I'd write a book I've been planning for about 15 years but just haven't had the time what with the day job. But equally, I might just have had enough of it all after another 25 years.

Assuming the sector hasn't been annihilated and I still have all my marbles by that point, of course!

stuart746

GingerTim said:

Assuming the sector hasn't been annihilated and I still have all my marbles by that point, of course!

I agree this is part of the problem - I used to have more fun in the role and take more risks with publications, research and so on, but the current crisis is squeezing this out. It's a shame as for a while I couldn't imagine a better job/profession.

So what will I do with all my time... imagine and try out a different life that allows me to be curious about things I have had no time to think about or do. I never used to think of myself as creative and in the last few years have managed to get in touch with that part of my identity through some hobbies, and it is so different from academia!