What to do with all your time?

jennystarpepper

michaels said:

Yorkie1 said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

We do the same with the senior railcard 😁

My Dad used to use his senior railcard to plan a journey that took him as far as possible, and back in the day. I think the furthest he went was Cardiff, from just north of London!

I took my DD to Monaco for the day for her 18th - bet the flights cost less than his train tickets too

I remember as a child in the 70's being bought an ice cream in a cafe / restaurant in the harbour, the price has stuck in my mind all these years later... something to do again with the retirement fund. 

FIREDreamer

Moonwolf said:

pterri said:

Moonwolf said:

Yorkie1 said:

Albermarle said:

Moonwolf said:

I like a trip to York but it is absolutley the best on a weekday out of season for the same reason.  We can get a train there and back very cheaply so I don't have to drive.

Fully agree with this . The last time I went on a Saturday, I had not realised that this historic city was Party Central from about 13.00 onwards. Many pubs and bars with bouncers on the door, packed with young men and women on large scale drinking sessions all afternoon and into the evening. Plus a lot of tourists and shoppers as well.

Absolutely - it's hen and stag central here. Locals avoid the party times and opt for quieter parts of the city and/or times.

If I hadn't been working today, it is exactly the kind of day I would risk the centre.  Weekday, early in the season but sunny and warm enough.  The museums shouldn't be too busy and the museum gardens is pleasant in the spring sunshine, the riverside pubs can be dire but when it is quiet, sitting with a beer watching the river is a luxury waste of time.

Two weeks for me

8 days, 6 working days for me. (5 - who works on their last day?)

My last working day I took my WFH kit back into the office. Then we went to the pub. Best working day ever!

pterri

Sarahspangles said:

Moonwolf said:

pterri said:

Moonwolf said:

If I hadn't been working today, it is exactly the kind of day I would risk the centre.  Weekday, early in the season but sunny and warm enough.  The museums shouldn't be too busy and the museum gardens is pleasant in the spring sunshine, the riverside pubs can be dire but when it is quiet, sitting with a beer watching the river is a luxury waste of time.

Two weeks for me

8 days, 6 working days for me. (5 - who works on their last day?)

6 working days here too

The Pension forum retirement club. We should have a virtual drink (although my ‘last’ day as an employee is 27th may. Last day in office is 4th April) 

Yorkie1

michaels said:

Yorkie1 said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

We do the same with the senior railcard 😁

My Dad used to use his senior railcard to plan a journey that took him as far as possible, and back in the day. I think the furthest he went was Cardiff, from just north of London!

I took my DD to Monaco for the day for her 18th - bet the flights cost less than his train tickets too

  Wow! Yes slightly further, haha

bjorn_toby_wilde

pterri said:

Sarahspangles said:

Moonwolf said:

pterri said:

Moonwolf said:

If I hadn't been working today, it is exactly the kind of day I would risk the centre.  Weekday, early in the season but sunny and warm enough.  The museums shouldn't be too busy and the museum gardens is pleasant in the spring sunshine, the riverside pubs can be dire but when it is quiet, sitting with a beer watching the river is a luxury waste of time.

Two weeks for me

8 days, 6 working days for me. (5 - who works on their last day?)

6 working days here too

The Pension forum retirement club. We should have a virtual drink (although my ‘last’ day as an employee is 27th may. Last day in office is 4th April) 

I’ll raise a virtual glass to you all 🍻

cfw1994

As Christmas looms and the year draws towards the end, I have checked our calendar….we spent only just over half the year at home, with the rest split around a decent variety of things 😜
Not a surprise that I wonder how I had time to work 🤣

To answer the question I posed over 2 years ago….more of the same 🤪

12 gigs or shows, 2 music festivals, 16 comedy nights, several top beer crawls and nights out with friends 🍻
A fabulous drive through France to Spain with 6 days of hiking the Camino, a 4 day bike/camp adventure, a month skiing, several breaks with pals in Yorkshire & many weeks on the IOW 😎
My DofE volunteering is drawing to a close: too busy to give it the time it demands 🤷‍♂️  
On the volleyball front, I’m definitely in a ‘final year’, but the Club is going gangbusters, which is great to see 💪
I won’t dwell on any health issues - nothing serious, but it is clear when we go to pickleball that ‘our generation’ has a seemingly never ending number of challenges.  

We have plenty around us who are older to inspire and encourage 🙏

Many plans are afoot for 2026: this winter period is the time we book things in 🤓
I will raise a virtual glass to us all: crack on with cracking on 🍻🎉

Smudgeismydog

How wonderful to hear your update, sounds like you’ve had a fantastic year

katejo

cfw1994 said:

As Christmas looms and the year draws towards the end, I have checked our calendar….we spent only just over half the year at home, with the rest split around a decent variety of things 😜
Not a surprise that I wonder how I had time to work 🤣

To answer the question I posed over 2 years ago….more of the same 🤪

12 gigs or shows, 2 music festivals, 16 comedy nights, several top beer crawls and nights out with friends 🍻
A fabulous drive through France to Spain with 6 days of hiking the Camino, a 4 day bike/camp adventure, a month skiing, several breaks with pals in Yorkshire & many weeks on the IOW 😎
My DofE volunteering is drawing to a close: too busy to give it the time it demands 🤷‍♂️  
On the volleyball front, I’m definitely in a ‘final year’, but the Club is going gangbusters, which is great to see 💪
I won’t dwell on any health issues - nothing serious, but it is clear when we go to pickleball that ‘our generation’ has a seemingly never ending number of challenges.  

We have plenty around us who are older to inspire and encourage 🙏

Many plans are afoot for 2026: this winter period is the time we book things in 🤓
I will raise a virtual glass to us all: crack on with cracking on 🍻🎉

I have a booked session with a few others of similar age to try Pickleball for the 1st time in January. 

daisy_1571

Glad it continues to go well for you cfw

As far as I'm concerned, and if it helps anyone concerned about impending or forced retirement, my story, sorry if too long.   

I was looking forward to retirement from the first day I started working!   To me the years i had to 'fill in' were the working ones till I could get time for me  😆 

Right now, while we are in the darker winter days, its such a pleasure to no longer be leaving for work in darkness and returning home in darkness.  Any pleasant bright moment we can drop everything and go out a walk and get some sunlight.  We potter, we faff, we have tidied through belongings, we have better 'systems' than we ever had the time to organise in the busy years so life just works easier. 

We volunteer weekly, I've been a trustee of an organisation, we are in 2 local u3as* and have tried out all sorts of activities, I'm currently learning recorder, Mr d is learning guitar, sometimes there's an afternoon snooze for mr d which I reckon is still catching up on years of sleep deprivation after getting up before 6 five days a week.  We go to shops during the week when its slightly more pleasurable, we do the odd bit of DIY or gardening when we fancy it, so much more relaxing than than trying to cram everything in on 2 days at the weekend or during annual leave.  We go for morning coffee, we see friends or family, we have been able to spend time with 3 parents at their end of life, we have the remaining one come stay for a week every 6 weeks or so.  

All in all life is good. 

We never defined ourselves by work however if you are someone who does and you are financially in a position to 'retire' but don't want to, as others have said there are literally thousands of organisations who would love to have your enthusiasm, knowledge, expertise in a volunteer capacity.   Its not just directly fundraising by serving in charity shops if that's not your thing, there's as many organisations and as many jobs you can do as there are leaves on a tree - young people, old people, environment, animals, uk, abroad, indoors, outdoors, online, in real life, in person or telephone befriending, telephone helplines, fundraising, tech, volunteer drivers for hospital or social groups, library, in schools colleges or unis, care taking, clearing gardens for folk etc etc etc.   Believe me, if you start, just a few hours a week, should you want to, you'll likely be offered or asked if you can do extra as your skills fit.  Feel free to say no but if you want the routine, the fulfillment of using your expertise, the company of people working towards the same goals you will be warmly welcomed.  'Work' doesn't have to be just fully paid employment, you could have 20 years working just as hard and just as fulfilled, possibly more, in a volunteer role.

It can also be a time to learn new skills, others have mentioned several different organisations that do anything from interest courses right up to open University degrees, as the old lady who was asked 'why on earth do you want to do a 4 year university  course?  You'll be 88 when you finish,'  she of course replied, 'well i'll be 88 anyway, why not celebrate it with a degree?'

For those worried about missing social contacts but not a 'joiner in' I can only reiterate- volunteer your time.  You will be doing something useful therefore will have colleagues to talk about what you are doing, routine, purpose, fulfillment.  If you don't like it, try somewhere else.  There will be something you enjoy, please don'tjust sit in your house if you are desperate for company  😀 its only that very first walking through the door, after that you'll be grand



Periodically we have to cut a few things as we end up being too busy for how we want to live!  I hope you do do!

Daisy xxx

PS *  I've seen discussion around several aspects of u3a in these pages.  Heres a general overview.   U3a started in France and was only allowed to be in university towns.  The idea is the first university of life is growing, learning, developing.   Then your next university is the world of paid employment, possibly also bringing up families.  The next university is the one where you are in fortunate position that paid employment no longer has to govern the majority of your life and you are free to pursue other enjoyments.  It spread to other countries and when Britain started it was decided to do it differently here - not limited to university towns.  Anyone anywhere can start a local branch if there isn't already one, you have to be retired or semi retired, everything is run by the members for the members, for around £15 a year you have access to monthly in person meetings,  online stuff and classes, lectures, holidays and of course the range of groups offered by your branch or branches.  If you fancy leading a group for something that isn't already catered for you're likely to find others who will sign up to it.  The individual groups share the cost of premises or materials so its generally low cost.  Theres national 'experts' who help promote particular subjects but it literally ranges from a to z.    Yes it can be more ladies than gents thats just a fact, sadly the likelihood of a completely balanced membership is fairly unlikely due to generally women last longer than men and, to generalize again, women are more likely to go along and 'try' something but we are all just people at the end of the day - please though don't let that stop any men, I'd say our meetings have about a third men, out of 400 folk thats still plenty blokes.

cfw1994

Great post, Daisy!!
Your points about volunteering are very valid: I’ve often said Britain runs on volunteers giving time up for so many things.
We haven’t joined a U3A: partly because we feel busy enough for now, but I can imagine that might change in the next 5 years.
The flexibility you describe is also a massive plus: just picking time to do what we want when it’s most convenient is glorious!