What to do with all your time?

cfw1994

Wowsa!
Lots of interesting replies: too many to reply to!

On the topic of “old school hobbies”… pubs definitely come into my life: nothing better than an afternoon pub crawl: gets the hangover done before you wake up the next day….& often ends in a nice meal out in town 🍻

Bowls: a pal of mine who used to play football, cricket & volleyball in the 30+ years I’ve known him is now massively into bowls! 
We went to watch him for the first time last week: winning a handicap cup against a young lad: very exciting (given the youngster was expected to win!).  Not convinced it is for us, but perhaps in a year or two: it was a very relaxing evening.  He plays perhaps 5 evenings a week (his club is literally round the corner from their house)🤷‍♂️

Family tree is an interesting one…MrsCFW has been doing hers/mine for years and can easily lose many hours down a line of enquiry…indeed we were once seen searching graves on holiday for her ancestors (successfully!) 🪦

We are also considering the possibility of a campervan….saw an interesting layout in a nice small one pop up in a group I follow….trouble is we still don’t mind camping, have decent kit, so continue to prevaricate & use the tent!

I have half-written a couple of “books” (perhaps mostly for my benefit!) on my LEJoG & also our 2 month Interrail adventure….a task for winter months 📚
As is organising our lives and house….all those decorating jobs we had planned?  Most still need sorting!


I also appreciate caring duties can take an inordinate amount of time.  We have no grandchildren (not on the horizon), but MIL passed away 15months ago, so helping sort that has also been a major chunk of our time (house still not sold, so still gardening there!).  & spending time with our offspring, now both living in London, is time we enjoy a lot.  Trains are pricy, so usually drive to Stanmore, use “park on my drive” to find a space to park and tube in!

As jobs go, I could imagine a spot of gardening from time to time….if only the diary wasn’t so full 👨‍🌾

We also have a decent inflatable kayak, bought years ago and only used once….must try harder to get out on that 🛶


Great to read the stories here: good luck to those planning how to spend their time 👍

zagfles

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.

sgx2000

I am 63 and chomping at the bit to retire... 2.5 years.... cant wait...
Hopefully a lot sooner  if I ever 'get the bottle' to 'pull the trigger'
Finances hopefully enough for a very similar lifestyle that I have now...
2 weeks abroad, a few weekends away.  couple of meals out a month

My wife is 17 years younger so realistically unlikely to retire any time soon.

My plan is to take over all, or most, of the housework 
Whiteboard in garage for list of jobs. etc... lol

I will, health allowing, be installing a new bathroom and new kitchen....
I will also be installing a new fuseboard and maybe an electric vehicle charging socket
So plenty of  jobs for the first few years

Really looking forward to it..
Loved Covid furlough.....
I am not very social,  so quite happy on my own

Pat38493

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.

daveharruk

cfw1994 said:

I thought it might be interesting to get some perspectives from the hive mind here running: might help others.  

We all know that those who have bitten the bullet almost all wonder how they had time to work, but perhaps this thread could give others ideas?   

Not wanting to focus on the financial aspects - most threads here do that, perhaps understandably, and many things need money….but some don’t, or don’t need much 🤷‍♂️

I stepped away from the coalface (well, keyboard) in May 2020 after an active time in the world of IT.
I was talking with another pal recently about his looming retirement.  He does have a lot of hobbies, but was still unsure what he will do with his time.  

We went on a ‘retirement seminar’ offered by a local IFA firm a few years ago.  Lovely afternoon tea, but they did focus a lot on the 21 slots you have to fill (morning, afternoon, evening, 7 days a week), & I guess my mate is mentally figuring that out 🧐

I began on Day 1 by reinvigorating my love for cycling 🚴‍♂️
I’m not very fast, & have never been one to pedal in a group who have a weekly ride (still not), but took on an awesome solo LEJoG, with a few pals joining me for bits of it.  Since done a couple of others, and off soon with a pal for a mini adventure - circular ride, camping in the middle.  Little adventures!

Partner and I enjoy festivals, and camping…. we have thrown ourselves into a few in the past 30months - great music, some good comedy, only one horrendously cold and wet day (Latitude this July 👀).  Discovered https://www.concertarchives.org - a *briliant* site to log all your gigs/festivals, etc.  Spent a few hours since Radio 2 in the Park the other weekend popping ours in.  Go on, take a look!

Comedy nights and Beer festivals also get my personal vote as a fine way to spend an afternoon/evening, from time to time….got to avoid drinking too much though 🍻

We enjoy films and some TV, including (gasp, dirty secret) late afternoon quiz shows (frequent watches of HoG, Chase and even Tipping Point….shhh 🤭).

It’s good for the soul to do some volunteering, & mine is split: one half helping a popular volleyball club to operate.  Even wrote a Club Constitution the other day, with help from ChatGPT & Volleyball England.  Might be my last year or so for actually playing, mind 👀 …the other half is with young people for DofE (supervising and sometimes assessing Gold expeditions) 🏕️

Outside of that, as we all know, there are always things needing doing around the house & garden.

Oh, & holidays that can be taken off-peak…..we snapped up 2 month 1st class Interrail tickets in their crazy ‘50 year sale’ last year, and had the most incredible time rolling around 10,000km, 68 places and 14 countries 🚂🚞🚠🚟



So….what other ways have you found to spend their time, filling those 21 slots?

Just a few comments as this is a great post and one which doesn't get discussed enough within this forum. I'm looking to do the same in 2-3 years and am also working in IT - I intend to start with EuroVelo (probably with more of a focus on Southern Europe where there is better weather) and then maybe go wider and visit family in India. I am also just now with a personal software project. Maybe longer distance walking and running, possibly sailing too. I hope to do more cooking, build a model railway and experiment with making music. This is maybe quite an ambitious list but then if you have the spare time, why not? Most importantly though, you can do all of this at your own pace rather than being stuck to time limited activities and also the examples from both our experiences show there is plenty to do. I think the idea you have been told of having to "fill" 21 slots seems a little odd - nobody is forcing you to do things all the time - it is your time to do with as you see fit - even if that were lazing on a couch the whole day that would be fine, although personally it wouldn't make me happy.

zagfles

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.

Various - talking to friends, neighbours, work colleagues, google, notice board in local leisure centre etc. 

Of course it may be different if you live in a small village in the middle of nowehere and you may have to travel, I live in the suburbs, but even then I was surprised how local most of the activies are, I don't have to travel into the city for anything.

handful

I'm currently giving this a lot of thought. I've told my boss I'm cutting my WW to 4 days from April. He hasn't said yes yet but I've told him I am likely to leave if he declines, (and will follow through with that) I think one year from then will see me ready for the leap. My main objective is to travel extensively (we have a motorhome) we want to go to some of the parts of Europe that we haven't been to before, Scandinavia, Montenegro, Balkans to name a few. Going away for 4-8 weeks at a time will leave us relieved to be home to catch up on jobs, socialising etc when we get back. I do quite a bit of cycling and want to extend that, also run and walk a lot when not working as well so will be good to have more time available for those things. I used to play a lot of golf and am starting to get back into that in preparation! I leave close to the sea and a bit of beach fishing is appealing as well. I don't think I will be bored or have trouble filling my days but it does worry me a bit, hence my request to reduce before making the leap of faith!  

GSP

My planned retirement age of 60 was brought forward by five years owing to problems at my work place of 37 years who after strong performance ratings year in year out tried to force me out. Losing to them, then winning an appeal after nine months took it’s toll. It was totally consuming, and controlled my life lying awake most nights, and in the early hours in my head thinking of stuff.

However, I always remember someone saying when you retire every day is a holiday, and it should be.

Granted, there’s some who lived to work or just loved their job, and the friends there, and saw or see retirement as a negative. But for most, the thought of not having to drag your sorry carcass out of bed every day to go to work is life changing.

During the day I currently fill my days with tennis and seeing my terminally ill Mum who hasn’t got long. With shopping, keeping on top of house chores and work around the house, a good few hours on the internet, then rubbish TV in the evenings, the days soon pass.

Going forward, my Mum will pass and once most things are sorted I’ll have slots in a couple of afternoon’s that need filling, maybe golf!

Thereafter, I can see us moving into a bungalow as mobility becomes harder, maybe even move to another county as many people have done where we live.

My overall thoughts on retirement are, there’s already enough to fill up your time, you’ll wonder how you ever had time to work. Those with Grandchildren are probably ‘being loaded’ to look after them more as the parents nowadays thinks it’s a gimmie they should. That’s probably pretty unfair as sure with higher mortgages etc, it is more difficult than when we were younger.
Now seven years on from retirement, work seems to be a distant reminder.

Human’s are good at adapting, we have to be to face challenges put before us.
Unless you like your company only, if possible my importance would be going into retirement with a partner, or having close friends and family. It’s also about doing things at your own pace, but also sitting around a bit more, the age starts to have a say in that!

Albermarle

Please could people that are already retired share how they cope during the winter months?

Plenty of ideas in other posts but I have found that the pre Xmas months pass OK. The weather is not usually so bad and plenty of places still open, even some seaside towns are still quite lively at the weekends.

January and February are as normal the worst months, lots of places like National Trust properties are closed, weather is usually gloomy and cold. Very little sport happening apart from Football of course. Walks are all muddy, too cold to do much outside  etc . So the point is Winter does not last for months, so only really a few weeks that need to be filled with largely indoor activities. Last year I decorated 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. Good time to get started/restarted at the gym/pool as well. 

daveyjp

A few other ideas.

Local schools may be looking for volunteers to sit and read with children.

Schoolreaders.org is a good resource if interested.

Get's you out regularly, mixing with children who always brighten anyone's day and once in a school environment there will be other activities to get involved with.  Events, school trips, in secondary schools exam invigilators are often required.

For occasional work sign up with the local Council for election duties.  Lots of different roles, not all on the day itself.   Opening postal votes is a huge task which starts before polling day.  Working polling stations, doing the count etc and all the jobs are paid.