What to do with all your time?

cfw1994

Latest joy of not having a work timetable….being flexible!

A pal & I had planned a little 2 day overnight (camping!) cycle adventure to the Shropshire Hills.   Hoping to do some multi-day stuff next year.

The forecast for our 2 days was absolutely horrendous in the days leading up, so we slid it a week.

As we got to last Monday, Storm Agnes threatened to destroy Day 1, so we slid it another day.

Ended up with a dry but grey first day, then a gloriously beautiful second one…pedalling over the Long Mynd just thinking how amazing it was!
Neither of us could have managed that if we were still working!

zagfles

cfw1994 said:

Latest joy of not having a work timetable….being flexible!

A pal & I had planned a little 2 day overnight (camping!) cycle adventure to the Shropshire Hills.   Hoping to do some multi-day stuff next year.

The forecast for our 2 days was absolutely horrendous in the days leading up, so we slid it a week.

As we got to last Monday, Storm Agnes threatened to destroy Day 1, so we slid it another day.

Ended up with a dry but grey first day, then a gloriously beautiful second one…pedalling over the Long Mynd just thinking how amazing it was!
Neither of us could have managed that if we were still working!

It depends how flexible your work is, for instance I work 15 hours a week but I can mostly do them whenever I want. Was due to go on a hike today but weather is horrible so instead I'm doing a few hours work, and will probably do the hike when the weather improves.

GSP

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I guess it’s one of my fears of not knowing what to do with myself if I retire. Just turned 68 and am on a sort of rolling one year contract when at the end they pay me an agreed sum but have just renewed it for the last 3 years and likely too again. Ultimately I quite enjoy the job and more importantly the people I work with. Would feel strange no longer seeing them every day.

No real hobbies aside from watching sport. Potentially I could look to start playing golf again but it would mean starting somewhere completely new to me and I can’t myself doing that. 

I guess you just worry about it all when it happens. 

With a thread like this you see posts from each end of the spectrum, from those that couldn’t or can’t wait to leave work to those where the job, the people are perhaps the most important thing in their life, why give it up?

Each to their own, and who is anyone to say what you should do.

The overwhelming advice I would say is at 68 is to pack work in, you’ve worked hard all your life and earned an easier run in. You may even find as you go into your seventies that things become a bit harder, and it’s time to make your decision then.

I’d hope a fact you are staying is not money if you have enough already. There are no prizes for being the richest person in the graveyard.

Don’t make any rash decisions, and don’t have any regrets if you are happy now. You’ll find that things evolve, work out as you go along and the big changes are easier to make.

By why force yourself now into an area you feel less comfortable with if the timing is not right.

Usually fate plays a hand, or circumstances can help choose you to make the right decision later on. 

Johnnyy_Boy

GSP said:

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I guess it’s one of my fears of not knowing what to do with myself if I retire. Just turned 68 and am on a sort of rolling one year contract when at the end they pay me an agreed sum but have just renewed it for the last 3 years and likely too again. Ultimately I quite enjoy the job and more importantly the people I work with. Would feel strange no longer seeing them every day.

No real hobbies aside from watching sport. Potentially I could look to start playing golf again but it would mean starting somewhere completely new to me and I can’t myself doing that. 

I guess you just worry about it all when it happens. 

With a thread like this you see posts from each end of the spectrum, from those that couldn’t or can’t wait to leave work to those where the job, the people are perhaps the most important thing in their life, why give it up?

Each to their own, and who is anyone to say what you should do.

The overwhelming advice I would say is at 68 is to pack work in, you’ve worked hard all your life and earned an easier run in. You may even find as you go into your seventies that things become a bit harder, and it’s time to make your decision then.

I’d hope a fact you are staying is not money if you have enough already. There are no prizes for being the richest person in the graveyard.

Don’t make any rash decisions, and don’t have any regrets if you are happy now. You’ll find that things evolve, work out as you go along and the big changes are easier to make.

By why force yourself now into an area you feel less comfortable with if the timing is not right.

Usually fate plays a hand, or circumstances can help choose you to make the right decision later on. 

No, definitely not money related. I am in a good enough financial position to retire if I wish.

I am planning to go 4 days a week next year as a start and take it from there.

Think you are right about fate or circumstances change. Probably something new at work maybe the deciding factor. 

Thumbs_Up

I stop working at 53, so a long time of freedom ahead. From the age of 7 to now still have WW2 on the brain, so visits to WW2 European battlefields and places of interest should keep me busy money permitting of course.

I very doubt my future pensions will be able to provide me with trips to Hawaii and Japan and the like, but it is what it is.  

sgx2000

GSP said:

Johnnyy_Boy said:

I guess it’s one of my fears of not knowing what to do with myself if I retire. Just turned 68 and am on a sort of rolling one year contract when at the end they pay me an agreed sum but have just renewed it for the last 3 years and likely too again. Ultimately I quite enjoy the job and more importantly the people I work with. Would feel strange no longer seeing them every day.

No real hobbies aside from watching sport. Potentially I could look to start playing golf again but it would mean starting somewhere completely new to me and I can’t myself doing that. 

I guess you just worry about it all when it happens. 

With a thread like this you see posts from each end of the spectrum, from those that couldn’t or can’t wait to leave work to those where the job, the people are perhaps the most important thing in their life, why give it up?

Each to their own, and who is anyone to say what you should do.

The overwhelming advice I would say is at 68 is to pack work in, you’ve worked hard all your life and earned an easier run in. You may even find as you go into your seventies that things become a bit harder, and it’s time to make your decision then.

I’d hope a fact you are staying is not money if you have enough already. There are no prizes for being the richest person in the graveyard.

Don’t make any rash decisions, and don’t have any regrets if you are happy now. You’ll find that things evolve, work out as you go along and the big changes are easier to make.

By why force yourself now into an area you feel less comfortable with if the timing is not right.

Usually fate plays a hand, or circumstances can help choose you to make the right decision later on. 

Unfortunately the fate thing is often ill health.
For me.  I would like to have a few relatively healthy years in retirement....

Linton

I believe it is essential that you and your spouse (if any)  each know want what they want to do during the first say 10 years of retirement well before you stop work and that your financial plan includes any costs.  The worst situation would be to wake up in the morning after the leaving do and not have a clue.

michaels

Whereas I would love to wake up of a day and think there is absolutely nothing I have to or even should do.....

Linton

michaels said:

Whereas I would love to wake up of a day and think there is absolutely nothing I have to or even should do.....

That may be great for the first 2 weeks.  After a month it might begin to pall a bit.  Why even bother to get up?

zagfles

Linton said:

michaels said:

Whereas I would love to wake up of a day and think there is absolutely nothing I have to or even should do.....

That may be great for the first 2 weeks.  After a month it might begin to pall a bit.  Why even bother to get up?

Then you go out, or go online etc, and find stuff to do! It's easy.