Bold leap into retirement

MallyGirl

cfw1994 said:

Congrats to those joining (or planning to join) Team Unemployable 🎉
.
We treat the garden as a free gym….less into organised classes - last time we went to a yoga one a few times - ended up injured (perhaps trying too hard 🤪).  I enjoy cycling - managed a sublime 40m on a sunny day around half the Isle of Wight on Monday, before the rain & winds set in.  Have a 4 day camping/cycle mini-adventure with a pal in Devon in a couple of weeks, so I needed the practice….
Walking is also good for keeping fit/mobile, I believe….

It’s interesting to me how some like structure.  For me, a key joy of not having a day job is the flexibility to be a bit more random.  

Sure, some things take planning, and we are into a bit of a groove on some holiday things, but I love the ability to make snap decisions without having to refer to a manager!  Key is having an online diary we can both check & access - makes it easier to book shows/gigs etc when you can quickly check you are free.  Google calendar is a free one that works for us.

We also have a shared calendar- very useful for planning gigs and getting away. My garden is also a free gym with lots going on there right now.

NormalNorman

With permanent WFH I did think about joining a gym for extra fitness besides walking, cycling, gardening etc. Also, the gym withing walking distance is not that cheap. As the second car was disposed of a while ago to allow us to save more into pensions decided to take a physical second evening job with the local Council. Great for working beside real people again, general fitness and the possibility of another gold plated pension, win win lol!

MetaPhysical

I have typed out my letter it and I am handing in my notice tomorrow  

I absolutely cannot stand the thought of working another day longer.  I utterly detest it.  I loved work at one point but I hate how toxic work has become.

Cobbler_tone

MetaPhysical said:

I have typed out my letter it and I am handing in my notice tomorrow  

I absolutely cannot stand the thought of working another day longer.  I utterly detest it.  I loved work at one point but I hate how toxic work has become.

I'm normally grumpy on Monday's but this takes it to the next level. 

Smudgeismydog

MetaPhysical said:

I have typed out my letter it and I am handing in my notice tomorrow  

I absolutely cannot stand the thought of working another day longer.  I utterly detest it.  I loved work at one point but I hate how toxic work has become.

What notice period do you have to give?

nicknameless

MetaPhysical said:

I have typed out my letter it and I am handing in my notice tomorrow  

I absolutely cannot stand the thought of working another day longer.  I utterly detest it.  I loved work at one point but I hate how toxic work has become.

Best of luck.  Currently on a short break in Wales as opposed to the usual work carp in September.  You won't regret it.

FIREDreamer

MetaPhysical said:

I have typed out my letter it and I am handing in my notice tomorrow  

I absolutely cannot stand the thought of working another day longer.  I utterly detest it.  I loved work at one point but I hate how toxic work has become.

That could have been me a year ago. Retirement (at 60 last year) was a great move for me, never felt better.

chuffinnora

There are some very inspiring and encouraging comments on this thread for retirement. 

I'm 60 and daily pondering about when I might take the leap. My wife is 57, she's beaten me to it and finishes on 31st October. Her plan was always to go at 60, but recent work stresses and a mini-meltdown at work made her mind up. We did the math, got a quote for her DB pension at 57 and it was operation go go go!

40 years at the same place (with a couple of TUPEs along the way) is going to be quite emotional come end of October. Life-long work friends, change of life and routine, and all the plans for the future will no doubt hit home soon.

We'd have liked more funds behind us, but ultimately we are pretty lucky compared to many:

No mortgage.
About £500k between us spread around ISAs, PBs, Savings, Investments.
Wifes DB is only around £17.5k, plus another small one coming at 60. And some AVC pots of about £75k.
My DBs are only around £9k. I have a DC pot currently around £540k.
2 full SPs when they are due at 67, although I'm trying to not bank on that as I wouldn't be surprised if one of these disastrous governments start means testing that with national debt piling up.

Longevity is not a "theme" in my family. One parent and one sibling only got to 67. I have some major health issues although still reasonably fit. One definite task when I retire is to stay as fit as possible for as long as possible.

Although my job isn't that stressful, I'm well and truly into that CBA frame of mind these days. Like any business, mine has its irritations and nonsense, but my team is relatively quiet at the moment so I tend to regard it as easy money with some good benefits. If it had been weighing me down, I think I'd go now.

So the plan is to see how my better half deals with retirement, she is certainly looking forward to relaxing, gardening, taking the cockapoo on many interesting walks and nudging me to retire asap no doubt. I might be convinced to go sooner than later....

NormalNorman

With corporate permanent WFH I doubt anyone will notice when I quit. Most colleagues are in other countries. On the upside it gives me time for two other jobs. One paid and one voluntary position which I enjoy. All part of the transition. 

AlwaysLearnin

I obviously don't know your circumstances, required spending amounts, etc, but with >£50k DB/State Pension due, plus >£1.1m in savings and investments, I'd be looking to join the wife asap...!😁