Bold leap into retirement

MallyGirl

Sarahspangles said:

dharm999 said:

I am in the fortunate position of going on garden leave soon for six months, on full pay, so a good chance to establish a retirement routine whilst still being paid, best of both worlds!  Have no concrete plans at all for the first couple of months other than relaxing as last three years have been extremely challenging at work.  Will potter around the garden, paint the summerhouse, arbor, fence and shed as well as garage doors, but in my own time, and as and when I want to.  If it gets done then great, if it doesn’t I’m not going to stress about it.  Can’t wait to g-day

It’s quite novel to actually be using garden leave to spend time in the garden!

That would be my dream

dharm999

Sarahspangles said:

dharm999 said:

I am in the fortunate position of going on garden leave soon for six months, on full pay, so a good chance to establish a retirement routine whilst still being paid, best of both worlds!  Have no concrete plans at all for the first couple of months other than relaxing as last three years have been extremely challenging at work.  Will potter around the garden, paint the summerhouse, arbor, fence and shed as well as garage doors, but in my own time, and as and when I want to.  If it gets done then great, if it doesn’t I’m not going to stress about it.  Can’t wait to g-day

It’s quite novel to actually be using garden leave to spend time in the garden!

Hadn’t even thought of it like that, but yes, it will be spent in the garden!

Sarahspangles

MallyGirl said:

Sarahspangles said:

It’s quite novel to actually be using garden leave to spend time in the garden!

That would be my dream

Me too! One of the hardest parts of working from home is turning away from my laptop and seeing things growing, or my (retired) partner or neighbours chatting at the back gate. In fact the bit of garden I can see from my office is now better cared for than it’s ever been!

MallyGirl

Sarahspangles said:

MallyGirl said:

Sarahspangles said:

It’s quite novel to actually be using garden leave to spend time in the garden!

That would be my dream

Me too! One of the hardest parts of working from home is turning away from my laptop and seeing things growing, or my (retired) partner or neighbours chatting at the back gate. In fact the bit of garden I can see from my office is now better cared for than it’s ever been!

My office is at the bottom of the garden. I look out through bifolds at my veg patch and greenhouse - it is calling me all day when the sun comes out.

Smudgeismydog

@dharm999 congrats, it sounds like a great way to start your retirement!

FIREDreamer

Smudgeismydog said:

Three months for me too @FIREDreamer, and like you I’m in the quietly quitting mode. Interestingly, I also work in financial services!

Are you starting to think about what your new routines might look like?

It pretty much coincides with school holidays, but havent given it any thought - just glad I don’t have to work any more!

Smudgeismydog

I think I’m getting the hang of this ‘quietly quitting’ lark 🤣
There was lots of office politics going on yesterday, all of which I missed as I was taking the dog on a leisurely walk.

I have now paid off my outstanding financial commitment, so plan on just letting my last few payslips build my cash reserves. I’m going to need the liquid assets as I’ve put my house on the market and fallen in love with a new place. The purchase price of the new one is slightly higher than my current house, so no equity release. My partner is going to add funds, so it’s all doable.

I’m really starting to feel excited about this new chapter

hope you are all well

captain_jep

As someone has probably not said, don’t let the office tail wag the retirement dog 

On Monday - which I am regarding as my first err official day of retirement- I went with my wife to the local market square. Sat and enjoyed a coffee while the rest of the world moved busily around us. It was amazing not to have to worry about getting home to take some work call..

Smudgeismydog

Huge congrats @JonnieF, I’m so pleased for you 

A few people have asked what I’ll do once I retire, I’m thinking along the lines of what you’ve just outlined

Peterrr

Enjoying reading this thread despite being 3 years away from my target retirement date. However I have long-since known what I intend to do on the first Monday of my retirement - drive up to the Highlands and climb a particular mountain, probably followed by a couple of pints in a nearby hostelry with cheap lodgings. Something I hope to be healthy enough to make more of a habit of in the subsequent years.

This thread has also given me food for thought on how much notice to provide my employers. I have a good relationship with my managers, but the organisation is known for being somewhat ruthless (large U.S. corporation) so I will likely just provide the minimum 1 month so as not to compromise the salary/bonus review beforehand!

Wishing all the new retirees a wonderful time.