Adapting to retirement

westv

I haven't retired yet but I do know the closest U3A to me has closed down - there never seemed to be much going on anyway when I last looked at their website.

zagfles

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

But that's another big decision with retirement - where to live. We did have half baked plans to move from the Manchester suburbs to a village by the sea, but that would have been a huge mistake, there is just so much stuff going on round here that we're spoilt for choice.

MallyGirl

zagfles said:

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

But that's another big decision with retirement - where to live. We did have half baked plans to move from the Manchester suburbs to a village by the sea, but that would have been a huge mistake, there is just so much stuff going on round here that we're spoilt for choice.

we are certainly going to stay put for at least the first 10 years of retirement - proximity to local town and London for amenities, restaurants, gigs plus the countryside. Good rail links too.

katejo

MallyGirl said:

zagfles said:

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

But that's another big decision with retirement - where to live. We did have half baked plans to move from the Manchester suburbs to a village by the sea, but that would have been a huge mistake, there is just so much stuff going on round here that we're spoilt for choice.

we are certainly going to stay put for at least the first 10 years of retirement - proximity to local town and London for amenities, restaurants, gigs plus the countryside. Good rail links too.

Same for me. I live in London, have the Oyster 60+ travel benefits and easy access to potential social activities/theatres/museums etc. 

Hoenir

SarahB16 said:

theoretica said:

I know some people who retired and then took on hugely valuable major volunteer roles, in effect part time jobs, but without many of the bits they had least enjoyed about work and chosen to accomplish something they felt worthwhile.

I'm still quite a few years away from retirement however I do hear many older people say that as you get older your social circle decreases.  

Sadly people pass away with increasing regularity. Often unexpectedly and at at short notice. After all we live life hanging by a thread. My late Grandmother who passed away at 99. Always started the day with a smile on her face and the attitude of enjoying everyday. 

. 

westv

zagfles said:

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

Is that loads going on where you live or loads going on generally over all the U3A groups?

Edit: I just checked the nearest (around 7 miles away) one to me and that has

Card Craft

Cinema & Theatre

Discussion

French

Garden Visits

Knitting

Local history

Mahjong

Out to lunch

Painting & Drawing

Strollers

Beddie

My career fizzled out by the age of 45 and I never really worked much after that, certainly not in a higher level position. So a steady wind down to retirement is easy for me. Mid 50s now.

Yorkie1

zagfles said:

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

But that's another big decision with retirement - where to live. We did have half baked plans to move from the Manchester suburbs to a village by the sea, but that would have been a huge mistake, there is just so much stuff going on round here that we're spoilt for choice.

A couple of years before they retired, I remember my parents discussing whether to move from their urban location to some lovely village in the Cotswolds. It sounded idyllic, but they recognised that there would be fewer opportunities to do things. They also considered whether it would remain as idyllic when they got perhaps 10+ years older, needing to get into the car to access any shops or services, and perhaps no longer being fit to drive with only a weekly bus service. It had the potential to be very isolating as they got older.

SarahB16

Yorkie1 said:

zagfles said:

Probably depends where you live - I've not used U3A but I've heard there's loads going on.

But that's another big decision with retirement - where to live. We did have half baked plans to move from the Manchester suburbs to a village by the sea, but that would have been a huge mistake, there is just so much stuff going on round here that we're spoilt for choice.

A couple of years before they retired, I remember my parents discussing whether to move from their urban location to some lovely village in the Cotswolds. It sounded idyllic, but they recognised that there would be fewer opportunities to do things. They also considered whether it would remain as idyllic when they got perhaps 10+ years older, needing to get into the car to access any shops or services, and perhaps no longer being fit to drive with only a weekly bus service. It had the potential to be very isolating as they got older.

Zagfles - Agree and so easy to get into Manchester city centre if you wish to.    

Yorkie1 - Agree so much more going on in urban locations and as people get older there is a greater probability they will need to go to hospital for treatment.  Far better, in my opinion, to not live a long journey away from a hospital that has a good reputation. 

jim8888

One thing that has struck me as I grow older is how hard it is to make real friends. I've more friendly acquaintances than I can shake a stick at, blokes I golf with, chat to in the pub to, go for walks with, see down the gym, banter on Whatsapp with - but my closest friends are still those I went to school with! Unfortunately they live in Scotland and I moved to England long ago....
One of the things I liked about work was that it also fostered friendships and I do agree with what the article says about men forming connections by tackling a task together, or working in a team. So many books and people will tell you that you have to get out there in retirement, join groups, join classes, join, join, join. I wouldn't disagree, but I still think there was something about school and work - perhaps that you HAD to go and do stuff that you might not choose to with a variety of people - that's missing in retirement. Hence you can drift and not really commit to anything or anyone in the way that you once had to. The only answer though, or so it seems to me, is to keep trying to make those connections, as the alternative - isolation and loneliness - doesn't bare thinking about.