Is retirement boring?

MyRealNameToo

I think its very personal, some people will find that even retired they dont have enough time to do everything they want to, others will find it very boring.

Two guys who retired in the last couple years have had very different experiences, one retired to be a carer for his wife until she passed, he's been travelling since, doing work on both his homes and is comfortable with a decent pension. The other is basically spending his morning watching TV, afternoon/evening drinking in the pub when he can afford it and at home when he's spent 90% of his pension already. He was a driver for half his life but can't pass the tests for a taxi licence now but does chauffeuring a few times a year when he can find the work.

One is content, all things considered, and the other is very bored.

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035825#Comment_82035825

Also there can be an impact/restrictions due to family caring responsibilities.

PoGee

Lots to think about. It's the empty nest syndrome on top of retirement - when child 2 moves out. I don't want to be the person that just sits in front of the TV all day. I've had stints with gym membership etc but it's not my thing. I'll join a walking group as that's something I enjoy. I've said I won't get pets once our 2 cats pass but I'm sure I'll give in and get another one or two. Good thing is we have nice neighbours and I'll have time to pop in for a coffee (and vice versa). I'll explore the Scottish Highlands and borders once I get my free bus pass and have time on my hands!

YellowCarBlueCar

I'm just under 3 weeks from retirement (56), and facing into just this concern at the moment!

But - I don't plan to work forever, and at some point I need to shift into this next phase, and I'd rather do it while I'm healthy and mobile. If I don't find anything to enjoyably or productively fill my time, then that's down to my lack of imagination and resourcefulness…

I don't have any big 'retire to…' plans, but then I don't think I've had more than 2 weeks away from work in one go since I started work. So I'm going to take the summer in 'holiday mode', spend the winter on the backlog of maintenance and admin that never seems to get done, and look for part time or voluntary work that I'm interested in or passionate about along the way.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035825#Comment_82035825

Also people who are on their own. Going to the pictures or for a meal or a mooch round the shops isn’t the same if you have no partner or children, or friends who are not available when you are. You can still go, but it’s not the same.

Or some people who just struggle to make friends.

horsewithnoname

I can’t imagine being bored, but there’s always voluntary work.

Dead_keen

I can easily imagine being bored, and sometimes I am bored. I was worried about that before I retired and so tried to find some new hobbies. But they never really stuck. I did some learning after I retired but it was all research type stuff whereas I wanted to apply it more, so it didn't realy stick. I took on an unpaid role but that was oversold to me and just takes a few hours every few months. So now I just walk the dogs, play with AI, do a bit of gardening, a bit of exercise, a bit of research, have a coffee at a new place, travel around a bit and when I get bored, I get bored. Boredom happens, especially when scrolling though the internet. When I recognise that, I try do something else.

RAS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034958#Comment_82034958

OK, so you've got a couple of decent projects there. Destinations where a small amount of the local language would reap you huge benefits.

And probably take a couple of years, particularly if you chose to learn enough of the relevant script to be able to read basic signs like Danger, Do not enter, Cafe, Hotel, minimarket etc.

The other thing I would do is to draw up a budget based on your current income and expenses, then based on your pension and reduced expenses. So you are realistic about how much you can divert to longer distance travel.

And explore the public transport on line. A Senior rail card can be worth it even for shorter journeys. And keep an eye out for off season deals. Like the flash sale including £5 singles for a 100 mile journey. My area also offers decent all county day tickets which are worth it even if I'm heading out at peak times.

Savvy_Sue

It may be worth exploring a 'retirement' course - perhaps your employer offers one, or you can find one through your own research. My employer would have paid for me to do a one day course, but the one I'd found was cancelled and I never found another.

I spent a few years saying I would retire when I was 67, a year after my state pension kicked in. I did think about what I'd do: DH is still working, but fortunately flexibly so I can make him come and do fun stuff with me at regular intervals. What I've done:

• carried on Nordic Walking - I usually do Monday mornings to get me moving at the start of the week. I used to do two sessions a week but sometimes struggle to fit those in!
• joined a local choir - which I started the term before I retired so that if they were doing any concerts over the summer I might know the music. I picked one I could walk to if I needed, and one which used sheet music to make maximum use of my limited musical skills.
• become a Trustee of a small local charity - we run a local community cafe, a community garden and manage the hiring of a small hall. This I also started a few months before retiring. I've become involved in running their small payroll after years doing similar at work, another thing which keeps my brain ticking over.
• for the charity, I've started helping at a weekly coffee morning - I felt if I volunteered in the cafe or the garden, I'd need to lie down afterwards, but this is less strenuous. This gives me people to care about, who care about me.
• continued helping run the local flower show - a huge commitment for a short period each year, and a 'ticking over' commitment the rest of the year.
• joined a reading group at the local library - a book group where you don't have to read the book beforehand! I really love this, but might not have got round to joining, except someone was asking if anyone could give them a lift, just as I retired. Perfect timing.
• and now I'm awaiting the arrival of our first grandchild, who won't be local but thrilling nevertheless. The amount of knitting has increased!

Frankly, I don't know how I had time to go to work. AND DH is now more open to DFT (Doing Fun Things): he discovered the local U3A had just started a monthly group for Go ( https://www.britgo.org/ ), and he's really enjoying that!