Is retirement boring?

MacMickster · 26 June at 8:00PM

I would suggest not volunteering for anything until you have had a taste of life without doing it. It is too easy to fall into a routine that resembles your working life and taking on responsibilities that become difficult to reverse from.

Some people may find that they need the structure and sense of purpose that volunteering brings to their life in retirement. For others however, comitting to volunteer even a day each week would deprive them of the opportunity to enjoy the freedom that retirement brings and the ability to just take off on a whim because you fancy doing something or going somewhere right now.

bjorn_toby_wilde · 26 June at 8:25PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049112#Comment_82049112

I’d echo that.

The wildlife volunteering I do is completely flexible. I wouldn’t want to do anything that was a fixed commitment as I want to take off for the hills when the weather’s right and take advantage of those last minute holiday deals.

Newly_retired · 26 June at 9:00PM

Despite my user name I have been retired for many years. I have never been bored, nor have I done any paid work since I retired.

Grandchildren ( now all over 18 ), family history, singing in choirs, summer schools, church commitments, structured volunteer work, occasional holidays and now u3a groups have filled my life for the past twenty years.

But this week I am bored. Because of the heat, groups have been cancelled or I have opted not to go out to them. Most of my house is too hot, I can’t work in my study, so I have spent too much time sitting still, reading, playing games ( Patience and Scrabble mostly) on my ipad, browsing online, contributing to online forums, watching tv or listening to the radio. I am missing the company of others and the stimulus I get from interaction with others.

I dread the time coming when poor health will mean that this will be my life all the time. But for now, retirement is good.

katejo · 27 June at 7:01AM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049091#Comment_82049091

No nothing to do with my work. It was offered at City Lit in Holborn and was taught by a retired lady who had previously worked for the BBC amongst other things. I did 2 sessions with her, 1 on retirement in general and 1 on voluntary work. In practice I didn't need both. There was some repetition but I had already booked the general one before I noticed the 2nd one.

katejo · 27 June at 7:10AM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049112#Comment_82049112

Yesterday I came across an old email reply from the charity Readeasy which helps adults with reading difficulties. I had enquired about being a volunteer but they didn't want volunteers to actually sit with people and help them. They wanted volunteers to actually manage the service and organise/train the reading volunteers. That doesn't appeal to me at all and sounds like it should be a paid job!