A New Adventure

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MEM62 wrote: »

You can put up with a level of crap when you know that there is light at the end of tunnel.

You may know the old adage, beware the light at the end of the tunnel - it may be a train.

AlanP wrote: »

On my list as well.

My wife bought me an introductory training package with the local club for Christmas, booked in for the end of March.

1/2 day Ground School followed by a 1 day Flying School (4 flights during the day).

I'm really looking forward to it, and hopefully it'll be something I can pursue when work no longer takes all the time up.

I'd be really interested to hear how you get on Alan, as a novice so to speak.

crv1963 wrote: »

Snorkling in the warm sea and 4x4 driving experience for me!

I can give you a truck driving experience, if you're quick:rotfl:

A few thoughts, perhaps not totally in sync with a lot of stuff already posted but maybe a different perspective.

Worked since leaving school at 16, retired last April at 55. Absolutely hated my job, couldn't wait to go.

I've deliberately not taken up new interests/hobbies since retiring, taking a more "chill and smell the flowers" approach. I had the confidence in the fact that I wouldn't become bored and vegitate (and even if I did it's still better than working, right?) that I resisted the model of trying to manage activities in a formal way.

I deliberately didn't want a schedule where I had to be a certain place at a certain time; I wanted a break from that for a bit.

I do the same things now (apart from work!) as I used to; I just do them more often, at a time of week that suits me better than weekends, and with different people, (my OH retired in September she now wanders round the golf course with me!). Never been bored, never regretted a day going by where I haven't done much, never chastised myself for lying in bed later than usual....it's all fantastic.

Of course I have interests, hobbies and travel that I will pursue; but I'll get round to those; after all I now have my whole retired life ahead of me. Even if I didn't get round to doing some of the stuff I fancy doing, where's the harm, life is finite, but the things you can do between now and the end are not.

The vibe from (now ex) colleagues in the "you will need to get a part-time job/ you will get bored/ what on earth will you do with all that time", can, I think perhaps create a little bit of anxiety in that these things then may appear to be the dangers that they are not, as long if one is sensible and values their new found freedom.

I know everyone is different; if your way of managing the "what are you going to do with your time" question is to busy yourself up, great. For me , it hasn't needed to be like that and "resting up" after decades of work has been beneficial health wise.

The beauty of retirement for me is the choice "to do, or not to do", on a day to day (forever) basis.

Like I say, a different perspective; I know it won't suit everyone.

Good luck OP, and all fellow recent and soon to be retirees.

Good point mollycat. My plan for this year is to have no plan.;). It's something a lot of non retiring people seem to struggle with!

I think ermine made a really good point a few days ago on a retirement thread, when he said that things you may think you want to do with your work head on, are different to what you will want to do after an period of retirement and therefore it's best not to make to many major (if any) changes in the first 6 months.

bugslett wrote: »

Good point mollycat. My plan for this year is to have no plan.;). It's something a lot of non retiring people seem to struggle with!

I think ermine made a really good point a few days ago on a retirement thread, when he said that things you may think you want to do with your work head on, are different to what you will want to do after an period of retirement and therefore it's best not to make to many major (if any) changes in the first 6 months.

Thanks!

I think I actually missed, or put poorly, the point I was trying to make in my post.

I think there's a potential trap for new retirees to fall into.

The trap is listening too much or giving too much value to the narrative from ex colleagues and others of "What are you going to do with all that spare time, you will get bored, you had better find a part time job etc", and then starting to think that this will definately be the case, and acting upon it.

The reality (for me, I appreciate others may have a different perspective) there is very little "spare time", and that the activities find you naturally rather than you having to seek out "stuff to do".

Went to bed last night with no plans for today; suddenly it's 11am and have walked dog on golf course, been to shops, done small DIY job have been nagged about for weeks and will pop in to see my elderly mother before lunch.

Like most people i know who have retired the thought isn't "what will I do with my time?", but a genuine bafflement of "how did i ever have time to work?"

I'm not advocating never planning what to do with your time immediately after retiring, I'm only suggesting it isn't necessary or valid to feel pressured into doing it in case something dreadful happens if you dont!