Retirement

[gurnemanz]

Enjoy, Petrushka. I find plenty to relish as a free agent but am not one of those OAPs who constantly goes around saying: "I've never been so busy". I'm sitting here at 10.21 a.m. on a sunny Wednesday with a cup of tea at my elbow, browsing new posts on FoR3 and listening to Schubert, before getting on my bike to go to the local weekly market to buy Christmas veg and deliver our last couple of Christmas cards.

[richardfinegold]

Thanks all. I'll try keeping as active as possible though might be a bit of an effort in the endless rain we are getting here. No dogs, though. I'm immovable on that one!

Richardfinegold, that's the worst when you desperately want to leave (and you always know when you are ready) but I felt that way for much longer and four years will go much quicker than you think.

If the work situation was right, I wouldn’t mind going past the deadline, and on (increasingly rare) good days I sing that tune, but between the daily b.s. and the health issues (4 weeks until my knee gets scoped and I can’t wait) , I am not even sure I will make it to the finish line.
I echo the sentiments of those that are urging you to exercise. A half an hour a day is sufficient. Perhaps you could invest in a decent portable music player and do a fast walk every day while you listen to Strauss Waltzes. I have seen a lot of people retire and the ones that stay, or become, active are the most likely to stay healthy.

[alycidon]

I wanted to go early, but things didn't work out like that. In the end I actually stayed on for several months after I "should" have gone as I was asked to do some extra work, and it made some sort of sense to finish it - and have the extra money.

Some people I know seem to take on extra voluntary work, and that can be as demanding and tiring as "real" work. It can be rewarding, and may bring some of the social benefits of work, but don't do it if you won't like it, or are not motivated by the "cause" - whatever that is.

Well, yes. We retired and moved to this village just outside Inverness. Went to the parish church on our first Sunday where the minister was appealing for someone to edit and produce the parish magazine - I’m now into my 17th year! Still, it keeps me out of mischief and as we now attend the Free Church of Scotland I am a precentor for most of the services.

[Pulcinella]

I wanted to go early, but things didn't work out like that. In the end I actually stayed on for several months after I "should" have gone as I was asked to do some extra work, and it made some sort of sense to finish it - and have the extra money.

Some people I know seem to take on extra voluntary work, and that can be as demanding and tiring as "real" work.
It can be rewarding, and may bring some of the social benefits of work, but don't do it if you won't like it, or are not motivated by the "cause" - whatever that is.

There are some good things about being retired, and some not so good. Enjoy the good things.

It certainly can! My three mornings a week at the local primary school are quite exhausting, but very rewarding.
And my retirement plans to listen to all my opera recordings following the words have come to naught: better luck with yours, Petrushka. I hope you (and all others) have a long and happy retirement.

[antongould]

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... congratulations, Petrushka!

I've been retired for ages, and love it.

I've never felt the need for any exercise, apart from (non-strenuous) walking.


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Many congratulations pet - enjoy the music but I would sit in the exercise camp going for a half hour walk first thing and making sure I hit my steps target in the family Fitbit challenge .... I feel very well on it and have thus far, 4 years and counting, found no bad bits in retirement ....

[vinteuil]

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... o I'm sure statistically that exercise is a Good Thing, and I wdn't want to put anyone off it. It doesn't appeal to me (apart, as I say, from the pretty regular walking that I do) : I have already outlived my father, who led a far more active life than I do. I am not prepared to spend time doing things that I find tiresome.

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[Padraig]

Many congratulations pet - enjoy the music but I would sit in the exercise camp...

Advice is a favourite pastime of the old and retired. I'm retired longer than I was a worker, and I spent an inordinate number of hours at golf and fishing for twenty years or so. Wonderful. Then I retired from them for reasons other than decrepitude, though a heart attack did interrupt proceedings. When the Bach Christmas came about - was it 2005? - I got involved and that became my fishing and golf. I had always been a big Bach fan too. Then Seamus Heaney happened just in time, and poetry in general found a place in my generous free time. I had also developed a 'fitness' regime - going for regular walks, and swimming These I still do, especially since my surgery for lung cancer three years ago - the surgery being possible for me because of my fitness at 80. Since then I have taken up with the delightful Emily Dickinson whose poetry I am studying quite seriously. Throughout all of these adventures I have the constant challenge of my dear wife - she keeps me on my toes as she possesses that great virtue of always being right. She is younger than me by one calendar month. We both agree that it is likely that the Johnson Administration will see us out. Maybe sell us out as well.

[vinteuil]

... I would sit in the exercise camp

... 'sitting' is the sort of thing I do : I didn't know it wd be encouraged in an 'exercise camp' (dread phrase)...

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[teamsaint]

Do any of you non retired people out there feel like a bit part player in Catch 22 when considering the state pension age.....

I guess one of the many things that we fail to guide people in, education wise, is how to maximise the chances of doing something that suits us in later working life, beyond just building up pension.

[Serial_Apologist]

Do any of you non retired people out there feel like a bit part player in Catch 22 when considering the state pension age.....

I guess one of the many things that we fail to guide people in, education wise, is how to maximise the chances of doing something that suits us in later working life, beyond just building up pension.

In my case, post-retirement pursuits have been the fulfilment of lifelong wishes, in some cases - familiarising myself with musical areas beyond those I had the time and inclination to be interested in whole still working; also discovering history, architecture, philosophy, old films, meteorology, and in general getting out and about, helping hapless people liberate chained up supermarket trolleys, etc etc.

[Pulcinella]

In my case, post-retirement pursuits have been the fulfilment of lifelong wishes, in some cases - familiarising myself with musical areas beyond those I had the time and inclination to be interested in whole still working; also discovering history, architecture, philosophy, old films, meteorology, and in general getting out and about, helping hapless people liberate chained up supermarket trolleys, etc etc.

You mean you've got a supply of those little tokens that you can use instead of pound coins?

[Serial_Apologist]

You mean you've got a supply of those little tokens that you can use instead of pound coins?

Sadly I lost all my tiddlewinks year ago!

[HighlandDougie]

My retirement day is here at last! I'm finishing tomorrow afternoon and will hopefully now be able to spend more time with my CDs and a mountain of books! Well, that's the theory anyway.

Many congratulations on your release from the drudgery of the 9 to 5 life (although I suspect that your hours were probably a bit longer than that) - I hope that the last day wasn't too difficult. It takes a little while to get acclimatised to it all but, if you decide that you want to stay in bed until midday doing yesterday's crossword, then, simply, you can. My one piece of advice in addition to the many wise words already posted - and you might hate the creatures - is get a dog. That will make you take exercise and, if you decide that you want to hitchhike to Amsterdam to hear the KCO, there is bound to be someone nearby who would be happy to look after a pooch. Anyway, enough nonsense from me - all the best for a happy, fulfilling and, above all, pleasurable retirement.

[antongould]

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... o I'm sure statistically that exercise is a Good Thing, and I wdn't want to put anyone off it. It doesn't appeal to me (apart, as I say, from the pretty regular walking that I do) : I have already outlived my father, who led a far more active life than I do. I am not prepared to spend time doing things that I find tiresome.

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There is maybe the difference vints ..... I love walking

[teamsaint]

Many congratulations on your release from the drudgery of the 9 to 5 life (although I suspect that your hours were probably a bit longer than that) - I hope that the last day wasn't too difficult. It takes a little while to get acclimatised to it all but, if you decide that you want to stay in bed until midday doing yesterday's crossword, then, simply, you can. My one piece of advice in addition to the many wise words already posted - and you might hate the creatures - is get a dog. That will make you take exercise and, if you decide that you want to hitchhike to Amsterdam to hear the KCO, there is bound to be someone nearby who would be happy to look after a pooch. Anyway, enough nonsense from me - all the best for a happy, fulfilling and, above all, pleasurable retirement.

Hitching is so old school !!

https://www.flixbus.co.uk/bus-routes/amsterdam-london?departureCity=3848&arrivalCity=1334&wt_mc=acq.uk.FlixBus.sea-nonbrand.google.3404657906.621282875_23991085129.ad&wt_cc1=non-branded&wt_cc5=coach%20to%20amsterdam&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_ePkm_G_5gIVRLDtCh2T6A9BEAAYBCAAEgJih_D_BwE

Might even go myself.......