Retirement

[MrGongGong]

Quite a few have done that already. It's the unqualified ones who are remaining.

Well, it's only music innit
I mean you don't really need any skill to teach a few songs to kids

and relax

[Alain Maréchal]

Congratulations to Alpensinfonie, and one caution: make sure you stay in touch with those who could be useful to you. In my case it was techie people - all I had to do was ask querulously about some IT problem and there was always someone who would shake his head and say 'just leave it to me'. I miss that. Everything else has been said above.

By the way, about that book: unless you start straightaway you will never write it.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm finally going to "get a life".

Alpie, I do recommend a listen to this which I happened to catch this evening - a pretty entrancing and inspiring discussion about the retired but by no means inactive life:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04v24t1

- as the blurb says of Clive James (b. 1939): "there's no sign that he's slowing down even though he's been dogged by serious illness in the last few years. He confirmed his credentials as a translator last year with his version of Dante's Divine Comedy and his latest book, Poetry Notebook, is a testament to his consuming love of poetry in general. Philip Dodd explores this passion with him and learns how it has informed and illuminated his thinking throughout his life."

Caruso, Domingo and late Beethoven get a look in towards the end.

[Petrushka]

Some people always like to complain about how tricky and onerous their work is.
For some folks, it REALLY is
BUT for most people it's not that bad OR (as Dave suggests) there is the option of change.

Working out what really are constraints as opposed to excuses is a tricky part.

BUT (as before)

Hope you enjoy your well earned retirement and have many years of music to look forward to

Yes, it is tricky. I've mostly been reasonably happy in my job and had a very happy 10 years working with some very fine colleagues but then things fell apart when my company forced a move to a different location and the contrast could hardly have been starker. I found myself at the age of 56 in just the kind of unhappy situation outlined by teamsaint above. I tried to get out but no-one wanted to know once they knew my age (and despite whatever legislation there might be, it's easy to work out) so in the end I decided there was no option but to stick it out until 65. That's in 4 and a half years and it can't come too soon.

I feel ready for retirement and begrudge the time I'm having to give to the company until it happens. I've looked at the maths and it would be financial suicide to go now.

The luckiest people are those for whom their job is their hobby. Mr GG will point out that as a self-employed person difficulties arise when illness strikes but the sense of job satisfaction must be immense.

[teamsaint]

Yes, it is tricky. I've mostly been reasonably happy in my job and had a very happy 10 years working with some very fine colleagues but then things fell apart when my company forced a move to a different location and the contrast could hardly have been starker. I found myself at the age of 56 in just the kind of unhappy situation outlined by teamsaint above. I tried to get out but no-one wanted to know once they knew my age (and despite whatever legislation there might be, it's easy to work out) so in the end I decided there was no option but to stick it out until 65. That's in 4 and a half years and it can't come too soon.

I feel ready for retirement and begrudge the time I'm having to give to the company until it happens. I've looked at the maths and it would be financial suicide to go now.

The luckiest people are those for whom their job is their hobby. Mr GG will point out that as a self-employed person difficulties arise when illness strikes but the sense of job satisfaction must be immense.

People do end up in situations where staying is the least bad option.
TBF, my job is OK, and I have 20 years self employed to contrast it with. My grumbles (despite having to have had to reapply for my job twice as sales force was cut from about 12 to about 4) were more concerning the ways in which I have seen other people treated, over a very long time, by those seeking solely to further their own careers.
Whether it is British business/work culture, or whether this kind of thing happens routinely elsewhere I don't know. What is really dreadful is to see good viable businesses damaged or ruined , and the collateral damage among employees, in the furtherance of an individuals career.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

So; how's retired life suiting you, Alpie?

[Nick Armstrong]

So; how's retired life suiting you, Alpie?

[Madame Suggia]

Stay with us Alpie

You do a good Liszt!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So; how's retired life suiting you, Alpie?

Give me chance. I've only been retired for just over 2 hours.

[teamsaint]

Give me chance. I've only been retired for just over 2 hours.

Have you been issued with a list of requirements for the retired state, yet?

Post office Thursday.
Clog up supermarket car park on Friday.
Car wash on " Half Price " Monday.
Remember to block book local tennis court 18 months in advance...and so on....


.......an envious worker writes !!

This sunday night will surely be very sweet !!
Enjoy !!

[Richard Tarleton]

And you'll already have your B&Q Diamond Card (Wednesdays, over 60s discount) for all that DIY you'll be doing. Your whole week is practically mapped out, Alpie

[teamsaint]

And you'll already have your B&Q Diamond Card (Wednesdays, over 60s discount) for all that DIY you'll be doing. Your whole week is practically mapped out, Alpie

oh and the fun on the buses, costing literally zilch....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10232924/Pensioners-travel-length-of-Britain-for-free-using-bus-passes.html

seems popular with opera loving ex music teachers too !!!!!!!!!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Have you been issued with a list of requirements for the retired state, yet?

Post office Thursday.
Clog up supermarket car park on Friday.
Car wash on " Half Price " Monday.
Remember to block book local tennis court 18 months in advance...and so on....

Actually, I'm much more considerate than that.
The local barber gives pensioners a discount, but I insist on paying the full amount, as no-one subsidises them for their generosity, and this town has an OAP population to challenge Worthing.

My big decision is that I intend to sell my beautiful Rigoutat Evolution oboe. It's wasted on me as I very rarely play it. Friends have told me I should hang on to it, but I'm not being hasty, and have thought about it for some time.

[Dave2002]

oh and the fun on the buses, costing literally zilch....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10232924/Pensioners-travel-length-of-Britain-for-free-using-bus-passes.html

seems popular with opera loving ex music teachers too !!!!!!!!!!

Seeing the check list reminded me of bus passes - as above, and also Rail Cards - which do cost (about £30 per year, or £70ish for 3 years - the latest prices are here - http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/usi.../where-to-buy/) but give a good reduction on some routes. Many people never use trains, so unless they suddenly decide to change their habits, no point for them, but others either live in locations where the cards do offer a chance to make regular savings, or else go on a few longish trips each year. For example, the saving on even just one East Coast main line 1st class return to Scotland can justify the annual cost. Not sure if the Caledonian Sleeper services have such good offers these days, but they used to be quite good - though I never quite got used to trying to sleep on trains.

Not sure if there are offers on continental trains, or even trains in other countries, such as the USA, but with all the spare time (ha!) over 60 retirees have should be possible to investigate online, and then plan suitable trips. I do recall that Eurostar returns were cheap a few years ago - could use to go to Lille or Paris operas, or art trips to Brussels or simply visit places like Ghent or Bruges.

[french frank]

My big decision is that I intend to sell my beautiful Rigoutat Evolution oboe. It's wasted on me as I very rarely play it. Friends have told me I should hang on to it, but I'm not being hasty, and have thought about it for some time.

It's only a nostalgia object in your own private museum, but some decisions take a lot of deciding. Do it and move on (then quickly go and climb Mt Everest, or sign on for a chef's course in Paris, or for an Open University degree course in Palaeontology or … or …