Old Speckled Hen Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 How has it changed your life? What do you do now? I ran my own "business" and slept badly, worried about staff and patients and never having time to spend with my daughter. I retired four year ago at 56 and my surgeon clean hands and nails have been replaced with garden hands; my worries with dreams of chickens and bees; my free time when hubby is free too is spent walking in the hills. I help out at my local BKA,with my step grandchildren and with needing neighbours. I'm busier than ever but the quality has changed. Thank God for old age Still worry about DD though............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Unfortunately I'm not retired yet, but my father - now in his late 70s - has never been busier or happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Yes escaped Jobcentre plus at 60 over 3 years ago. Got chooks and Eglu as retirement present to myself and really enjoy the lack of stress and travelling. Husband is also retired so if the weathers good we can go out for the day or just laze around in the garden. I grow veg and flowers, have a tidy house and a neat and small wardrobe of clothes. Gone are the works suits etc all jeans and fleeces now. I have restarted yoga, swim when I can face the early morning journey to the baths and work one day a week in the local Hospice shop which I love.I do tons of cooking, read about 3 books a week and can stay awake watching a film on TV. Still have the occasional twing of guilt that i should do more good works but hey I worked hard for 42 years. Downside is the aches and pains of aging. The other love of my life after husband and daughter is my 4 year old deerhound who has just been joined by a delightful rescue lurcher. If ever I have nothing to do, out with the dogs, rain or shine. My advice retire as soon as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 oh it sounds as if you are all having a great time! good on you dont think we'll ever be able to afford to retire, we are both self-employed and with business ups and downs and 2 teenage-ish kids we dont have much to put by. still, we can always downsize when the time comes... my in-laws are both retired, 81 and 72, and they have a whale of a time - they travel left right and centre, they are very active in all sorts of social stuff. they dont do good works though. I would actually like to do some 'good works' when/if I retire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Interesting thread for me. My recent knee operation has not gone entirely to plan so I'm debating whether I call it a day and retire, or just go part-time and carry on for another 18 months or so. So keep the positive retirement tales flowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickweed Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I retired 10 years ago following an accident and it's great. The accident highlighted a problem for which I am now treated, and retirement has meant I have been able to do things that I never had time to do when I was working. I have been researching my family tree, growing veg, keeping chickens, taken up knitting and crocheting again. I am able to spend loads of time with my little 3 year old grandson. Since my husband retired we have acquired a motor home and go all over the place. We have just returned from seeing the Normandy D Day beaches. I'm now thinking of taking up line dancing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 yep - me and hubby retired two years ago at the age of 53. I sold my Tea Rooms and hubby had to retire as a result of an operation which didnt go well. He is much better now and during that time we have moved to lincolnshire, got chickens and bees a dog and a large garden. We are also motorcyclists and enjoy riding out when we get good weather. I can thoroughly recommend it (retirement) that is and also motorcycling!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Sounds like all you retirees are enjoying it. We've got a few years to go, well 15 for me now the retirement age has changed to 66 but but hubby will retire sooner. All I would say is that enjoy your life, whatever that may be, as you never know what is around the corner. Five years ago today brother in law died suddenly three months into his retirement having been fit and active but "saving" travel etc for retirement so after a lifetime of work his wife is left with plans in ruins. It really made us reevaluate things so although we both run businesses we also make time for each other, travel, etc. That was really how I started with the chickens as it was always a dream and now if its possible we try to fulfil them. Hubby's was an MG sports car, great except dodgy knees meant he couldn't get in and out so now have something more practical but at least he fulfilled that ambition. Sorry this ended up being a bit long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I wish............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I think our generation will be still at work when we're carried out........... Save for the future, we're told, but the taxman seems to have other intentions!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Not retired due to age....got a while to go (56). Retired due to ill health, that nasty Rheumatoid arthritis got me unexpectedly and fibromyalgia too, in 2006.i struggled on till 2008 but i just had to stop work.( nursing ) I do what i can when i can but i won't let it have me without a fight....i don't rush anything anymore, it will still be there tomorrow and the next day . I used to breed my yorkies and show too but not anymore..had my girlies spayed and my boy snipped, We had our first walk last night the first since 26th March...due to ill health but we went out again this morning it was marvellous through the park.I have my chickies and get so much pleasure from them as well as really healthy eggs.I do some knitting now and then, I help with my grandchildren and take each day as it comes. I am active at church and sing in the choir. I can't ride my bike but can ride a static one. I do a bit of window shopping at the centre mostly for the exercise, amazing how far i can walk if i decide to look for new shoes haha or a handbag !I love my garden and i love camping.....the grandchildren help put the tent up for me, we have wonderful weekends away, can't wait for half term when we hope to get away.....soooo hope it gets warmer at night and doesn't rain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Sigh.........with retirement come age problems. I feel for you all. I have very mild Fibromyalgia so Angie, I can only imagine what it must be like for you. I had an early menopause and was on HRT for 15 years. When I stopped the joint pain and muscle aches and lethargy hit me like a sledge hammer. Some days it feels like I'm wading through treacle but hey ho.....just gotta get on with it. Great not having the responsibility of my old job. I enjoyed it when I was younger but in the end it just burned me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 I agree with the comments about aches and pains. Unfortunately these strike at any time so I try to make the best of everyday and every night I try to think of what I have done during the day however small the task may be. Avoid television is my advice. Leave it off until 7pm at least unless it is your favorite sporting event. Waste any spare time watching the chooks. The other main worry of course is money. There is little we can do about utilities,housing costs etc but with more time you can save on food, make everything you can and avoid waste and visit local charity shops for clothes etc. I can't believe the money I save by not shopping in a lunch hour. Anyway what ever you can do, enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
