Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Chortle Chook]

I'm not retired yet but in my 50s, I can't help wondering what my retirement will be like and whether or not I'll manage to fill up all those hours I used to long not to work but on bleak, cold, days like today, when I have not had that much work to do, I can't help wondering if I'll be rather lost without the daily markers that work provides I sort of imagined that I'd have time to make bread and cakes and sew and garden etc etc but with a bad back I'm already rather challenged over the garden and I don't really think OH will want to eat all my cakes Am I alone in my worries?

[freddie]

I've just hit 50, and was made redundent from the 32 hrs a week job in the summer(I was So glad, as I had had enough anyway, so went with a little handshake)

I have not missed it at all.

I do have my own business, which does keep me busy, but I love having less stress, less hassle, and more time. there are loads of free courses arranged by Adult learning, that I want to do and cant, because work gets in the way. Everything from clever stuff, to craft stuff, for fun.

You willwonder how you had time to work!

[The Dogmother]

I can't wait to retire... I have sooo much to get done!

[craftyhunnypie]

All I can say is bring it on! Put it this way I won't be bored! I can't believe in a remote little village how much stuff there is to do if you want it. Everything from craft club, W.I, printmaking, painting, Zumba, Photography, computing, theatre groups, cookery, upholstery, lunches,Welsh classes etc etc. I could be out every day & night if I wanted to & didn't work. I think it is great for anyone retired &/or on their own - plenty to do, instead of watching telly. Plenty to keep the body, mind & the fingers busy.

I think you will be surprised how you ever found time to fit work in!

Good luck for when it comes.

Emma.x

[abwsco]

Having just discovered a love of golf I say bring it on. Quite a few more years of working yet for us both though unfortunately. Just hope that we are both still here and also well enough to enjoy it.

[Olly]

I can't wait to retire... I have sooo much to get done!

 

Me too! I'm 52 and waiting for the mortgage to be paid off so I can reduce my hours. I already volunteer for two charities, edit a newsletter for a third one, then there's choir, the singing lessons, sewing, knitting and crochet, gardening, the bees - oh and of course the hens - and the various upholstery/furniture painting projects I want to get round to. And just having more time to read books would be lovely!

 

And then there are all the classes that I can't do because they are daytime or on evenings when I'm too busy. My sister's just retired at 60 and she's busier than ever - she's teaching at U3A, doing an art class, and attending a 'social stitching' group. Bring it on!

[Chortle Chook]

Oh you are all so reassuring - you have quite cheered me up I can see it is down to me to be dynamic and of course when I have retired I won't be tied to the house, running back and forth to my computer (I work from home) to see if work has come in

The truth is that I've been rather split this year watching two opposites. There is my old mother of 91 who has done nothing for the past 10 years but lie in bed and watch telly (I totally dread being like that). Then there is my aunt of 61 who loved sailing, arranged mega parties, helped people find houses and then decorate them etc. etc. but who a month ago was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and now has just days to live.

[Charlottechicken]

I can't wait to retire... I have sooo much to get done!

 

Hear, hear!

 

Must say I had my only taste of not working two and a half years ago when I had three months off following my hysterectomy. I was up at 7 every day, got dressed and didn't have time to watch daytime telly. I hatched and raised a chick in the kitchen (Maisie my avatar), did a lot of general tidying around the house, and baking. It was obviously different to actually being retired as I was recovering from surgery, but as a taster it was invaluable to me to realise I would have no problem filling my time with useful things. It also gave me time to sit in my garden. It was such a difference to not have to do certain things at certain times, and to do everything at a different pace, that was really relaxing!

 

I know you shouldn't wish your life away, but like others on here, I can't wait

[HennyPenny59]

Me and OH seriously cannot wait ... We often talk about that if we both became serious Super Scrimpers whether we could do it now, but with retirement still 7 years away we arn't brave enough to try.

[Cheeky Chooky]

Sorry to hear about your Aunt, Catherine *hug*

[sparkysmum]

I just can't wait. I thought I only had a few years to go and was devastated to find out that I can't retire until I'm 65yrs

[The Dogmother]

Glad it's not just me Olly and Claire

 

I'm 50 on New Year's day and so looking forward to it, not that I can afford to retire any time soon mind I have a mental list of things I want to get done when I retire.

 

Claire, when I was recovering from my hystericalectomy, Phil kept telling me to rest and put my feet up... I'm another one to whom rest doesn't come naturally.

[craftyhunnypie]

I get itchy fingers & toes, when told to do nothing. I have to be creating something or doing something.

I'm only late thirties, so a long way to go yet to my 60's. But hope to retire at an early age.

Emma.x

[newcountrygirl]

Its the best thing me and the OH ever did. We "retired"four years ago. My hubby had always planned to retire early as he had done his required 35 years to get a full pension from his employment but unfortunately he ended up taking ill health retirement anyway. Just before he went into hospital I sold my Tea Rooms so that I would be able to care for him after his op. He is now fully recovered (well as much as he can be), we moved to the country and love it. I dont know how we found time to work. I can highly recommend it. - so long as you have enough money to live comfortably of course.

[Cinnamon]

As we are self employed,we can retire when we want really (I think!?) & are already making plans now...we are 46.

We are lucky in that we have a small mortgage which is nearly paid off on a house worth a lot more that what we bought it for,thanks to my Husbands building skills.

So as soon as the daughters are settled & happy,we are planning on selling up to release some capital & moving somewhere smaller probably either in Cornwall or maybe even overseas. We like the idea of having somewhere with holiday lets to give us some income too.

 

Big plans,but as always its a wonder to know if they will ever come to fruition.

[Margaret]

I think it all depends how you are financially...

Karl finally retired 3 months ago and loves it, his golf handicap is now almost in single figures

and he has almost finished decorating the bathroom ( only taken 2 years )

He is so happy now, not sure I am quite ready to go yet, but am envious on a Sunday evening when he doesnt go into his Sunday evening decline and is happy to go out until all hours.

The commute for me is the worst bit over 3 hours a day on trains.

If you can afford to go and are seriously thinking about it, do it Catherine, life is far to short and there as so many chickeny things you could be doing, and if you do decide its not for you, you can always find a little stress free part time job to keep you busy.

Good luck on what you decide to do. x

[lillybettybabs]

I've sort of semi retired at age 36, I really don't know how i found time to work!

Live is to short and money isn't everything to be in the rat race any longer than you have too be.