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Retirement

Am due to retire 2018, and it scares me!! Having worked over 40 years, any suggestions how to cope?


Created By on 28/11/2016

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Lesley cohousing pioneer
27th Jan 2017 09:38:29
0
Thanks for voting!
Hi Superman!
My solution was to join a project that uses your skills and offers a new future too. I've recently retired and have joined a cohousing group. We're working hard to make our plans to build a new eco-housing community a reality. We'll each have our own home but with some shared facilities too. Cohousing is a great way to live in retirement. I'm so glad I found out about it - I'd never heard of it until I heard about it on the radio. Our cohousing project is in Colchester, Essex, but there are lots of others setting up around the country. Lots more info on the UK Cohousing Network website for anyone who's interested.
Response from Georgie Girl made on 29th Jan 2017 13:15:28
Hi there, in theory these co=housing projects sound ideal but from researching a little more it would appear that you do have to be rather wealthy to get involved, am I correct?
Response from Lesley cohousing pioneer made on 29th Jan 2017 14:35:53
Well, I don't know about wealthy, but you probably do need to be a property owner as you usually have to buy a home in a cohousing community. But there are cohousing groups being set up all over the country so, like all housing, prices differ according to locality, and most have a range of different properties at different prices, so its worth searching around. Of course in cohousing, you're not just buying a home - you're also buying a share of the common grounds and common house, so prices will reflect that. I think a few groups do have some homes to rent too.
terryBW
22nd Nov 2019 15:06:00 (Last activity: 22nd Nov 2019 15:43:16)
1
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Nobody told me that when I retired I would lose all my Bank Holidays.
Response from shrew1742 made on 22nd Nov 2019 15:43:16
Nice one Terry. That's just brought a smile to my face.
Broholmer
2nd Jun 2019 20:37:40
2
Thanks for voting!
I stopped work out of choice last November aged 55 bought a pup and wrote a bucket list. The pup is harder work than I remembered and has taken up most of my time, (but is also becoming my best mate) and eventually he’ll need less supervision and just be a companion. As for the bucket list it gets bigger every day and I look forward to working my way through it, my wife is not ready to retire in December when she is 55 but that’s fine the time has to be right for you, with my pension and savings I should have enough to live comfortably. I remember an old work colleague who used to say
“People who say they would be bored if they retired, are boring people anyway”
Personally I think it’s the best thing I ever did and look forward to a long and happy retirement
GrahamP9
18th May 2017 19:11:43
3
Thanks for voting!
I retired over 20 years ago. I had a high pressure job and no hobbys.
In retirement I have never been bored. I am fitter and healthier than I was.
My biggest problem was giving myself permission to do little or nothing. I had difficult in not having a full diary.
Slowly I relaxed.
Retirement is the best job I have ever had.
Felicity46
28th Jan 2017 19:34:58 (Last activity: 18th May 2017 19:04:07)
0
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Retired at Christmas and really struggling. My husband retired 20 years ago and is content to do nothing much. I have looked at options and I cannot find any inspiration and am sorely tempted to go back to work. I cannot find anything I want to do or anywhere I want to go. How very ungrateful I must seem but have worked so long 54years I think I am brainwashed to need to be doing and not just be. Anyone else have same problem and a solution.
Response from GrahamP9 made on 18th May 2017 19:04:07
A month is too early to be making any decisions. We are now in May perhaps you now feel differently.
January and February are not the best months for weather and starting your retirement.
COCO1946
17th Feb 2017 17:56:23
2
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Surprised there are so many worrying about retirement - knew pretty much when I was going to retire and got involved with a charity - raising money and leading a project in Africa - joined the local Rotary club - any Club will do [Rotary, Lions, Soroptomists, U3A, or support groups for RNLI, RSPCA ] just name your interest and get involved. Certainly some are a bit closed and can be aloof but there are so many out there you will soon find like minded people wherever. Local voluntary work is easy to find - drivers for hospital trips, Governors of schools, NHS Governors, Pensioners Groups, and of course there are thousands of charities which need help. And exercise - swim if you want, cycle or just wander the pathways and see new things, meet new people and have a coffee and chat. My body might be 70 but inside I am still 28 !!
Go for it...
Silverworld
1st Dec 2016 20:06:43 (Last activity: 5th Dec 2016 07:29:50)
1
Thanks for voting!
Hi
I had the same dilemma, scared of retiring after a life-time of work. I just knew I had enough of work and at 66 I believe my non-stop working since 17 I deserved to stop and have my freedom. Freedom to get up when I want, go shopping when I want and there's less traffic, do what I want when I want and not having to fit all my domestic jobs into the weekend in order to get through the next week! The drop in income is a major consideration but having spent a lifetime 'worrying' about 'what sort of retirement will I have'..... having done all the right things, I'm confident it's better than I thought. I have been asked to consider doing some part-time work back at the office, but the culture there has changed and there doesn't seem to be the same work ethic as I've always had.
I love the stress-free life of not having to meet deadlines etc or the daily traffic commute! I've joined lots of things and met a lot of people and that's just in 4 months. I pick and mix what I want to do, likewise the people!

I'm on my own so therefore a much more difficult than a couple who can do things together.
I'm the last of my friends to retire.... I was adamant that I wanted to collect my pension, rather than carry on working and then not have any quality time to enjoy freedom and none of us knows what's round the corner.!

Good luck!
Response from Superman Original Poster made on 5th Dec 2016 07:29:50
Thanks for your comments, must say most people don't regret retirement, starting to look forward to It, but like you am single and think it makes it a bit more difficult, still life after working! Atb
kennym66
28th Nov 2016 11:27:39 (Last activity: 30th Nov 2016 10:24:29)
1
Thanks for voting!
I would suggest keep working.

Find something enjoy doing and earn a little money from it. Don't work as many hours as you used to but find something to fill the gap.

Gradually do a bit less over time until you just do it for a bit of fun or an outlet.

When my father retired he found the biggest loss was the social side of work. He went from a n office with plenty of colleagues to talk to sitting at home on his own. He filled it in firstly by doing school crossing patrol and secondly by just meeting "new friends" in his local cafe. He now goes down every day to meet up, he just celebrated his 80th birthday last week.
Response from Georgie Girl made on 30th Nov 2016 10:24:29
Very much agree with your suggestion...keep working, even if it is such as your dad was doing with school patrol that is great, I dislike retirement but iffy health problems spoil me from keeping down a job.
ArchieUK
28th Nov 2016 06:23:40 (Last activity: 29th Nov 2016 19:05:09)
1
Thanks for voting!
I worked for 50 years and I would suggest getting a part time job and easing in from there.
Response from Superman Original Poster made on 29th Nov 2016 19:05:09
Thanks, coworker part time, but have had enough, recent comments are helping, the is light attend of tunnel
patcaf
29th Nov 2016 12:48:33 (Last activity: 29th Nov 2016 19:03:27)
1
Thanks for voting!
I will retire mid-2017. Worked for over 40 years. Apart from planning to move house , I just intend to wing it. Having had to plan my life all these years for work, children, pension etc ; I intend to stop planning and just see how we go. My wife has been retired for 4 years now and thoroughly enjoys her unplanned and unscheduled life-style. I hope never to work again so a part time job is not for me. Although the company I work for has offered to reduce my working week to encourage me to stay on and I thoroughly enjoy my work , I have had enough. I am off. I am lucky enough to have a very good pension but I know many are not so fortunate.

Just go for it and do not worry. It is not the end of anything but the start of a new life.
Response from jeanmark made on 29th Nov 2016 15:43:35
Totally agree patcaf, I have not regretted a day since retiring.
Response from Superman Original Poster made on 29th Nov 2016 19:03:27
Loving these remarks, feel less scared!
Rose of Tralee
29th Nov 2016 15:59:03 (Last activity: 29th Nov 2016 19:02:24)
0
Thanks for voting!
Do you have any hobbies? If not why not start one now. Do you have any practical skills you could share with others? Do you enjoy a good chat? - there are plently of lonely people out there in need
of someone's time. Maybe there is something you always wanted to do but never had the time - give
it a go when you retire. Volunteer at an animal shelter or with Age Concern, join in your local
community group or even start a new one. Can you sing? why not join a choir. There are are endless opportunities in this wonderful life so hope you can make the most of them when the time
comes.
Response from Superman Original Poster made on 29th Nov 2016 19:02:24
Thanks, very positive thoughts
Pam1960
29th Nov 2016 08:56:55
1
Thanks for voting!
I don't know how I ever found time to go to work as I never seem to have anytime these days. I have taken a bigger interest in health and cooking. I spend a couple of hours a day exercising. I try out a new recipe most days which pleases my husband, he says it's like dining in a restaurant every night. I never enjoyed cooking when I was at work but now I really enjoy it. Decorating, shopping, gardening, housework, holidays, seeing friends, looking after my father even watching a couple of programmes on catch up. You will be surprised how little time you have on your hands.
MorrisandDoris
28th Nov 2016 21:56:13
0
Thanks for voting!
Start now planning what to do with your spare time, you have over 12 months to go ,but don't worry about it for a start, just think about any hobbies you are going to take up or spend more time doing your present ones .
Fruitcake13
28th Nov 2016 20:30:02
0
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You could take up all those hobbies/interests etc that you never had the time to do before.
jeanmark
28th Nov 2016 14:23:56
0
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Taking a short-cut from the Armies 7 P's I would use 4 - Prior Preparation Prevents Panic. I retired from the NHS in 2012 after 47 years of service and have never regretted it. Yes, there are days when I may miss the company but there is now time for me.
Hawkman47
28th Nov 2016 10:10:14
0
Thanks for voting!
Tyjen
28th Nov 2016 08:09:57
0
Thanks for voting!
No need to be scared or cope, just go with the flow.

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