Retirement (or Last of the Summer Wine)

Hi all I have included so much about me (too much probably) sharing on our history forum & with another of our members reaching this what is often called, 'golden' age milestone, I wonder what paterns or changes have taken place in our/your lives since our retirements. I know that some of you have lost partners, suffered illnesses, but what stands out from the posts are the resolve to pick up the pieces & carry on. My honest hope is that our site here provides for our members a means of sharing delights in a warm friendly environment, about grandchildren, new achievements, new experiences & so on, as well as the disappointments. That needs for our site to be warm, friendly & trustworthy. That is so important because there will always be issues where we do not agree or see eye to eye. It is obvious that I love sharing, but not everyone does. That does not mean that they might not enjoy reading about your experiences. Our lives seem to have these benchmark eras, most of which in my case someone else (parents) were as involved as much as me, but going into retirement, that was different. What about you?

Retirement yes Philip I don't know about you but it came as a big shock to me, after working at the Brickworks as mechanic, my job was to look after diggers, dumpers, forklifts, HGV trucks, vans, company cars, which was quite demanding at times being a heavy and a real mucky job, and then suddenly you are at home looking for things to do. The job was hard and would you believe I miss it, I feel like a fish out of water, I still have all my tools and if I see anyone working on their car I cannot resist getting involved. Maybe if I got rid of the tools and come to terms that I have retired. They wanted me to stay on at the Brickworks but it was impossible with her indoors needing me here because of her illness. I can give a few tips on retiring though, 1 don't sit around too much, 2 keep as active as you can, 3 watch the weight, I put on a stone quickly because I dont burn it off as I am not working. So for those who have retired or about to like MR best of luck and keep taking the medication!!

I wish I could retire! I've worked since I was 15 and now I have a letter each year adding a year to my retirement age - at present it's 66! If this goes on, I'll never get the chance to post my experiences on here.

My goodness Anne, you are showing how young we are compared to the oldies on here. I still have another 6 whole and I mean SIX WHOLE MONTHS TO GO before I retire. Mind you, me and the wife sorted a package out and retired from working for anybody else when I was 50. So I suppose I have had almost 15 years retirement already, lol. Truth is, Norman is right, if you do not have something to fill the day then it is pointless. I like to look back at the end of the day and think, "Well, at least I achieved something today". Last year I wanted to get back into sailing, had to buy and repair two dinghies and resell before I could buy the one I wanted and repair that one as well. Now look at the weather, lol cannot win. Taking it down to Pembroke next month, hope it does not rain.

I'm 58 Mattash! And was expecting to retire in 2 years time - just waiting to get some equity release from my property so that I can cut down my hours.

I must be the baby in all this. Still got 21 years to go. I must admit, When them 6 numbers come up, I will even beat anne into retirement. But as of yet, it looks like the good lady will beat me.

Just remember me when you do, ha ha!

Hi all I never intended to retire so early. I received eye surgery. (it was the muscles controlling my eyes as well as an optic nerve problem which forced my retirement from close work & also driving for a while). Nothing can be done for my optic nerve, but the eye muscle surgery was good. So, twelve years ago, I went back to college & completed a General Teaching Cert. To be honest, I don't think that I can ever retire as most people imagine retirement. From 2002, I have had two jobs. One with the NHS & one with the LEA. Only because of tax reasons, in 2011, I finished all paid employment. That is why you have to put up with me so much now. Within reason, I do have control of what I do & when I do it. Lot's of retired people seem to be more committed, without a minute to spare. Less time in fact than when they were in full time employment. Almost as though the world will collapse, unless they attend to their tasks. That is not for me. During the recent very wet period, I spent a whole morning mixing the contents from several partly used tins of emulsion paint. The resultant colour is awful, but it has at least cleared a shelf of tins. The paint might go on the inside of our old coal-house.

I too am 58, and took early retirement from the Jag a couple of years ago (and got some redundancy too, which was all rapidly spent doing up our 'new' home here on the east coast). For the first year we were both kept busy (especially Mandi who still works full time ) on the renovation programme (more like a rebuild in truth!), but then I decided that a bit more cash would come in handy so got a job at the local Beach Bar - The Admiral Benbow. And I have to say I love it! I have taken the BIIAB Personal Licence Award, and just do 3 or 4 shifts a week, and my boss kindly does her best to make sure I avoid working weekends (as Mandi often spends two or three nights away on business, and it's nice to spend to spend some time together at the weekend), so it's almost ideal. Phew, sorry about the long sentence. What with walking the OCD dog Bryn (he's absolutely obsessed with chasing his toy on the beach and would in truth stay there all day if I let him! ), my job, being secretary of the local Carnival Club, and finishing off the odds and ends on the house and garden, I really have no idea how I ever found time to do 40-odd hours a week at the Jag! Right, off to finish bricking up a doorway in the garage, and then it's time for the beach!

Thanks Norm - I've finished now, it may seem strange tomorrow, although possibly it will only feel like having a day's holiday I don't intend to sit around too much and I shall watch my weight - particularly tomorrow when I meet Philip in the Bulls Head! Seriously, my lifetime of sitting at a desk will be changed, and no doubt I shall bore you all rigid with more photos of Coventry

Well, I for one will look forward to those, that is what makes this forum so great, sorry I have said that a thousand times or more. Happy retirement MR. and enjoy your meeting with Philip. Tell him I said hello from Perth.

As far as retirement is concerned my advice would be - don't, if your health is good enough to continue working A part time job is my recommendation. Nothing worse than feeling that the world no longer needs you. Leisure in moderation but a reason to get out of bed is essential. I am 75yrs and work 24 hrs a week and look forward to it. I work at the local newspaper, New Milton Advertiser, in the press room. The boss of the paper is 91 yrs old and until December worked every working day all day until an illness stopped him. A more mentally alert 90 year old you couldn't find.

Retirement is what you want it to be, why keep working until you have one foot in the grave, and unable to enjoy doing the things you have dreamed of whilst working. I worked to live I did not live to work, and I still get up at the same time as I did when I worked, just enjoy it and stop thinking about what used to be.

Thanks - I certainly did (see Philip's photo on the "pubs thread")

Tend to agree with Bernie on this one, spent most of my working life paying lip service to idiots. Anyway it's not about them, it's about us. As for my wife and I, we get up when all the workers have gone to work, we go to bed when we are tired. It's called "pleasing yourself", only thing is you have to keep fit, we have a dog, better than all the tread mills. Blimey sounds as if I am on my soap box, sorry about that. A good hobby is a good thing, now I am retired I would find it hard to fit work in. Lol. Have a good life. Colin