The Retirement Thread

[screenman]

I think the important thing is doing what you want when you want.

 

[numbnuts]

I retired at 38 due to an accident I was homeless, jobless, point of divorce and broke mentally and financially............looking back it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Thankfully to our wonderful NHS and welfare state both put me back on to the road of recovery.

 

[GM]

I worked up until I was 68, 16 months ago. Somedays I used to love my job, other days not so. So I made a deal, when the hate it days out numbered the love it days that would be quit time.
I've got a long bucket list of things I would like to do, so when I've done them all I might think about getting a part time job...any jobs going for a 90 year old


In other news, I've just got back from a great ride with the nice Sunday London Ride people.

 

[screenman]

I retired at 38 due to an accident I was homeless, jobless, point of divorce and broke mentally and financially............looking back it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
Thankfully to our wonderful NHS and welfare state both put me back on to the road of recovery.

Did you enjoy earning money before all that?

 

[aferris2]

I had enough and couldn't wait to retire from the mad house and back stabbing office politics that went on. I have never regretted it.

Same for me. Although I love the creative part of my job (software development) it's the politics that I can't stand. I worked out about a year ago that early retirement was a realistic proposition (I'm 59 now). I made up my mind to actually do it about 3 months ago and finally bit the bullet and gave my notice on my first day back this year.
It's only been a week but already I feel that a huge weight has been lifted. I've still got 12 weeks to go before I actually finish, but every day I realise it is the right decision. Can't wait for the final w*rk day!

 

[Drago]

In the man shed playing with my radios. I'm now on the outside of a few of these...

 

[numbnuts]

Did you enjoy earning money before all that?

I loved my job as a Blacksmith, it wasn't well paid just over £10,000 per year 1989 and kept our heads above water, but after my accident I lost everything they were my darkest years of my life and sometimes I don't think I have fully recovered from
the trauma of the accident, loosing my wife, daughter and house all the things that I had dreamed about all gone in a few seconds.

 

[Dirk]

I don't think there has to be any 'point' to life - just enjoy it and do what you want while you can.
It's a lot easier to do that when you're not beholden to the 'system'.
I retired as soon as I could possibly afford to, at 60. Best decision I ever made. You can't buy time.

 

[welsh dragon]

I have known to many people that have worked all their lives, retired, then died within 6 months, and never living long enough to enjoy it so the sooner i could retire the better.

 

[screenman]

I have known to many people that have worked all their lives, retired, then died within 6 months, and never living long enough to enjoy it so the sooner i could retire the better.

I have seen that, I have also seen way to many people go through life hating work and the job they do, so sad. Personally I doubt I will ever get the urge to fully retire like you lot, I enjoy the buzz of topping up the bank accounts every few days.

 

[Drago]

Work. Ultimately I was only in it for the money. My only regret is that I didn't do a few years on the boats in the Indian Ocean doing security else I'd have retired a lot earlier than 47.5.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

No, I guess there doesn't have to be.

Most of my adult life I've felt that I had a definite sense of purpose as well as recognising that my career was also something that partially defined me. I'm just pondering how I will view myself in a permanently (instead of 'semi') retired state and what exactly will motivate me to get on and achieve things in the latter years of my life.

I didn't have the same angst the first time I tried retirement as, to be perfectly frank, I was shattered and tired after around 30 tough career years. I was just happy to get my feet up and recuperate.

Unlike a lot of people I thoroughly enjoyed the core part of my working life and, even now, I occasionally miss some of the challenges I faced back then - their complexity and the feeling of satisfaction I got from overcoming hurdles or achieving goals really motivated me.

I was really just asking if any of the CC retiree's had had similar thoughts and, if so, how retirement eventually panned out for them.

Manual worker, just doing a job to earn cash, labouring, warehouse, stores and driving, forklift, van and small lorries, never had a career, but always worked a little too hard. By 2015 I'd had enough, a payout on a pension gave me the chance to retire so took it, living on a state pension, benefit and a small private pension, I'm permanently skint but most of the time I'm happy.

 

[screenman]

Work. Ultimately I was only in it for the money. My only regret is that I didn't do a few years on the boats in the Indian Ocean doing security else I'd have retired a lot earlier than 47.5.

Mate of mine is still on the boats, the money is not what it was. He also has never made enough to retire on it comfortably.

 

[Dave7]

Work. Ultimately I was only in it for the money. My only regret is that I didn't do a few years on the boats in the Indian Ocean doing security else I'd have retired a lot earlier than 47.5.

I can honestly say I enjoyed the last 15 years (apart from the very last 2) of working and got a real buzz from it. I had a good job with decent money. Travelled all over Europe on my terms as in 'they' wanted me to fly everywhere but I insisted on driving** and often took Mrs D with me.
**Obvs didnt drive to Israel etc but did for what I call mainland Europe.
Went pear shaped towards the end but I walked away with a lump sum aged 63.

 

[numbnuts]

I have known to many people that have worked all their lives, retired, then died within 6 months, and never living long enough to enjoy it so the sooner i could retire the better.

My father didn't even see a retirement he died of motor neurone disease, well that is what was written on the death certificate, but my sister and I both disagree on that and may have been a cover up at the hospital.