What would you do?

[tractor]

...

You're right. Will sack her and look after him myself till such time as we find a great Mary Poppins type.

You mean a woman who shoves kids up chimneys? Bit Victorian that, I thought we had moved on...

[IR35 Avoider]

How can you be bored? You must seriously lack imagination if you can't find something interesting to do with your time that isn't work.

That's what I used to think, however I went through the same process when I semi-retired several years ago.

Abstract academic stuff I thought I would do turned out not be worth the effort when there was no obvious incentive at the end. I have got used over the years to concrete attainable benefits, i.e. money, in return for work. Work without that seems somehow pointless. One is hardly likely to likely to achieve something interesting in Physics in retirement. Even world-famous scientists mostly achieve in their twenties and slow down after that. (And I doubt that I ever had it in me to achieve at that anyway.)

Develop web-site that make money - more trouble than it's worth, and why do it, if you think you alread have enough money?

Develop web-sites to make the world a better place - discovered I was interested in doing the development, but not the other 90% of work that would be needed to maybe make it a success. Plus there are costs and even financial risks to running any enterprise. (Or, if nothing else, you need to spend money on a lawyer to confirm that you aren't taking any risks...)

So I've worked whenever former client asked me to, despite half-hoping that they would stop asking, as I'm not sure what the point of more money is. Particularly as my tax-avoidance instincts cause me to put it all in the pension, so I can't spend it immediately. (My investment income is now set to double when I hit 55, may have overdone the pension thing...)

There were a few things I did that were interesting for their own sake, such as working out the implications of a flat tax in the UK in great detail. (The rate would have to be north of 40%, that's why it's not going to happen.)

Studying investment strategies, creating Monte Carlo simulations etc has wasted many happy hours, but probably not made much significant difference to my future.

Have not bought a fancy car, as there is nothing out there that doesn't fall short in one way or another, so may as well keep the old one.

[ChimpMaster]

That's what I used to think, however I went through the same process when I semi-retired several years ago.
<snip>.

Friends? Family? Children?

[sasguru]

That's what I used to think, however I went through the same process when I semi-retired several years ago.

Abstract academic stuff I thought I would do turned out not be worth the effort when there was no obvious incentive at the end. I have got used over the years to concrete attainable benefits, i.e. money, in return for work. Work without that seems somehow pointless. One is hardly likely to likely to achieve something interesting in Physics in retirement. Even world-famous scientists mostly achieve in their twenties and slow down after that. (And I doubt that I ever had it in me to achieve at that anyway.)

Develop web-site that make money - more trouble than it's worth, and why do it, if you think you alread have enough money?

Develop web-sites to make the world a better place - discovered I was interested in doing the development, but not the other 90% of work that would be needed to maybe make it a success. Plus there are costs and even financial risks to running any enterprise. (Or, if nothing else, you need to spend money on a lawyer to confirm that you aren't taking any risks...)

So I've worked whenever former client asked me to, despite half-hoping that they would stop asking, as I'm not sure what the point of more money is. Particularly as my tax-avoidance instincts cause me to put it all in the pension, so I can't spend it immediately. (My investment income is now set to double when I hit 55, may have overdone the pension thing...)

There were a few things I did that were interesting for their own sake, such as working out the implications of a flat tax in the UK in great detail. (The rate would have to be north of 40%, that's why it's not going to happen.)

Studying investment strategies, creating Monte Carlo simulations etc has wasted many happy hours, but probably not made much significant difference to my future.

Have not bought a fancy car, as there is nothing out there that doesn't fall short in one way or another, so may as well keep the old one.

Aye got it in one.
I think the problem is that I can be comfortable without working, its a great motivation sapper.
Have basically finished my maffs masters so that's not there any more.
Wouldn't be so bad if all my mates weren't at work during the day.
Plus there seems to be loads of low-hanging fruit in my industry.

[DimPrawn]

The only thing that really piques my interest these days is the thought of lots of sweaty sex with attractive women nearly half my age.

Everyting else bores me to tears in comparison.

[sasguru]

Friends? Family? Children?

Friends and wife at work. Child mostly in nursery.
Not so easy as people make it out to be. But I guess any big life change takes a bit of adjustment.
Anyway for the next few months happy to spend time with my son and look for part-time, well remunerated work.

[sasguru]

The only thing that really piques my interest these days is the thought of lots of sweaty sex with attractive women nearly half my age.

.

Shame then, that it'll happen mostly in your head.

[hyperD]

This is what I'm finding out as well, although not in the retirement sense, but the things you've outlined that don't fill a gap, as I've stated on the divorce thread.

Even if I had millions in the bank and could retire, what would I do? Probably fly Twin Otters for a laugh shuffling tourists from Male to the Islands for a fistful of lobsters and cocktails.

But then I know this would not make me truly happy for long. It would be fun. And great fun it would be.

The only thing I've found that's kept me motivated, interested and ultimately happy is not flying the plane, but the hard work and effort in obtaining the licence. It's not the motorbike, but the challenge in getting the licence and staying alive amongst the chaos of the roads.

Sitting at home every evening relaxing, working from home all day in comfort does not make me truly happy. It actually makes me bored and then guilty for I feel I'm wasting the precious little time I have remaining.

Companionship makes me happy, I've discovered. But then even if I paid for all my friends to stop working, I would ruin their lives as well as mine.

I think I'm beginning to realise that it's life's journey that rewards, and not the final destination.

[sasguru]

This is what I'm finding out as well, although not in the retirement sense, but the things you've outlined that don't fill a gap, as I've stated on the divorce thread.

Even if I had millions in the bank and could retire, what would I do? Probably fly Twin Otters for a laugh shuffling tourists from Male to the Islands for a fistful of lobsters and cocktails.

But then I know this would not make me truly happy for long. It would be fun. And great fun it would be.

The only thing I've found that's kept me motivated, interested and ultimately happy is not flying the plane, but the hard work and effort in obtaining the licence. It's not the motorbike, but the challenge in getting the licence and staying alive amongst the chaos of the roads.

Sitting at home every evening relaxing, working from home all day in comfort does not make me truly happy. It actually makes me bored and then guilty for I feel I'm wasting the precious little time I have remaining.

Companionship makes me happy, I've discovered. But then even if I paid for all my friends to stop working, I would ruin their lives as well as mine.

I think I'm beginning to realise that it's life's journey that rewards, and not the final destination.

Bloody hell, a sensible post on CUK. Post of the year for me.

[EternalOptimist]

This is what I'm finding out as well, although not in the retirement sense, but the things you've outlined that don't fill a gap, as I've stated on the divorce thread.

Even if I had millions in the bank and could retire, what would I do? Probably fly Twin Otters for a laugh shuffling tourists from Male to the Islands for a fistful of lobsters and cocktails.

But then I know this would not make me truly happy for long. It would be fun. And great fun it would be.

The only thing I've found that's kept me motivated, interested and ultimately happy is not flying the plane, but the hard work and effort in obtaining the licence. It's not the motorbike, but the challenge in getting the licence and staying alive amongst the chaos of the roads.

Sitting at home every evening relaxing, working from home all day in comfort does not make me truly happy. It actually makes me bored and then guilty for I feel I'm wasting the precious little time I have remaining.

Companionship makes me happy, I've discovered. But then even if I paid for all my friends to stop working, I would ruin their lives as well as mine.

I think I'm beginning to realise that it's life's journey that rewards, and not the final destination.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. - j.Lennon