Reply to: I AM DONE.

[fatJock]

I think this is a growing trend. I've got four friends who've all retired recently in their early to mid-50s after contracting at various points, mainly in banking and finance IT.

I can only see this becoming more common.

Yep same here with friends retiring though sadly with SIPP drawdown now being pushed to 57 I've got six more years to go. Confident that'll be it at the latest and maybe earlier putting the war chest to better use.

Ideally I'd like to work six months of the year but rare that I find contracts that short.

[edison]

Early 50s here and although I had planned to work until 60 or so I'm increasingly getting disillusioned (and I'm in a contract ) - basically firing as much as I can into a pension and investigating downsizing earlier than was my original plan.

I think this is a growing trend. I've got four friends who've all retired recently in their early to mid-50s after contracting at various points, mainly in banking and finance IT.

I can only see this becoming more common.

[WTFH]

I've got the dogs, injury preventing golf and bike hung up in the garage.

I think if it wasn't such terrible weather, I'd give the golf and cycling a try. Dogs go out, regardless of the weather.

Thanks for the support everyone.

1. Get back to doing things that you enjoy, but didn't have time to do previously. e.g. gardening, tinkering with cars, reorganising your sheds, brewing/making/repairing
2. Join local societies/clubs - maybe initially sign up to their facebook group first of all, and then decide when you want to go. Might be walking groups, gardening, wildlife, etc
3. Learn useful skills
4. Volunteer
5. Teach/assist young people (e.g. DoE)
6. Get a personalised OS map centred on your house, and then work out new walking routes to pubs you might not have been on before.
7. Travel - locally. i.e. go for a 2-3 day trip to somewhere within a couple of hours drive. Lots to do without getting on a plane, just need to do a bit of research. Might also be day trips you can do from home to places you've not been to before (or have avoided because 70 years ago your dad went and it rained, so you've been told it's terrible)

[oliverson]

Take up golf, cycling or get a dog. Will take up 1/2 the day and keep you active. Do some charity work. Few suggestions. Might just find it's cos it feels weird though and will soon get used to it.

I've got the dogs, injury preventing golf and bike hung up in the garage.

I think if it wasn't such terrible weather, I'd give the golf and cycling a try. Dogs go out, regardless of the weather.

Thanks for the support everyone.

[TheDude]

Maybe, but I tell you what, I didn't foresee having to slalom around my local supermarket mid-day, trying to avoid all the pensioners. Nobody prepares you for that when they talk about retirement!

You are lucky. Where I live pensioners drive an immaculate Rover 400 to the shops at 15mph, take up two parking spots, buy a packet of biscuits and then hold everyone up at the automated checkout. On a Saturday morning.

[hobnob]

Bored as ****. Be careful what you wish for folks!!

My advice is to have some "anchor points" for your week, otherwise all the days will blur together. E.g. you might say that you always go for a Sunday roast at the local pub, or you do a yoga class every Wednesday.

[avonleigh]

Bored as ****. Be careful what you wish for folks!!

Take up golf, cycling or get a dog. Will take up 1/2 the day and keep you active. Do some charity work. Few suggestions. Might just find it's cos it feels weird though and will soon get used to it.

[oliverson]

I'm surprised you're bored fella.

I had a year off - partly a bit burned out but needed a break too (life drama etc). Folks kept asking me if I was bored and I said no - I travelled lots, hiked, read all those books I'd wanted to. Of course, my kids are late twenties and I'm single so perhaps a bit more easy to just pack up and bugger off etc.

But ..... it gave me a taste for it. I can't wait

That said though, it did take at least 4-6 weeks to slow down and adjust so maybe that's what's going on?

Cheers.

Maybe this time of year as well. Current weather isn't conducive to doing any outdoor activity. More a case of 'staying alive'!

[fatJock]

I'm surprised you're bored fella.

I had a year off - partly a bit burned out but needed a break too (life drama etc). Folks kept asking me if I was bored and I said no - I travelled lots, hiked, read all those books I'd wanted to. Of course, my kids are late twenties and I'm single so perhaps a bit more easy to just pack up and bugger off etc.

But ..... it gave me a taste for it. I can't wait

That said though, it did take at least 4-6 weeks to slow down and adjust so maybe that's what's going on?

[gables]

Early days I guess but I'm sat at the same desk, typing on the same keyboard, staring into the same monitors but not getting paid for it. I guess old habits die hard.

However, it's been a beautiful day today, cold but with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Extended walk for the dogs this morning, through the woods, over farmland and across the streams, with no rush to be back at my desk, just in case somebody is pinging me. The simple things eh?

Ha ha, sorry shouldn't laugh... but when I get asked if I want to retire I answer no. The reason being as my main hobby is mountain biking and I know I can't do that day in day, out as I've tried that in the past, I reckon I'd end up dicking about with computers so might as well get paid for it it also does help that I really enjoy what I'm doing.

[oliverson]

Yeah, that's what worries me. Need some time to put together a plan before retiring, but sometimes it happens before you expect.

I do have several ideas of my own but I'm just in some kind of paralysis, like a bear that's been confined to a cage in a traveling circus. You open the door but I'm still pacing two steps forward and two steps back. WTF is wrong with me?!?!

[courtg9000]

Yeah, that's what worries me. Need some time to put together a plan before retiring, but sometimes it happens before you expect.

Yep. Have some sort of plan. If Baldrick could have a cunning plan then any member of this forum shouldn't find it too difficult to put one together!
For those that don't know, I was forcibily retired on medical grounds in my mid forties, a few years back, not a pleasant place to be. I didn't have a plan and its been messy here and there.

So think Baldrick and the advice for anyone needing to retire, plan B or whatever is make sure you have a cunning plan!

[jamesbrown]

Bored as ****. Be careful what you wish for folks!!

Yeah, that's what worries me. Need some time to put together a plan before retiring, but sometimes it happens before you expect.

[oliverson]

Bored as ****. Be careful what you wish for folks!!

[SussexSeagull]

Living well is the best revenge.

That said, as you aren’t looking for a new contract, one will no doubt appear.