Reply to: "Retire" early...?

[Crossroads]

But an interesting thread this is. OP must be 48 now and I do wonder what he did and where he is now. He hasn't been on CUK since May last year.

I wanted to retire at 40 but some bad money decisions meant I had to stretch to 45. Still didn't retire - just took a not-so-stressed permie job, for now anyway. I'm already very bored of this job. I'd almost much rather do nothing than continue working in a completely unfulfilling (albeit well paid) permie job.

That's because the OP totally forgot about this post! 8 years on...

Back in 2016 I resolved to leave my miserable gig when the project and my contract ended at the end of that year. Not necessarily to retire but to have a bloody good break. I left in November, the buggers asked if I'd come back in Jan and being weak, I said yes. Didn't escape the place until 2019 in the end, the longest I've been anywhere.

I'm still working, have also had a permie job in between contracting and the "do nothing rather than continue working in a completely unfulfilling manner" comment of yours rings true. It's time you'll never get back.

Just started a new gig, it should take me through until very nearly 50. If it does it will be my last full time job (I've said that before!) and the first few weeks have been enjoyable. If the enjoyment goes south I'll be out of here ASAP.

[d000hg]

When you find a *career you love you'll never work a day in your life.

* Or a fully remote high paid contract

This is somewhat a fallacy, I think. Because for many people, turning their hobby into a career is a way to ruin it. No matter what it is, when it's your job you have to do it even on the days you don't feel like it.
Quite a lot of sports-people don't enjoy their sport, or at least not always. We've seen a lot of big YouTubers, who generally got a career by accident out of something they literally did as a fun hobby, quitting because the relentless nature of it as a job takes the joy out of it.

A job you take satisfaction in is great. But if there's something you really love, I'm not sure doing it as your livelihood IS the best idea if you are relying on it to feed your family.

[malvolio]

Oh no you're not!

Well, probably not now, since the post was in February.

Anyway, I've no plans to retire.

I was. I'm now rehearsing a small but important role Sister Act. All go, innit!

[Unix]

When you find a *career you love you'll never work a day in your life.

* Or a fully remote high paid contract

[d000hg]

SWMBO and I started volunteering as room guides at a local National Trust property. We discovered it is a really fulfilling role; the history of the property embraces two families over 850 years and a host of interesting artifacts. Seven years on and we not only know the families in some detail as well as a wealth of social history stuff (all helps to bring the place to life for the visitors), we find it a genuinely interesting and pleasurable experience. Talking to guides at other houses, it is a common theme; you get really involved with the history of your property.

My late father did this at St. Michael's Mount for a while with a mate. From what I recall they had a great time.

[NotAllThere]

...(currently appearing in one panto...

Oh no you're not!

Well, probably not now, since the post was in February.

Anyway, I've no plans to retire.

[malvolio]

Our options are somewhat limited by SWMBO's rheumatoid arthritis ruling out a lot of activity based options. Even visiting places in the motorhome has its limitations (although we still do it, usually on a day on day off basis so she can recover!).

But among other hobbies and pursuits SWMBO and I started volunteering as room guides at a local National Trust property. We discovered it is a really fulfilling role; the history of the property embraces two families over 850 years and a host of interesting artifacts. Seven years on and we not only know the families in some detail as well as a wealth of social history stuff (all helps to bring the place to life for the visitors), we find it a genuinely interesting and pleasurable experience. Talking to guides at other houses, it is a common theme; you get really involved with the history of your property.

It's not for everyone, but it is something to consider.

[cojak]

How's the painting? Do you still dabble?

Yes I do, not quite a much as I used to but I still do. I’ve stopped posting my paintings for some reason (just not taken photos of them) so I’ll put them up again.

[WTFH]

When I retire, I'll have more time to moderate this place.

[vetran]

Why not join some groups for things that interest you, or get involved in some volunteering? If you like pubs, start spending a few hours a week in the pub of your choice with the kinds of people you're comfortable around - you'll soon get chatting to the regulars.

When/if I retire, hopefully within the next 6-10 years, I have no plans to sit on my @rse watching daytime TV and moping all day - I'll do stuff I wasn't able to fit in when I was working 50-60 hours a week. Day trips out, travelling, volunteering with local or national charities, hobbies, going to music festivals, fixing all those things around the house I never had time for before. Plus a reasonable amount of sitting on my @rse at home reading or listening to music etc.

spoons it is!

[Zigenare]

This holds true for me.



I took up walking when I retired, got into it and took a qualification as a walking guide and now am training to walk across Scotland next year and possibly Spain the year after.

The worst bit of advice I have ever read said that if you don’t do something before you retire, you won’t do it after which is absolute b0llacks in my opinion. Retirement is the perfect time to try out new interests (if you have your health). Walking isn’t expensive when you start out, you just have to avoid becoming a gear-head.

How's the painting? Do you still dabble?

[cojak]

This holds true for me.

It sounds like you need a new direction in life.

If you can survive on a reduced income give retraining a go. Look at what you used to enjoy and that will bring in money, even if it's not as much as you've had in the past.

Something outdoors maybe, or craft/arts based.

There's more to life and work than IT.

I took up walking when I retired, got into it and took a qualification as a walking guide and now am training to walk across Scotland next year and possibly Spain the year after.

The worst bit of advice I have ever read said that if you don’t do something before you retire, you won’t do it after which is absolute b0llacks in my opinion. Retirement is the perfect time to try out new interests (if you have your health). Walking isn’t expensive when you start out, you just have to avoid becoming a gear-head.

[Snooky]

Right. My turn.

I'm 60 and contemplating retirement. I've been permie for five years. Over the course of a 20+ year contracting life I was almost always away from home. My contractor mates became my mates; my hobbies were beer, eating out, going to random midweek football matches. Weekends at home were for family. And chores. I really did not invest in hobbies, or a close-to-home friendship group.

As a result of this, plus moving around a lot in my twenties, my retirement is likely to be spent in a city where to all intents and purposes I'm a comparative stranger. I'm not, despite what my wife says on a nightly basis, a total idiot, but I've certainly been daft enough to see how bleak retirement might look yet do nothing about it.

Currently I'm reading a book purporting to be a practical guide to planning and enjoying the retirement you've earned and according to the decision matrix I've just done I should "carry on working because I've eff all to live for". Naturally, as self help books go, this message has come as a bit of a blow.

I've a few chapters still to read. Presumably at some point I'll find one entitled "What's the point of living?" Or "The practical guide to ending it all without soiling the carpets". Ahh, you gorra laff.

Why not join some groups for things that interest you, or get involved in some volunteering? If you like pubs, start spending a few hours a week in the pub of your choice with the kinds of people you're comfortable around - you'll soon get chatting to the regulars.

When/if I retire, hopefully within the next 6-10 years, I have no plans to sit on my @rse watching daytime TV and moping all day - I'll do stuff I wasn't able to fit in when I was working 50-60 hours a week. Day trips out, travelling, volunteering with local or national charities, hobbies, going to music festivals, fixing all those things around the house I never had time for before. Plus a reasonable amount of sitting on my @rse at home reading or listening to music etc.

[DoctorStrangelove]

By the time you've reached the stage of watching tv in the afternoons it probably is time to go.

After all there's only so many Randolph Scott films, NZ, Canadian & Oz customs shows to keep one going.

I can't decide whether the existential angst is a cause or an effect.

[I just need to test it]

Right. My turn.

I'm 60 and contemplating retirement. I've been permie for five years. Over the course of a 20+ year contracting life I was almost always away from home. My contractor mates became my mates; my hobbies were beer, eating out, going to random midweek football matches. Weekends at home were for family. And chores. I really did not invest in hobbies, or a close-to-home friendship group.

As a result of this, plus moving around a lot in my twenties, my retirement is likely to be spent in a city where to all intents and purposes I'm a comparative stranger. I'm not, despite what my wife says on a nightly basis, a total idiot, but I've certainly been daft enough to see how bleak retirement might look yet do nothing about it.

Currently I'm reading a book purporting to be a practical guide to planning and enjoying the retirement you've earned and according to the decision matrix I've just done I should "carry on working because I've eff all to live for". Naturally, as self help books go, this message has come as a bit of a blow.

I've a few chapters still to read. Presumably at some point I'll find one entitled "What's the point of living?" Or "The practical guide to ending it all without soiling the carpets". Ahh, you gorra laff.