Reply With QuoteJust enjoy it. It’s a great feeling when everyday is a bank holiday.Originally Posted by Topcat30093
In 10 days time, I shall officially be allowed to draw on my State Pension and Bus Pass and thus retire, though I shall continue to work about 13 hrs a week.
I have worked for 50 years, often working very long hours (Emergency, Military Services,HGV plus other work) as well as sometimes two jobs.
So, as far as I am concerned, I have paid my dues to society and local community.
To me this day, has far more sentiment or meaning than say marking my 50 or 60th birthday.
Is that a strange way to look at it?
Just enjoy it. It’s a great feeling when everyday is a bank holiday.
Once you have been retired for a few weeks, you will realise that the most valuable difference is that your time has become your own!
It's a great thing to get there. Congrats. For me, it felt that, finally, the everyday fight was over and I could relax. Having said that I find that my days are as full as ever and wonder how I ever managed to fit everything in whilst working!
Congratulations Tony - that's a well earned retirement.
Hope it's long, healthy and enjoyable! Best wishes
congrats, but why anyone one would continue to work even part time, even if you enjoy the job is beyond me to HAVE to go to work after 50 years of having to do it why!, i was going to work part time when i retired but i am glad i did not , have enjoyed full time retirement of every minute of every day , every hour of every day , every week of every month and every year for last 4 years , you never know when your retirement will be up and to have continued to work ( even part time) till you drop is not my idea of retirement.
Not at all - birthdays just happen whether you want them to or not (I'm pretty indifferent to birthdays, my wife actively dislikes them) but 50 years of hard/valuable work is an achievement and you should be proud of it.
I was fortunate to retire at 52 in 2010, work in the conventional sense is now a distant memory. Retirement is the best career move anyone can make in my opinion. Having reached state pension age earlier this year I now feel like an 'official' pensioner, complete with bus pass and the right to moan about the absence of winter fuel allowance.
I see no point in working longer than you have to. Some folks struggle when they retire, they miss the feeling of being relevant, it's important to find ways to spend your time that you find fulfilling.
Congratulations for 10 days time Tony - thoroughly deserved, enjoy every minute. I think keeping a few hours in a week is a good way to go too!
Congrats and enjoy. In my Dad's words "every days a Sunday"
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Love it & the finger to the World.I do what I want if I decide I can be even bothered.
Enjoy.
Thanks to you for your many positive comments.
The work is driving a mini bus for either children with severe health/learning disabilities.
Or the elderly go to a day care centre.
I was led to believe that you must try and keep both your brain and body healthily, so didn't want to stop working completely.
But will see how it goes.
Very much to everyone in my family, I took up gardening and enjoyed the physical work of putting an overgrown garden to rights.
I find cutting the lawn very theraputic and relaxing. My Mum will be smiling like a Cheshire Cat LOL
Though, with the shorter days now upon us and tending to suffer from "SAD" I have to try and find other things to keep me occupied.
The day itself, will actually be spent in the lovely country of Croatia.
Our first trip away from the UK 2019, can't wait.
Congrats and the mini bus thing sounds like a brilliant step to help transition
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Well done mate. Driving the bus part time is valuable work for the community.
Personally I couldn't wait to retire at 50, work is overrated.
Cheers,
Neil.
Congratulations on a well deserved retirement. I’m also counting the years/days till I retire….
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Well done Tony. Enjoy your next phase of life.
I recently met a couple in their 60s, both doctors, both working full time in their practices as well as running a hobby farm. The wife is a neurologist. She made the comment to me that she’s encountered numerous cases where people have fallen into dementia soon after retiring having previously had no signs. She was firmly of the view that keeping an active mind in retirement is extremely valuable. This won’t mean continuing to do some work for everyone, but for some people it certainly can and does tick that box.
Indeed as I write this I’m getting ready to meet a client and friend at the airport later today. He’s an architect, still practicing at 91. Good for him, I say.
Heh, wild horses couldn't drive me to gardening when younger. Now though - yes, you appreciate the simple joy.
Congrats. It’s as a big a milestone as being able to drink, vote, drive etc.
Make good use of the bus pass!
"Bite my shiny metal ass."
- Bender Bending Rodríguez
Does the seniors' bus pass entitlement not come sooner than state pension age?
Congrats OP and keep up the good work driving the bus
It’s 60 here in Scotland.
I asked a colleague "How many?" when we discussed the length of time to retirement. He answer: "Only four!" I was surprised. He wasn't that old! Then he said: "Only four more Olympics...".
I “retired” at 50 having done 31 yrs as a police officer. I have continued with the force in a civilian role for the last 14 yrs. in honesty I think whilst ever they are happy to employ me I’m happy to carry on. I don’t really see finishing working as a goal, albeit I may be forced into it through health or infirmity at some point.
I’m happy for anyone who retires and fits into whatever retirement is but for me I enjoy doing what I do and have no aspirations to end my working days
Not in England. Senior Railcard & free prescriptions though 👍
Free travel in London for Londoner over-60s of course.
Nice one Tony - enjoy!
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
Congrats and enjoy Tony! 50 years of working means it's well earned but if you've enjoyed a lot of that then it's all good and respect for the ongoing voluntary driving.
Follow the attached link and you will have the pleasure of seeing when you can get State Pension, Bus Pass & Pension Credits.
https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age
Currently for my beautiful daughters their retirement age is 68!!
OMG that is amazing, good on him, he obviously enjoys the work.
You are so right, imo, about remaining active.
Mum, used to make us do the allotment in our garden, which I hated doing, and very often mistook the flowers for weeds, which went down well!
then I joined the Army, where we had to dig trenches. Which increased my dislike of soil.
But now put on a pair of gloves and away I go, though the Roses are rather vicious LOL
Will do once I give up driving.
LOL
Thanks to you both and everyone else for your best wishes.
I bet you wouldn't like to do front line duties now?
After 20 years, I saw the respect from all parts of society, especially the young.
Gave up after I turned 60, had been told to F off by an 8 yr old when I told him to stop spitting.
Then my work colleague and I got set upon by a group of appox 25 teenagers, while trying to apprehend a regular misper, who had stolen alcohol from a nearby shop at the tender age of 12.
But credit to her and her Mum, several months later we saw them and she apologised for her behaviour, and had turned round her life with support.
Her behaviour had escalated after the death of her Grandmother, who was pivotal in her life.
you are right , and my point point was work is not necessary, you can keep a very active mind without having the stress of going to work ( id argue my minds more active now i am not doing a 85% repetitive procedure !) , having to work to other peoples schedules other peoples rules and demands .id consider that's what retirement is for ? 91 is impressive but i bet more have had only one year or less of freedom before they have no more !
Last edited by mitch1956; 2nd October 2024 at 09:20.
Congratulations on the milestone Tony. It's the day that British Society acknowledges your contribution and elevates your status to someone who gets something back as opposed to continuing to pay. I guess it's also a point that you could say you're retired...
I think retirement is such a personal thing, but my own experience is that I simply don't want to have to get up every day at a certain time or be somewhere every day/week, and can live life on my terms, within the bounds of what other stuff life throws at you e.g. health, family health, weather, the economy... All of which have impacted.
I state that "I've stopped working full time" to describe my status. I choose to do some voluntary roles (which keep the mind active and interacting in a professional environment) and do have one paid for commitment (20hrs a month), which I'm thinking of giving up because it feels like an obligation - which conflicts with my intended status.
My mornings are spent with the wife, the cats, listening to music, going to tai chi (I think my wife and I are the youngest by quite a margin) and considering what we might do with the rest of the day. Yesterday after tai chi we had an impromptu brunch with another couple we've got to know. In the afternoon I did some 'work' (like the olden days - doing minutes, reviewing papers, emails) but the weather wasn't great and it was my choice to spend that time on it then. And in the evening I had a walk in the building wind and drizzle (very refreshing). Last week I had an impromptu boat trip to Isle of Wight for lunch with a couple of older properly retired friends - just because the weather looked nice.
We're now in the throws of a possible move to the Southern Hemisphere to be closer to in laws and some great friends, because we can. When my wife and I had work commitments this wasn't an option, but now that we are living on our terms it's a very real option.
Keeping working and doing the same things if you don't actually have to just doesn't sound like the best way to live a life which is ultimately fleeting.
I have neighbours/friends who ten years in to retirement (i.e. mid/late 70s) have more money than they could ever spend and are now finding that they just don't have the energy/physical well-being to be able to do all the things they would like to. If they had stopped working for money sooner and accepted having a bit less put aside then they could have spent more years enjoying not having to work.
All very individual, and I'm not discounting having a whole new career (whatever one of those is) - I worked full time for 35 years and will hopefully be around for another 30 years, so plenty of time for more adventures.
Keeping working and doing the same things if you don't actually have to just doesn't sound like the best way to live a life which is ultimately fleeting.
I have neighbours/friends who ten years in to retirement (i.e. mid/late 70s) have more money than they could ever spend and are now finding that they just don't have the energy/physical well-being to be able to do all the things they would like to. If they had stopped working for money sooner and accepted having a bit less put aside then they could have spent more years enjoying not having to work.
THIS ^^^^^^^
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