Retirement options

[pidgeonpost]

Selecting your choices out of all the possibilities offered here could take up the first couple of years of retirement. .
A bit of planning is a good thing, but plans need flexibility as you never know what life will chuck at you and you may want, or be forced, to change direction.
I'm 72 and was very fortunate to have been able to take early retirement in 2005. Two weeks later my elderly mum was diagnosed with dementia, so was my mother-in-law a couple of months later. Supporting them and being a 'house-husband' while my wife continued working took a lot of time and energy until my MIL died in 2012.
My father-in-law was a great planner. An ex-Royal Marine Commando and D-Day veteran, he spent the rest of his career as a police officer. He planned meticulously for his retirement in all respects. He retired from the police aged 55, and 2 years later was dead - killed by a faulty gas boiler in a Portuguese holiday property.
Finding some enjoyment in every day is great, whether it's an exquisitely sharpened chisel, a fabulous view, birdsong...the possibilities are endless, and as someone said earlier you don't know how long that piece of string is.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Is there a mill nearby, either wind or water? I've volunteered at a local windmill here in East Sussex since retiring and find it very rewarding. The (wood) work is often at a scale (large to enormous) that I don't encounter anywhere else. There's often a bunch of blokes so enjoy the comarardery. And you are helping save something for future generations too.

 

[JoeS]

For those that are interested and a few of you including @Regex replied. I seriously broke my leg this summer whilst climbing. The net result is an almost total loss of cartilage loss of my ankle and late stage arthritis. I struggle to walk to the shops some days now, and in the summer probably ran 50/60km a week!

I worked as a televison cameraman since university and mainly worked in the Middle East or in conflict zones. I like the idea of maybe doing an apprenticeship in a joinery shop or similar, but it feels like a very big step and i'd have to work out how to pay my mortgage (...or more realistically sell up etc.) It's just a very much all of a sudden life change. I'm still due a fairly big round of surgery, which will be another 3 months off my feet and then if that doesn't go well, another round to fuse the ankle and another 3 months off my feet again!!!

 

[G S Haydon]

For those that are interested and a few of you including @Regex replied. I seriously broke my leg this summer whilst climbing. The net result is an almost total loss of cartilage loss of my ankle and late stage arthritis. I struggle to walk to the shops some days now, and in the summer probably ran 50/60km a week!

I worked as a televison cameraman since university and mainly worked in the Middle East or in conflict zones. I like the idea of maybe doing an apprenticeship in a joinery shop or similar, but it feels like a very big step and i'd have to work out how to pay my mortgage (...or more realistically sell up etc.) It's just a very much all of a sudden life change. I'm still due a fairly big round of surgery, which will be another 3 months off my feet and then if that doesn't go well, another round to fuse the ankle and another 3 months off my feet again!!!

Brutal. I wish you all the best as you get through this. Hope you stay part of the forum.

 

[electricsub]

Hi,
Speaking as a 77yrs old who retired at 73yrs, I can only offer my method as possible ideas. Later working years I was a freelance Mechanical / Electrical Project Manager - specialising in pumping equipment. Prior to retiring I discussed this with anyone who would listen ( including my better half ) As I owned a bungalow, before retiring we carried out all major repair work on our home, new roof, solar, bathroom & kitchen replacement. wood stove,pebble dashed external house walls and fencing replaced, etc etc. Idea was & is that no major repair work needed after retirement. Decided what I was going to "DO", so fitted out my workshop with lathe etc, refurbish office ( which I already had ) bought third shed. Then what - well during the last year of working I switched to 3 day week over a 6 month period. Now for what I consider probably the most important piece of information I had gathered by talking to retired people - I put structure into my week, by that I mean Mon to Fri, walk dog for around 1 hr, tea and chat with my good lady for about 15 mins, then out of the house ( unless something needs repairing etc ) into office, emails etc, then workshop / garden / greenhouse,to do what ever I have on the "TO DO LIST" after twelve back into house for lunch and chat (again ) out again by 1 pm until between 4 and 5 pm, depends what I am doing. Sat & Sun are different and that I feel is important as it gives a feeling like when working to the week. What have I learnt / done in the past 4 years , learnt myself to wood turn ( pens etc for xmas presents ) general wood working ( repaired chairs etc ) built garden raised beds ( 6 qty ) and now grow veg, plus which may seem odd also grow veg in 10" plastic buckets, greenhouse repaired and growing toms / peppers & cucumbers etc. Replaced two of our wooden fences, and currently about to start repointing our brick walls. Plus on real wet & cold days I am making plastic aeroplane models ( for first time ) Canberra / Vulcan / Hercules etc. I haven't added caravan / travel & photography but there is only so much you can do in a week
So what would i recommend, think long and hard what you ( and I mean you ) would like to do and do it, but do have a structure to your day / week, I have to say all of the above I in the main never did before retiring, so just decide on what you what and go for it - Good Luck And Stay Safe.

 

[AES]

Agree entirely with electricsub - it doesn't mater so much what you do (provided it's what YOU want to do), but a structure to the week is VITAL IMO. Thanks for bringing that point out.

 

[TominDales]

For those that are interested and a few of you including @Regex replied. I seriously broke my leg this summer whilst climbing. The net result is an almost total loss of cartilage loss of my ankle and late stage arthritis. I struggle to walk to the shops some days now, and in the summer probably ran 50/60km a week!

Terrible. While its worth thinking through your options now - time for a re-assessment, hopefully the operations will eventually get you moving again and give you more options. Its sounds really grim right now, but hopefully you will be out the other side and find you have many more options. It does not help that Covid is taking so much medical resource, but as the summer picks up hopefully you will get some good treatment. Best wishes Tom

 

[TRITON]

Yacht/Mediterranean.
Bread and fish and hot sunny days.

 

[francovendee]

I had a job that I enjoyed but it meant long hours and stress. An opportunity to take redundancy when I was 57 arose and I took it. I walked straight into another stressful job that I did for another 3 years.
After discussing it many times my wife we decided to move here to France.
I took my pension aged 60 and it was the same day we moved.
This was a shock to to the system alright! New country, foreign language and a house that needed practically falling down.
At first I wondered what we'd done.
Seventeen years later I would do it all again. My days are now are filled with riding my bike, fixing things, woodwork and taking small breaks in other parts of France.
I think my father dying at 48 helped me take the plunge to retire early.

 

[Sandyn]

This was a shock to to the system alright! New country, foreign language and a house that needed practically falling down.
At first I wondered what we'd done.

It's what more people should do!! A completely new life in retirement!! well done, sounds like you made the right decision. France is a beautiful place. The weather will be lovely as well

 

[Regex]

For those that are interested and a few of you including @Regex replied. I seriously broke my leg this summer whilst climbing. The net result is an almost total loss of cartilage loss of my ankle and late stage arthritis. I struggle to walk to the shops some days now, and in the summer probably ran 50/60km a week!

I worked as a televison cameraman since university and mainly worked in the Middle East or in conflict zones. I like the idea of maybe doing an apprenticeship in a joinery shop or similar, but it feels like a very big step and i'd have to work out how to pay my mortgage (...or more realistically sell up etc.) It's just a very much all of a sudden life change. I'm still due a fairly big round of surgery, which will be another 3 months off my feet and then if that doesn't go well, another round to fuse the ankle and another 3 months off my feet again!!!

That sounds rough, I hope your surgery goes well.

Perhaps getting lower mortgage payments you'll have less financial stress in the short term, giving you more flexibility for doing something like an apprenticeship. Are you able to negotiate something with the bank?

Since that three month recovery time is definitely going to happen, it might be worth planning and preparing now to do something that doesn't require you to be up and about. As they say, nothing good comes from boredom and you'll feel better for it.

Best of luck.