Being retired; painful

There’s a huge resource on this forum...of people with time on their hands...and a willingness to work. You know, with a little organization and a few spreadsheets....all these knowledgeable, able bodied folks....could be working on my boat
 
I must admit that I retired 2 years ago, possibly early, from consulting exchanges and clearing houses on derivative contracts.
I now do about a day a week consulting part time for a company selling banks trading platforms, 1 to 2 days a week driving class 1 hgvs and 4 days a week refitting my contessa 32.
This retirement lark is well tiring.
 
At one time most people finished work when the state pension started. Some of them never made it to state pension age.
In the past there was no legal right to continue working past state pension age so full retirement was expected.

Now it seems more normal for people to have part time work in retirement. Yet those people describe themselves as retired.

I reduced my working to 4 days a week in January 2024 and I have been working 2 days a week since may 2024 but I don't consider myself to be retired. I must admit the part time role has naturally felt like a very good transition into retirement.

In the very near future I will be ending my work completely. It's a big change which will probably take a while to sink in.
I don't plan to be idle but nor do I intend to commit to regular work whether paid or voluntary.
 
Momac said:
In the very near future I will be ending my work completely. It's a big change which will probably take a while to sink in.
I don't plan to be idle but nor do I intend to commit to regular work whether paid or vovoluntary.
Click to expand...
I still consider myself 'retired' as the part time work I do is completely different to the work I did in my career. Plus , I do as much or as little as I want stopping completely in July and August and September. Any money is a benefit and fortunately not a necessity. I am a good few years from when either the Irish or UK governments decide to give me official pension funds and would not plan any existence on them.
 
Part time work acts as a control over your other activities. I could have done bits and bobs after retirement (62) but just stopped completely. Different if you need a bit more money, of course.
 
I think someone should start a new thread entitled:

“Being retired: blimmin’ brilliant”

I mean to say, yeah we’re all getting older and more poorly, but that’s life. As Larkin put it we’re all going down the long slide to the same destination.

But why not have a blast whilst doing so? While your faculties permit and you’re free of the need to waste 8 hours a day shuffling papers, or making widgets in order to pay the bills
 
benjenbav said:
I think someone should start a new thread entitled:

“Being retired: blimmin’ brilliant”

I mean to say, yeah we’re all getting older and more poorly, but that’s life. As Larkin put it we’re all going down the long slide to the same destination.

But why not have a blast whilst doing so? While your faculties permit and you’re free of the need to waste 8 hours a day shuffling papers, or making widgets in order to pay the bills
Click to expand...
There's a lot to be said for that view. Although I relished the extra time to go sailing into the blue mid-distance, I missed the thought that I was doing something useful instead of being my wife's skivvy and occasional chauffeur.
 
Momac said:
At one time most people finished work when the state pension started. Some of them never made it to state pension age.
In the past there was no legal right to continue working past state pension age so full retirement was expected.

Now it seems more normal for people to have part time work in retirement. Yet those people describe themselves as retired.

I reduced my working to 4 days a week in January 2024 and I have been working 2 days a week since may 2024 but I don't consider myself to be retired. I must admit the part time role has naturally felt like a very good transition into retirement.

In the very near future I will be ending my work completely. It's a big change which will probably take a while to sink in.
I don't plan to be idle but nor do I intend to commit to regular work whether paid or voluntary.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine won’t make it to collecting his pension.

Stage 4 C and all the faff that goes with that. Absolutely devastating.

Seize the day-every single day- with both hands and enjoy it.

Because- We just never know do we?
 
It used to be said that smokers only had a 60% chance of collecting their pension. I'm not sure how accurate this is but the odds are not good.
 
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