What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how.. ?

Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

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As I told my daughter, I've spent the last twenty five years trying to conform. It doesn't work and I can't wait to be free to be me again!



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So right - I've spent the last 30 years trying to be good corporate person/wife/mum, al of which were "me" at the time. Am now in the process of discovering another "me".
Recently involved going off solo to sailing school in Greece, bit scary at first, but the start of a whole new future.

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You'll absolutely LOVE it - scary is part of it! I've had probably the best, most selfish, most fabulous time of my life in these last two years, all the better for having been completely unexpected. And it STILL goes on!!

S x
 
You are right it is interesting.

One thing I would add is it's the toughest thing we've ever done - from ocean gales to walking miles to find shops in 90+ temperatures. And it is true that cruising is boat maintenance in exotic places.

However, I'm most certainly not trying to put people off - it's tough but very rewarding, we're having a great time. The other truism is that the first year is worst, there is so much to learn, but hang in there it gets better every year.

The one mistake we made was that we really wanted to go ocean sailing and we sailed over 5,000 miles in our first nine months. Pointless if you are long term cruising and we were seriously tired.
 
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Have set 55 as the latest to go. Financially should be possible. All I need now is a bigger boat and a woman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ] You can pay the bills for both of mine, if it will make you feel better !!

to be serious, I have two big issues with this thread. Firstly, its a bit depressing reading everybody elses plan. I keep saying I will work for another 10 years, but Ive been saying the very same thing for about 5 years on the trot! Never been very frugal or thrifty, always worked on the 'enjoy it while you can' theory, so still have a significant mortgage to be paid off.

Bigger issue is that we have actually come to the conclusion we dont want to live aboard. Its a bit like taking a job in sailing, like a YM INtructor for example - sailing ceases to be a hobby. Living aboard seems to involve carting so much clutter around the world, it becomes difficult to just pop out for a weekend which I find so enjoyable nowadays.

Finally, friends who had spent 5 years aboard in the WI had to be medi-vacced back to the UK - followed by boat on a ship 9 months later. Fortunately they retained a property the could move back to, .... selling up and sailing off would be just that bit too risky, for me.
 
I was made redundant at 52 and got an 82% net of salary pension plus a lump sum for a boat. Bought a suitable 25 ' boat three years before because I saw it coming.

Go out on the boat between 3 and 7 months a year, kept house [ all houses cheap and done up with DIY and no mortgage] and 14 year old car, family and friends. Eat out cheaply about once a week. Live well on fresh stuff and happy.

Now 13 summers later my pension is bigger than my old salary plus I get another £ 151 a week from the nation including £54 for a dependent wife [ Claim before 2010. The dependent wife scheme finishes then for new entrants and for me in 2020]

I sailed the boat to Greece via the canals and I am now on my slow way back before the dream of sailing in Greece got destroyed. People who are there will know what I mean .

I met my wife in 1999 and we married in 2002. Before she came out to the 25 footer I swapped it for a 30 footer with hot water and a shower. [ Buy the smallest boat your wife will tolerate otherwise you will become a boat maintainer rather than a retiree]

You have to do everything possible to do it if you want to because you never know when something beyond your control will stop you, eg the 11th of September or 7th July incidents.

Note: Worry. If the country is populated by lots of people like those represented here how are those paying NI etc. going to afford it. In 1996 terms I got much more in the lump sum than I paid in contributions throughout my career. Now the state is giving me another £8k a year. Where is it all coming from! That is not a question.

It is not taxes as I pay so little - but maybe they will come for me soon.

Life is great.
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Bernie

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"What's holding me back is the balls to actually do it, and the concern that I really wouldn't want to do it on my own.

It seems from reading the thread that most liveaboards do so as partnerships."


Post picture of boat please /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously tho, Happy Birthday!
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

We retired in January--ages 63 and 59, taking off next week. It's hard to believe, but we're finally...well, almost...ready, and will be finishing up as we head to sea, probably locking down the last cupboard. Our government pension is very modest, augmented by small rents from property. We can't wait
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

This my be a curious question: But are there any people that don't intend on retiring? A lot of succesful businessmen, artists and creative people etc, work right up until they die - Not because they necessarily have to, but because what they do is who they are, as opposed to the majority of people who just work their jobs counting the days down until they can stop? Ie. their jobs are simply means to an end (which is pretty unfortunate really).

Personally, I'd be bored out of my mind sailing around, sitting in harbour until I kicked the bucket... I've been on the water now for 7 months, with no money, and the entire time I've been figuring out ways to do it - That has actually made half the journey. If I just set sail with $10,000 in my pocket, while I'd have something nice to eat and probably a bigger boat, I think something would be seriously lacking... This lack of comfort and money has kept me on my toes - My head is constantly in overdrive thinking about how to get to the next port... And that's kind of exciting in a weird way.

This probably sounds a little funny, considering the number of posts I've written saying 'holy cow I've run out of money what do I do now?' However, that being said... Somehow, I write to you from English Harbour in Antigua... nick.
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Totally agree with you Nick, I've had long breaks between jobs. Three years break and I usually want to get back to some constructive work, it's never been a financial decision as I've always been able to pay my way as I cruised, sometimes as you've done on a small budget!

It works for me.
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Agreed - we have 15 months planned starting soon (60 days and counting) and then back to work (ableit in Australia!). I'm sure we'll do more in the future but at 26 I feel I'm a bit too young / poor to retire permanently. (But if the lottery numbers come up this week I may change my mind /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Jonny
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

I'm not altogether sure I'd call what I do 'retirement', more like new directions in my life?

S x
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Thats an interesting perspective... the way I see it, the boat is like a house that needs a lot more maintenance that your average semi, so almost a full time occupation!

Most non-sailing retired folk I know complain about endless lists of DIY... so maybe its quite similar!
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Hm, yes indeed, Neil - I'm usually so busy, doing lots of different things, I use the ole joke - I need a job for a rest! I'm off with Jack again for 6/7 weeks at the end of July (I bought the ticket this morning, so he can't change his mind!).

S x
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

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This my be a curious question: But are there any people that don't intend on retiring? A lot of succesful businessmen, artists and creative people etc, work right up until they die - Not because they necessarily have to, but because what they do is who they are, as opposed to the majority of people who just work their jobs counting the days down until they can stop? Ie. their jobs are simply means to an end (which is pretty unfortunate really).


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People who really enjoy what they do are IMHO few and far between - the lucky few.
Lots of wage-slaves are counting the days. Me included.
I could have retired early next year; but as I have 2 teenage children I have signed on for another 5 years. I see it as my duty to keep working till they've finished their education.

Iso retiring at 44, I'll happily retire at 49 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Boat will be paid for, full pension, not a care in the world (provided there will be no health issues.)

We plan to sail around the world the next 8-10 years. After that, who knows?
Whilst off sailing I'd do all the things I never seem to have time for - read a lot more, really get to know people, write, teach ...
The main difference would be - I would work when I wanted to and take the jobs I wanted. Not because I had to or needed the money, but because I wanted to do something. Get reacquainted with 'job satisfaction'.
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

There are people in my job who do a full thirty years then come back as support staff. It's usually because they either need to keep working to pay for mortgage/kids etc or they have got used to a lifestyle and don't want to change it. Good luck to them, I say.

For myself, I view retirement as a chance to change life, to do what I want to, not what I have to. I view three stages of adult life; Twenties is a time we have the opportunity to get out and sample life, have fun and take risks. Then with marriage/kids/mortgage comes responsibility so most settle down to a job to pay for them. Then kids grow up, a chunk of mortgage is paid off and retirement means freedom to go out and enjoy life again!

A job is just something you do to pay for real life. You can't buy time, no matter how rich you are.
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

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You can't buy time, no matter how rich you are.

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No, indeed. Off now for yet more jollification!

S x
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Agree with you, I have enjoyed my job and have been lucky in that it allowed me to do different roles and spells of working abroad. I could carry on and earn more money but I am now ready for the next phase of my life, which I see as an adventure. It may be that it does not work out, but won't know until we try it. If it does not there are plenty of other things we may want to do, in no particular order, including unpaid work in developing countries, going on to do further education for the joy of learning (always wanted to do archeology), back packing, camper van etc etc.

You are a long time dead and life can throw you nasty surprises, want to do it while we still can - best wishes
 
I packed in full time work aged 42, mainly as planning your life around a funny book by Douglas Adams seemed just as valid as anything else. No big planning process or anything, just seemed so obviously the right thing to do. No regrets, feel so much lighter not having a house with a loft full of rubbish half of which I couldn't remember buying and certainly didn't need. And bills! Remember them?
Plan was to drift south and see what happened. Seems to be going rather well. I'm south and things happen. After a couple of years away the term "retired" doesn't mean very much, if you feel the need to work then find some otherwise have the rest of the year off. Funds allowing of course. But then I don't have kids so i can do what I want. I suppose I'm hugely lucky in that after too many years as a rigger in the entertainment business I can pretty much pick and choose the more interesting jobs if i feel the need to work. But hugely lucky tonight means Ive been off site on a car launch in Germany for about 3 hours since last saturday morning and it must be tuesday by now. Singlehanding does have advantages in learning how to cat nap for days on end. And I agree with Nick to an extent as well, anything can become normal after a while. I find getting away from the boat for a bit of work and a few beers with some old friends now and again makes you appreciate it so much more when you get back. And boy I'm going to appreciate those Dorada and Rioja when I get back. Germany might make some fine beer but pork and cabbage looses it's appeal quite rapidly. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

Retirement means different things to different folk. I say we're retired because my husband no longer heads to the office, but he's busier now than he ever was then. As for me, I'm a writer. I don't think writers ever retire--especially with computers and email around.

Michael's greatest hardship on moving aboard has been letting go of file boxes full of designs for things he yet wants to build. Who knows, maybe when he retires from sailing the world he'll have the time and space to construct that helicopter or whatever. One reason we bought such a large boat is that at least a fourth of his workshop has come with us, including a small welder and tons of other toys.
 
This is indeed interesting reading.

I have a question tho'........... How many people here have actually done it? I mean set sail full time. And of those how many are still doing it say 3 years later?

As some of you know, I tried it for 3 years (a little less) and discovered it was not for me.

Regarding my job I am extremely fortunate in as much that I get paid to do something I REALLY enjoy, so I do agree I have a bias.

Is 'living aboard' a panacea? Of all the people we met when cruising, the happiest one's were always those had had homes to return to, were well funded, and in practice only sailed for the 'summer months'.

Cruising full time is hard work, and spending the 'winter periods' in a marina is restrictive.

Just a thought.......

Chox
 
Re: What AGE are you planning or indeed DID retire... and if pos.. how

I think it comes down to definitions. My idea of cruising is to follow the sun & avoid winters, but then I'm happy with the idea of long ocean passages. I suppose I would describe myself as a 'blue water cruiser'. When I went off 13 years ago (ran out of money & had to go back to 'real' life) it occurred to me I was happier voyaging than sitting somewhere for extended periods, so I guess that was my 'purpose' in life, to travel. Others are happy to sit in a marina and wait for summer (no criticism implied, different strokes etc). One thing is for sure, you can't rely on running away to sea to escape problems because so often the problems lay within ourselves. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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