Retirement

[T1 Terry]

Seven years after retiring I still get the odd call from past customers about servicing or repairs to their water heaters , showers etc. They seem surprised to find I’ve retired - I am surprised but heartened to find my last work has worked so well for so long but give them details of the “new” guy.

I still get calls, well, the wife does, we have one in the yard at the moment.
If I let it get away from me again, I'd be working 7 days a week, 12hr a day inside a month, there is just that much demand for what we did and we very quickly became very well know, even though we never ever advertised ....

If the workshop hadn't burnt to the ground, with everything in it, I doubt I could have escaped .... I still get the "Terry, great to finally meet you, could you just have a look at this for me" at just about every free camp we stop at .... it does make you feel good though, and I don't think I've ever said no about taking a look for them and giving them advice, I just don't want to do any more hands on work, do it once and it will hound you forever .... but I do tell them I'm powered by beer

T1 Terry

 

[Eclectic]

I was able to go part time at 55, and carry on working in the same capacity and grade, but for only 3 days a week. This was an excellent way to ease into full retirement, and allow me more time at my hobby (archery) as I then had long weekends off.

My workplace had a gym, which I used lunchtimes, so when I finally retired at 64 (workplace was shut down) the first thing I did was join a gym, and set aside time time for keep fit. Grandchildren have kept me on my toes, and gardening is now more of a hobby rather than a chore.

Now approaching 77, I still do the gym thing three times a week, meet up with old workmates once a month for breakfast, and with other friends for lunch.

Keep busy, keep fit, and most of all, enjoy yourself!

 

[Gadget Geek]

Took my NHS pension at 60, which was 8 years ago now.

"What are you going to do?" friends and colleagues asked.

"As little as her indoors will let me get away with," was my reply. I then redecorated the house.

I already volunteered at a hedgehog rescue centre, so I had an interest. I started regular swimming to keep fit, and rekindled my interest in hobby electronics as I have a City & Guilds in electronic servicing. During lock down, I bought a Drayton Wiser central heating hub and TRV's, and upgraded the system.

I have recently started to re-learn classical guitar, and of course I run a non profit buisiness called "Dad's Taxi".

 

[boyfrom64]

Thanks to all for your replies. It's good to hear how so many of you have made the transition into retirement and that it was a lot easier than imagined.
I already have a list of jobs to do around the house as well as some decorating for my mother-in-law, so that will keep me busy in the early days.
My main hobby is cycling and now I will be able to get out on my bike more often or simply for longer when I do go out.
Since I have made people who I do business with that I am retiring a few of them have asked me if I would do some work for them, which I am happy to do. Especially, if it can be in short bursts with a break in between.
I would have happily dropped down to three days a week, but I work for a small company and owner felt that as I have a senior role in the business, he needs someone working five days a week, which makes me smile, because I have been working four days a week for the last 12 months, and the business has coped. Plus he himself is dropping down to four days from the start of July.
Any, two days left, and then the next chapter begins

 

[T1 Terry]

Thanks to all for your replies. It's good to hear how so many of you have made the transition into retirement and that it was a lot easier than imagined.
I already have a list of jobs to do around the house as well as some decorating for my mother-in-law, so that will keep me busy in the early days.
My main hobby is cycling and now I will be able to get out on my bike more often or simply for longer when I do go out.
Since I have made people who I do business with that I am retiring a few of them have asked me if I would do some work for them, which I am happy to do. Especially, if it can be in short bursts with a break in between.
I would have happily dropped down to three days a week, but I work for a small company and owner felt that as I have a senior role in the business, he needs someone working five days a week, which makes me smile, because I have been working four days a week for the last 12 months, and the business has coped. Plus he himself is dropping down to four days from the start of July.
Any, two days left, and then the next chapter begins

If the boss is dropping down to 4 days a week, of course you were needed to fill in the gap by returning to 5 days a week ..... you have really thrown a spanner in his plans to gradually step away from the day to day running of the place and heap it on your shoulders ...... good move, why should you carry the weight of the company's success, while the owner sits back and visits the coal face every so often to give you a pat on the back for doing such great job ......

T1 Terry

 

[boyfrom64]

If the boss is dropping down to 4 days a week, of course you were needed to fill in the gap by returning to 5 days a week ..... you have really thrown a spanner in his plans to gradually step away from the day to day running of the place and heap it on your shoulders ...... good move, why should you carry the weight of the company's success, while the owner sits back and visits the coal face every so often to give you a pat on the back for doing such great job ......

T1 Terry

@T1 Terry you are so right. He already relies so much on the senior management team, and that will only increase once he drops down to 4 days a week.
Ah well my replacement can deal with that whilst I'm riding my bike / doing something for myself.

 

[Gomev]

If the boss is dropping down to 4 days a week, of course you were needed to fill in the gap by returning to 5 days a week ..... you have really thrown a spanner in his plans to gradually step away from the day to day running of the place and heap it on your shoulders ...... good move, why should you carry the weight of the company's success, while the owner sits back and visits the coal face every so often to give you a pat on the back for doing such great job ......

T1 Terry

Because he's the owner. The higher up the chain you are the less you do and the more you are paid.

 

[T1 Terry]

@T1 Terry you are so right. He already relies so much on the senior management team, and that will only increase once he drops down to 4 days a week.
Ah well my replacement can deal with that whilst I'm riding my bike / doing something for myself.

Are you ready for that offer of a consultancy position at double the pay you were getting before
I was offered one of those to work for our, at the time, only competition, he wanted me to train his crew it was about the stage when I knocked it back, he put T1 Terry and T1 Lithium together as being the same entity The money was brilliant, but I turned it down, he was willing to fly me up there, put me up in a flash hotel with an expense account for 2 weeks, and I could even bring the wife .... conflict of interest got in the way The only time I made better money than he was offering, was a 14 hr shift on the Australia day holiday, $3,000 after tax and that was probably 15 yrs ago .....
Generally, the management don't have a clue just what you do in the company, when you are gone, they discover your replacement didn't know what you did either ..... so they pay crazy money for you to come back and teach your replacement, how to do your old job ....

T1 Terry

 

[T1 Terry]

Because he's the owner. The higher up the chain you are the less you do and the more you are paid.

In some cases, other times you are that poorly paid halfwit that works ridiculous hrs and never gets paid overtime, been there, done that, a very expensive lesson about assessing your true value ......

T1 Terry

 

[chowbenter]

I retired at 65 eight years ago, It's still FANTASTIC I have many hobbies & enjoy growing with two greenhouses in the garden takes up a lot of time between Spring & Autumn.

 

[T1 Terry]

I retired at 65 eight years ago, It's still FANTASTIC I have many hobbies & enjoy growing with two greenhouses in the garden takes up a lot of time between Spring & Autumn.

Gotta love that cash crop grown in a green house

T1 Terry

 

[Anon70]

I and a few of the people I have worked with over the years are getting to that age where we are considering options. One of the best ways of describing the next stage of life choices I have seen is re-wire-ment.

When you are a child everything is set out for you, some sort of education every day with term and holidays all arranged. You also tend not have to have worry about financing your life as your parents take care of that.Then you get into the World of work and again your days are pretty much a similar routine and you have to take care of all of your life decisions although your employer might take some of the load off.

When you get to the retirement phase nothing is pre arranged or planned. It is all up to you, where your income comes from, what you do with each moment of each day. So I guess there is a lot to consider and depending on what type of person you are this can seem like freedom or a scary situation.

 

[T1 Terry]

I and a few of the people I have worked with over the years are getting to that age where we are considering options. One of the best ways of describing the next stage of life choices I have seen is re-wire-ment.

When you are a child everything is set out for you, some sort of education every day with term and holidays all arranged. You also tend not have to have worry about financing your life as your parents take care of that.Then you get into the World of work and again your days are pretty much a similar routine and you have to take care of all of your life decisions although your employer might take some of the load off.

When you get to the retirement phase nothing is pre arranged or planned. It is all up to you, where your income comes from, what you do with each moment of each day. So I guess there is a lot to consider and depending on what type of person you are this can seem like freedom or a scary situation.

This sounds like someone without a wife or significant other. I've had many yr even when working that each moment of the day, even when at home, was already planned out without my input

T1 Terry

 

[siteguru]

I know what you mean .. when I say I'll do something, I'll do it. No need to nag me about it every 6 months!

 

[Data]

The first thing to say is that this post is not car related, so if you are only here to read about cars, or are a younger person, then you may not wish to read on any further.

On Tuesday next week I leave my job, and retire early. Well that was the plan 12 month ago, now I want to take a short break before going back to doing some freelance work.

For the last 12 months I cut down my working week to four days, which I have enjoyed. It was a challenge at first to not check emails or listen to any voice mail messages left on my work mobile, but as time went by I stopped doing both and started to enjoy having long weekends.

Today I have been on holiday, with no real plans to do anything and there have been times during the day, when I wonder what I will do with my time when I am no longer working. I have watched several YouTube videos on retirement as well as read a number of articles about the transition into retirement.

I am fully aware about having a purpose and I know that one of the things I need to adjust to, is to learn that I do not need to be constantly doing something; I have never been one to sit and relax unless we have gone away on holiday, and that I should not feel guilty about sitting down and watching something on TV or more likely YouTube. Equally, taking time to read a book, or sitting casually having a coffee, a leisurely breakfast etc..

For anyone who is retired or has recently retired, how did you find the transition from work? Was there anything specific that you did, which you think I should do?

When we are at work, for most of us the idea of retiring is very appealing. The idea that we have all the time in the world to do the things we rush and try to do at weekends or when we are on holiday. However, now that the time is here, it's a bit daunting.

I agree with many of the contributers, don't rush into anything. Like someone else has said it can be helpful to make your first rule of retirement to be, there are no rules!

Certainly don't do what I did. I had a heart attack, followed a month later by another! That wasn't much fun. By the way, I've always looked after myself with exercise, healthy eating etc. I was however bitten by a cat. It was a powerful bite into the bone in the back of my hand. This released some seriously powerful bacteria into my system from the glands at the back of the cats incisors. The bacteria attacked the nerves in my heart, amongst other things causing my heart attacks. Luckily I survived & didn't need stents as I don't have any arterial disease or blockages.

Loving my retirement though.

 

[boyfrom64]

I agree with many of the contributers, don't rush into anything. Like someone else has said it can be helpful to make your first rule of retirement to be, there are no rules!

Certainly don't do what I did. I had a heart attack, followed a month later by another! That wasn't much fun. By the way, I've always looked after myself with exercise, healthy eating etc. I was however bitten by a cat. It was a powerful bite into the bone in the back of my hand. This released some seriously powerful bacteria into my system from the glands at the back of the cats incisors. The bacteria attacked the nerves in my heart, amongst other things causing my heart attacks. Luckily I survived & didn't need stents as I don't have any arterial disease or blockages.

Loving my retirement though.

Glad to hear you are okay.
I too eat healthy, and enjoy keeping fit, which is a combination of resistance training with Kettlebells and riding my bikes (an indoor training bike and my road bike).

I have a couple of people I am talking g to about doing some freelance work, which will keep my mind active. However, I am not looking to start this until June. Firstly because I want a break and I have a few jobs to do around the house and secondly because my wife, the two dogs and myself have hired a motorhome in the middle of May to tour the North East and the Scottish Borders.

I use to hate Sunday evenings because when I was. Director my working week started then. However, after being made redundant at the age of 57, I decided then to take a lower level role, which meant I simply worked my standard working hours, give or take an extra half an hour, and so I got my Sunday evenings back. This evening is better still, knowing that come Tuesday evening that's it. I am finished and the next time I work, it's because I choose to, and I will be doing it for me, not someone else

 

[gus]

Very interesting to read your accounts, coming up to that stage of life, going down to 4 days a week in June and see what I think.

 

[JohnV6]

One rule. Enjoy yourself it is shorter than you think

 

[boyfrom64]

Very interesting to read your accounts, coming up to that stage of life, going down to 4 days a week in June and see what I think.

For me, going down to 4 days a week was really good and something I highly recommend. I hope you enjoy the long weekends. Just be sure to not look at work phones or email if that is the type of job you do.