Retirement... What next

Wibbles

I have been retired for 2 years now but have no idea at all as to how I intend to spend the next 40 years of my life (assuming that I make a century)

I am disabled - unable to walk more than a few feet

The reason that I retired early (at age 58) was that my emploter was unwilling to update to disabled toilets and also wiuld not let ATW on site to advise me - plus covid scared me !

We do have "sufficient funds" to see us to the end

But my big question is how many retired people - actually planned how they intended to spend their retired days - before they retired ?

I DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE !

durhamjaide2001

Why not do some volunteering or travelling.

Hannah_Alumni

My grandparents were able to retire early and decided to spend their time travelling, picking up hobbies they always wanted to do, just made a huge list and did what they could. My grandmother took up Spanish and that has evolved into a weekly Spanish scrabble game!

Sometimes you can plan something and it can turn into something else completely  

sookiegirl

I retired early. I’ve taught myself to sew via YouTube videos.

littleacorn

I had to retire at 58 as it just took too much out of me. Volunteering has always been part of my life and since retiring I have done volunteer roles hands on and also as trustee of a charity. When covid hit these roles stopped except trustee role. Unfortunitly as I had been out of work for a couple of years by then computers had moved on and I was lost in this world and no idea how to use zoom for meeting so resigned.

I am just like you can walk a couple of steps unaided but use powerchair the rest of the time. Now as covid has slowed I find motivating myself very difficult. Yes I can go back to volunteering but feel as I knkw I have loads to offer but feel like I have done that and got the t-shirt. Still wondering what fo do to get me motivated.

Wibbles

durhamjaide2001 said:

Why not do some volunteering or travelling.

Volunteering for what and how do I get to the place?
Also lacking motivation 

Alex_Alumni

What things interest you @Wibbles, or is there anything you've always wondered about giving a try? 

@sookiegirl that's great, there's plenty of things you can learn to do using something like YouTube  

Wibbles

Alex_Scope said:

What things interest you @Wibbles, or is there anything you've always wondered about giving a try? 

@sookiegirl that's great, there's plenty of things you can learn to do using something like YouTube  

I have done most of my bucket list already and am limited to what I can do from those that I haven't done yet... 

OverlyAnxious

I think you can probably half that remaining life expectancy.  So there's ~20 years filled for a start! 

I don't think the problem here is retirement though.  It's limited ability in retirement.  I'm considerably younger than yourself and already have trouble filling days.  Not though lack of funds, but lack of ability.  I can't get out any more and I don't have enough space at home to do anything (single room studio flat).  Of course, that means I've got very little motivation, but have enough discipline to follow a daily routine.  I've spent the last 20 years terrified of having to continue living this life, knowing that things would only ever get worse, and never being able to consider any more than a week or so into the future without utter despair.  I don't see that changing so can't even contemplate the idea of having to live anywhere near current life expectancy.

People seem to obsess over life or death, but for me it's quality of life that matters.  That will obviously mean different things to different people.

Wibbles

OverlyAnxious said:

I think you can probably half that remaining life expectancy.  So there's ~20 years filled for a start! 

Speak for yourself - I plan to be around for a fairly long period - at least another 40 years

My father is 90 and extremely fit and will make 100 +

calcotti

Wibbles said:

OverlyAnxious said:

I think you can probably half that remaining life expectancy.  So there's ~20 years filled for a start! 

Speak for yourself - I plan to be around for a fairly long period - at least another 40 years

My father is 90 and extremely fit and will make 100 +

Sadly the life of our parents is not a guide to our own. I will almost certainly be dead long before I reach my dad’s age when he died (but then one never knows).

SueHeath

Hi @Wibbles motivation is the biggest clue here i find.
Me and hubby had big plans for our retirement years, then covid hit - hubby had heart attack then was found to have low grade bladder cancer (fingers crossed) he didn't retire till he was 67 because he wanted to keep working but this last two years have aged him. My own body gave up on me and i have had to give up work now, i finished at 64. so all our plans went out the window. It's like Woodbine has said perhaps a new bucket list. There's other voluntry work you can do - age concern do a buddy scheme were you telephone people to have a chat so they don't get lonely.
I think your board and motivation is a big issue, you might feel bit more positive when spring is here.x

leeCal

I used to play bass guitar in a couple of bands, well three anyway and after thirty years of not playing at all I decided to play again. Choosing a new bass was time consuming, ideal since I retired too. Then relearning is taking longer than I thought. However it’s given me a sense of purpose, my intention is to be better than I ever was and I’m still looking out for the perfect bass guitar of course, I have three now! My intention is to start or join a band, when I’m ready again. Fleetwood Mac style or sheryl crow, Bryan Adams, Travis, even Roxy music maybe, who knows what tomorrow might bring. 

you could play a guitar in a wheelchair, even join a band if you really like music. Keyboards are cheap too and would be a small challenge to learn to play. 

carving chess pieces would take quite a while too, something to go back to occasionally and can be done from a sitting position. I always wanted to learn to carve but I’ve never gotten around to it. 

Im even into meditation and read about Buddhism etc, very helpful psychologically I can assure you.

Motivation? As woodbine said I’m the same, if I don’t do much one day I don’t worry about it, I quite like surfing the Internet as well as fitting in a couple of hours practise a day. San ferry Anne, it’s all good. I like being retired immensely. 

durhamjaide2001

Wibbles said:

Alex_Scope said:

What things interest you @Wibbles, or is there anything you've always wondered about giving a try? 

@sookiegirl that's great, there's plenty of things you can learn to do using something like YouTube  

I have done most of my bucket list already and am limited to what I can do from those that I haven't done yet... 

Anything really but volunteering for Scope is recommendable I volunteer in the charity shop as one of my placements with Project choice. 

poppy123456

Wibbles said:

OverlyAnxious said:

I think you can probably half that remaining life expectancy.  So there's ~20 years filled for a start! 

Speak for yourself - I plan to be around for a fairly long period - at least another 40 years

My father is 90 and extremely fit and will make 100 +

I think everyone "plans" on being around for a long time but in reality that may not be the case. It would be very strange if we could all predict what would or may happen.

Wibbles

leeCal said:

I used to play bass guitar in a couple of bands, well three anyway and after thirty years of not playing at all I decided to play again. Choosing a new bass was time consuming, ideal since I retired too. Then relearning is taking longer than I thought. However it’s given me a sense of purpose, my intention is to be better than I ever was and I’m still looking out for the perfect bass guitar of course, I have three now! My intention is to start or join a band, when I’m ready again. Fleetwood Mac style or sheryl crow, Bryan Adams, Travis, even Roxy music maybe, who knows what tomorrow might bring. 

you could play a guitar in a wheelchair, even join a band if you really like music. Keyboards are cheap too and would be a small challenge to learn to play. 

carving chess pieces would take quite a while too, something to go back to occasionally and can be done from a sitting position. I always wanted to learn to carve but I’ve never gotten around to it. 

Im even into meditation and read about Buddhism etc, very helpful psychologically I can assure you.

Motivation? As woodbine said I’m the same, if I don’t do much one day I don’t worry about it, I quite like surfing the Internet as well as fitting in a couple of hours practise a day. San ferry Anne, it’s all good. I like being retired immensely. 

I spend way too long on line - plus I create family trees for people using ancestry
But that is unhealthy - spending so much time online (10+ hours per day 365 days a year)

gaz1960

I tried volunteering, unfortunately, so many people also looking to volunteer locally, no places available! Also job clubs, but unfortunately, im in a catch 22 situation,age,early retirement due to ill health,heart and arthritis and awaiting knee replacement, but , i cant claim benefits, and most job clubs will only help if you are already claiming! 
With the government now saying they want over 50s to return to the workplace, and keep benefits, I'm finding it hard to actually claim any benefits,and certainly not physically able to do,or apply for most jobs available, warehouse, etc, guessing most people on here in the same,or similar situation? 

Wibbles

gaz1960 said:

I tried volunteering, unfortunately, so many people also looking to volunteer locally, no places available! Also job clubs, but unfortunately, im in a catch 22 situation,age,early retirement due to ill health,heart and arthritis and awaiting knee replacement, but , i cant claim benefits, and most job clubs will only help if you are already claiming! 

Same here - are you - me ?

I had a knee replacement in 2016 which came too late - I am now immobile due to hyperextension

I took medical retirement from government job after 30 years service at age 47 and got redundancy at same time - then carried on working part time for the local authority before taking medical retirement from that due to poor treatment by them.............

now my heart is causing me problems as well as arthrytis

luckily - I am on max PIP as well as 3 ill health pensions at age 59 

leeCal

@SueHeath said
age concern do a buddy scheme were you telephone people to have a chat so they don't get lonely.

Silverline do the same thing, might be worth checking them out.

Wibbles

leeCal said:

@SueHeath said
age concern do a buddy scheme were you telephone people to have a chat so they don't get lonely.

Silverline do the same thing, might be worth checking them out.

I am not lonely and the last thing I need to do is speak to strangers,...
In any case one of my disabilities is poor speech so can't use the phone....