Good to be retired And feeling good

General Chat Chat / Discussions
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Good morning folks,
Well here in France it’s a boiler, really hot hot hot, One,
But i was just saying to (she who must be obeyed) It’s great to think all those long hours of work and the stress of the work place you didn’t really know was happening Is all a thing of the past,

We both worked hard and made plans to make our future years good ones,
And now that time is here, All the planning has paid off?

It’s those little things like Roxann giving me a good licking when we meet again on the soffa,

I read the news via the PC, and think am I glad Im not just being born today with all this violence thats going on world wide,
The new born have what to look forward to?

It’s got to the stage we have little interest in going away from our own garden,
Do any of our forum members feel anything like we do?

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Never seen retirement as a set moment in time, if you enjoy something and get paid for it, why would you stop, just so you can wear the retiree badge?

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Yes.
On both counts.
It is pleasing to find that a bit of prudent saving now means that I should be comfortable for the forseeable. Deffo not rich, but enough to live on. Like you, France works well for me. I can buy good wine for 5 euros a bottle from a vineyard just down the road. I’ve about 5 decent restaurants where I can get a good 3 course lunch for about 20 euros. I’ve lots of friends here and I’ve been made very welcome by the locals. I’ve no need to go on holiday anywhere. Its like a holiday most summer weeks here anyway, and besides I’ve done enough airports and hotels for two lifetimes. Many, many village fetes and night markets to go to. Tomatoes are coming on well, quince tree is laden with fruit and my chili plants in their pots should hopefully delivery on the promise of very, very hot fruits.
And it was proper hot yesterday. We hit 36 deg in the shade. And that was after a night where it didn’t get below 25 deg. Fortunately a breeze got up in the evening and last night was more bearable. However the forecast is back to mid-30’s by next Tuesday and zero sign of rain for the next few days.
I’m hoping it cools a bit by next Saturday as a local vineyard does their annual steak & wine fete. About 40 wines from growers all across France for tastings and buying if you like them. The Fronsac and Vacqueyras are very good, as are the Alsace wines. The steaks are bigger than the plate. All for 20 euros. Definitely feeling good. Suspect I’ll be feeling slightly less bright the day after the wine tasting.

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My official retirement is due in fifteen months, we should be able to live comfortably with our state and private pensions, we don’t live a lavish lifestyle, preferring to holiday in the uk, my wife is six months younger than me and she has to go nearly a year before she gets her state pension, not sure how retirement will work out for us as we’ve never done it before…

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Retiring at sixty was the best thing I ever did, although it’s not for everyone.
I’ve always enjoyed plenty of hobbies and interests, so it wasn’t a problem finding something to occupy my time. Each day is a blank sheet of paper to do what I want and when I want.
I retired in 2010 and for the first ten years we enjoyed many cruises and holidays. Covid slowed us down a bit and with some developing heart issues we haven’t seemed to gain the momentum of the first ten years.
Our last holiday was in the lake district in 2022 and apart from the odd weekend away we haven’t done much since.
I still love being retired though, and living in a small farming community we are only 200 yards from open country and plenty of walks.
I love nature and the wild places, and one of my hobbies is bagging Trig points (usually at the top of hills and mountains) but due to ill health I’ve not done any this year, but there’s a holiday to Llandudno (one of our favourite places) coming up in the next couple of weeks, so it could be the start of our adventures again.

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Posted in error - please delete

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I thought I’d reflect on the positive aspects of retirement. All of which assumes sufficient funds for a modest lifestyle.
No boss, no stress handling unreasonable demands from boss, no stress from handling unreasonable clients, no Sunday night before work stress, no stress of annual reviews, no stress from people you manage. You get the idea.
Clear, open days and weeks to do as you want - or prioritise what needs done in your own way. The stripping & re-painting of shutters has been put on pause until it cools a bit. The moving of the outside tap will start next week. Completing such tasks also gives me a boost.
Time to indulge in doing the things you like, when you like. So I’m back going to the gym but always to get there are really quiet times. The daily dog walk takes up an indulgent chunk of the morning. I get to take my time cooking the foods I like (almost, the other half is not so keen on seafood or offal) rather than a rush after getting home from work. Afternoon siestas are now mandatory and there is nothing stopping me having them.
Retirement age can, for some, also bring relief from obligations. Both my parents are dead so that period of care, worry and re-housing is behind me. The obligations I do have are now of my own making - commitments to local events, commitments to friends.
I’d also recommend retiring to somewhere completely new, not necessarily abroad. It forces you to get out and make new friends. It makes joining clubs or classes good for meeting new people and good to keep sharp. And it gives a fresh perspective on many things.

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Yes I agree, a happy retirement is dependent on sufficient funds.
I retired at sixty because financially I was able to, I had accumulated a few quid from works pensions and the profits from my courier business which I had invested wisely. Mum and Dad both passed away within six months of each other, after being together for over sixty years. So being the only son, I got the proceeds from the house etc…
After having ten good years of travelling and then the dark days of covid, my daughter and husband were being evicted from their house, by the husbands sister would you believe. So I bought them a house and got them settled. Although not rolling in money these days, we still have enough for a comfortable life enough for some more cruising.
You have to cut your cloth accordingly though, and I think moving house would be a massive expenditure, especially as we have very good neighbours and live in a quiet cul-de-sac.
Your working life sounds very stressful Lincs, but being lower down the food chain doesn’t reduce the stress levels. I wound up the business because I worked all hours God sent, being a one man band you never said no to a customer so you could get a call 24/7 I can still hear my ringtone and respond before I realise that I no longer do that.
After winding up the business I went to work for Royal Mail as a postman. I loved the job, but at 55 it needed some adjustment and although fit and able to cope with the eight hours on my feet, the stress was overpowering at times. When you went out with your bags of post, you were expected to deliver it all come rain, snow and shine, and as a newcomer it would be different walk every day. You sort of filled in for sickness and days off. It was a pleasure to get my own walk after a year even though it was as a coverman. I certainly got to know every street, ginnel and house in Ackworth.
I still get up early and go for a walk and sometimes it’s hard to resist the urge to run down peoples paths and stick something through their door…
Seriously though, I don’t think stress is such a bad thing, its how you cope with it that is the secret.

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I’ve got to get out and about. See people and see life, My back garden can be nice but it’s small and I want more.

(I’m writing a song here)

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I’m not sure how I’ll fill my days yet, thinking of taking up the guitar again…I’ll have to see…

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I keep thinking about my old ‘axe’ out again and giving it a go. Maybe one day… :grinning: :notes:

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Greetings Old Grey Fox,
As always it’s nice to hear your comments,
Two thing here to reply to what you’d said,

First do not employ family of friends, you’ll loose a friend if your getting to successful they tend to resent it, and again if a family member has been evicted by another family member and you buy them out? Whats to say they’re living off your earnings and have no need to try to better themselves second time around?

As for working long hours and employing people, I employed 15 people and after a few years I hardend up ref any misconduct ie It’s ok to rob from the company be it Fuel in a Jerry can while filling the companies van, or using the equipment for thier own use without any Insurance to use the van/ladders/carpet cleaning machines, etc etc etc, And then petty cash and so on,

I pulled into a little off the beaten track old fashioned petrol pump station run by an old couple for a refill,
As I drove onto the pump’s area one of my emplyee’s jumped over the front seat and into the back of the van,

The old dear (about early 70’s) came to the pump and as alway with a nice smile and started to fill the van up,
Her husband sat in the little shop part of the set up, they sold sweets and the like, And he was’nt to good on his feet anyway,

As i paid and had a quick chat with the old man and then got back in the van,
As i drove off I asked why the one lad was back on the front passenger seat, ?
One of the other lads said he’d filled up at this station and drove off without paying??? Laugh giggle giggle,
I turned the van around and returned to the station the old lady came out and asked if all was ok? I asked if she’d had a drive off with out payment?
The lad slid out of the van and said he was meaning to come back and pay but had’nt got round to it, £25-00 worth,
I paid for the fuel and told him to go and tell the old man how sorry you we’re and drove off leaving him approx 5 miles from my office I deducted the fuel cost from his wage and when his Mother phoned me that evening telling me what a rat I was for making him walk home ?
i TOLD HER HIS REMAINING WAGES WOULD BE POSTED TO THEIR HOME ALONG WITH THE P 45,
She said she would seek advice on taking me to court and she was going to get intouch with the local paper to tell them of my conduct ,
I never heard from her again,
And her son “Yes” the job centre phoned me to ask why he was fired,
I told them the full story and again I heard no more from anyone,
So I do know stress is not a good thing and running a small company is not always simple, But a lot depends on what you are made of;

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Hello Primus,
Well I retired age 53yrs and we have 6years between us (her indoors)
is 6 years younger than me,
Now we got a right kick in the goollies when it came to my wifes OAP pension in that as she was born 1955 year she would not get her OAP pension for another 6yrs,
This was the goverement new idea,

She’d worked all her life from 17yrs "Never being unemployed & always paying tax etc,
Luck was on our side in as much that she worked for her last company for 26 yrs and got a pension off them And just had to wait until she got her Goverement state pension,7yrs later,

I on the other hand made sure years ago I paid into a private pension, As ive said many times on this forum Plan Plan Plan ahead,
No matter what you do from your future ref having a family "“can you afford the best for your children?” Or do you just have a production line going to increase the population and then
complain your the hard done by?
Same as the for the car you drive or the clothing you wear,
It’s your choice and it’s up to you,

Now one more of something thats heading your way,
You are about to share your every minute of every day in each other’s company,
A complete change from your every day life,
Be ready,
Have a think of what pleases you and your wife,?
Try to please each other,

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Well produced and well said