A fascinating read. I have subscribed to Country Living since day one, love the morning it pops through the letterbox, and pass it on to grateful friends. A year after my husband died I was made redundant, along with the w hole department in the college where I taught. Most of my colleagues were in their thirties and forties. I was 72 and not considering retirement. I was unsure what to do but decided to focus on my physical and mental health, something I had neglected when I was so busy. I signed up for classes at my local adult college. And I joined a sports and social club. I also subscribed to Kew Gardens and several art galleries. I also spent time with children and grandchildren. My week is now busy, I especially love aqua aerobics 4 x times a week and have made a great circle of friends. So far I have enjoyed six years of retirement and as I approach 80 my life is full and I am grateful.
Wow, what a brilliant read. I really appreciate the honesty. I’m in my mid-thirties, so retirement feels a way off yet, but so much in this resonated with me. I too considered swapping magazines for gardening. I haven’t fully resolved the question in my mind, though I have found that combining the two worlds - ie, writing about gardening - has gone some way towards taking the heat out of my mid-pandemic existential crisis. Because you’re right, our work is a huge part of our identity. To me, it’s hard to unpick “what do/should I do for a living?” from “who am I?” Also, I often fantasise about a sort of pseudo-retirement - you know, winning the lottery and downing tools. But a) I don’t buy lottery tickets, and b) I find that whenever I have extended periods without work (holidays notwithstanding), is when I get most depressed. When we’re busy, we dream of putting our feet up; when our diary is empty, we long for purpose. The grass is always greener, I guess…
Loved reading this Susy! It rang so many bells with me. I feel like you do, I am not ready, or can afford to retire, but don't want to do anything else. I do volunteer for a couple of charities to get me out of the house and I have also just signed up to work for a friend two days a week, lets see where it goes.....
I should add that I live on a (teachers) pension, a good one because despite having three children, I worked full time for 35 years. I don’t have spare money so holidays are cheap,I do nt have a car and I rarely travel abroad. I enjoy every day.
I refuse to use the R word, or even S-R. I agree that after many years of creative, fulfilling work, there is no way many of us could [that word] in the way previous generations aspired to. Life-long learning is key, and if we have fewer money worries (hopefully) as we get older, we can afford to branch out and even take a few risks. This new role sounds like a good fit for you, Susy.
What an interesting article Susy. Congratulations on your new role - I hope you love it and continue with it for as long as you wish. I agree with so much of what you say, and although I am someway off retirement age, being 58, I experienced much of what you describe when I left work 15 years ago to look after my two boys at home. Both have specific needs and I knew I was doing the right thing for them, and for the family, and I have never regretted it, but my life changed so much more than I had anticipated. I had been a Nursing Sister in a busy clinic which I had established with my job share partner, working closely with nursing colleagues and Orthopaedic consultants to develop a new service. I missed the intellectual challenge, the camaraderie, the patients, and the sense of achievement from problem solving and moving the service forward. My circle of friends shrank, although I was an honorary member at works nights out for quite a few years, than naturally fell away. I loved being at home with my boys, and would not ever change that decision, but giving up work had unforseen consequences that's for sure. They are now young adults, but family life is still intense at times, and I could not commit to regular hours in a job, and the only job I'd really want is my old one anyway. I think in general that our generation is younger at retirement age, in terms of health, and outlook, we are not quite ready for retirement, but also not quite prepared to continue working full time. Sounds like you have reached a happy compromise- long may it continue x
A fascinating read. I have subscribed to Country Living since day one, love the morning it pops through the letterbox, and pass it on to grateful friends. A year after my husband died I was made redundant, along with the w hole department in the college where I taught. Most of my colleagues were in their thirties and forties. I was 72 and not considering retirement. I was unsure what to do but decided to focus on my physical and mental health, something I had neglected when I was so busy. I signed up for classes at my local adult college. And I joined a sports and social club. I also subscribed to Kew Gardens and several art galleries. I also spent time with children and grandchildren. My week is now busy, I especially love aqua aerobics 4 x times a week and have made a great circle of friends. So far I have enjoyed six years of retirement and as I approach 80 my life is full and I am grateful.
Wow, what a brilliant read. I really appreciate the honesty. I’m in my mid-thirties, so retirement feels a way off yet, but so much in this resonated with me. I too considered swapping magazines for gardening. I haven’t fully resolved the question in my mind, though I have found that combining the two worlds - ie, writing about gardening - has gone some way towards taking the heat out of my mid-pandemic existential crisis. Because you’re right, our work is a huge part of our identity. To me, it’s hard to unpick “what do/should I do for a living?” from “who am I?” Also, I often fantasise about a sort of pseudo-retirement - you know, winning the lottery and downing tools. But a) I don’t buy lottery tickets, and b) I find that whenever I have extended periods without work (holidays notwithstanding), is when I get most depressed. When we’re busy, we dream of putting our feet up; when our diary is empty, we long for purpose. The grass is always greener, I guess…
You’ve described what many us are experiencing, but couldn’t articulate quite so well.
Loved reading this Susy! It rang so many bells with me. I feel like you do, I am not ready, or can afford to retire, but don't want to do anything else. I do volunteer for a couple of charities to get me out of the house and I have also just signed up to work for a friend two days a week, lets see where it goes.....
And no, I am not fit !
I should add that I live on a (teachers) pension, a good one because despite having three children, I worked full time for 35 years. I don’t have spare money so holidays are cheap,I do nt have a car and I rarely travel abroad. I enjoy every day.
I refuse to use the R word, or even S-R. I agree that after many years of creative, fulfilling work, there is no way many of us could [that word] in the way previous generations aspired to. Life-long learning is key, and if we have fewer money worries (hopefully) as we get older, we can afford to branch out and even take a few risks. This new role sounds like a good fit for you, Susy.
What an interesting article Susy. Congratulations on your new role - I hope you love it and continue with it for as long as you wish. I agree with so much of what you say, and although I am someway off retirement age, being 58, I experienced much of what you describe when I left work 15 years ago to look after my two boys at home. Both have specific needs and I knew I was doing the right thing for them, and for the family, and I have never regretted it, but my life changed so much more than I had anticipated. I had been a Nursing Sister in a busy clinic which I had established with my job share partner, working closely with nursing colleagues and Orthopaedic consultants to develop a new service. I missed the intellectual challenge, the camaraderie, the patients, and the sense of achievement from problem solving and moving the service forward. My circle of friends shrank, although I was an honorary member at works nights out for quite a few years, than naturally fell away. I loved being at home with my boys, and would not ever change that decision, but giving up work had unforseen consequences that's for sure. They are now young adults, but family life is still intense at times, and I could not commit to regular hours in a job, and the only job I'd really want is my old one anyway. I think in general that our generation is younger at retirement age, in terms of health, and outlook, we are not quite ready for retirement, but also not quite prepared to continue working full time. Sounds like you have reached a happy compromise- long may it continue x