Will Your Retirement Be A Working Retirement?

Jackie, bite your tongue! I was head housekeeper in a hotel for five years. OMG! Never again. The housekeepers...well...let's just say that we had to start them out with Bedmaking 101, and the hardest work I ever did was convincing them that it was NOT okay to use the same cleaning rag in the vanity/sink as they did for cleaning the toilet.

Maybe I should write a book about having been the head housekeeper in a hotel.

Life of crime. Now that's something to consider:D
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
Jackie, bite your tongue! I was head housekeeper in a hotel for five years. OMG! Never again. The housekeepers...well...let's just say that we had to start them out with Bedmaking 101, and the hardest work I ever did was convincing them that it was NOT okay to use the same cleaning rag in the vanity/sink as they did for cleaning the toilet.

Maybe I should write a book about having been the head housekeeper in a hotel.

Life of crime. Now that's something to consider:D
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LOL...well ok...forget that...I'll vote for the book writing, you do have a way with words.
 
We both retired in 2000 and have never regretted it.

I can understand that some people might still have a mortgage and other financial commitments.?

With so many people chasing so few jobs it is not easy to move into another position if you find yourself looking for work.

If you are in a position to put it all behind you I would go for it.

(We are only on this planet for a short time period - enjoy it if you can)

I am never bored and I can always find something to do.
 
Before my DH died, we found lots of things to do. Now there's nobody to "do" for, nobody to cook for, nobody to hang out with, and time hangs heavy. Anyway, I've always been a do-er and so was he. I'm really thinking very seriously about learning to decorate cakes. Besides being a fun thing to do, I might even make some pocket change.
 
I retired at age 56 and stopped working, moved to the country on to a large block and started doing unpaid work . Chopping wood, growing vegies etc etc and what ever needs doing, like maintenance or making things in my shed. I felt guilty for not going to work for quite some time, but now I'm used to it. I'm not going back to work for any bosses. Only a few months to go till I get my pension. I'll be rolling in money.:yeah:
 
Poppy said:
... I felt guilty for not going to work for quite some time, but now I'm used to it ...
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Amazing, isn't it, how we're socialized to think that we ARE our jobs? I think that's why so many freshly-retired folk start to have both physical and mental problems - because they identify so closely with their work that they can't imagine life without it. Too often it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It's a shame, really, because work should just be a means of survival and a means to an end, not a life sentence. Congrats on getting paroled so early! ;)
 
I retired in January and loving it, I don't think I have ever been so lazy,:oops: certainly don't miss going out to work.:)
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
Before my DH died, we found lots of things to do. Now there's nobody to "do" for, nobody to cook for, nobody to hang out with, and time hangs heavy. Anyway, I've always been a do-er and so was he. I'm really thinking very seriously about learning to decorate cakes. Besides being a fun thing to do, I might even make some pocket change.
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I understand where you are coming from. I'm in the same situation. Trying to get to the next point is challenging and takes a lot of thought and perseverance. We'll make it!! Stay positive. :)
 
SifuPhil said:
Amazing, isn't it, how we're socialized to think that we ARE our jobs? I think that's why so many freshly-retired folk start to have both physical and mental problems - because they identify so closely with their work that they can't imagine life without it. Too often it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It's a shame, really, because work should just be a means of survival and a means to an end, not a life sentence.
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Never was suckered into that 'socialization' Sifu, I always knew that I worked to pay my bills, etc. Never felt that my work defined me, or had any feeling of loss when I took early retirement. I always hated work, felt it was a big waste of my time...dreading Mondays, looking forward to Fridays, and rushing the weekdays in-between. :wtf:

Poppy said:
Retire early people and take all your holidays as a lump sum, I recommend it to anyone. Just tell them Poppy sent you.:lol:
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Been there, done that Poppy! :cool: I took all my weeks of vacation that I had owed to me, and never returned...so sweet! :bananalama:
 
I just retired at the beginning of June and love it. I've been busy, have lots of things I want to do and don't miss working at all. I do miss my work friends, but keep in touch the ones I want to. Life is good and like Poppy, I'd highly recommend retirement.
 
Bee said:
I retired in January and loving it, I don't think I have ever been so lazy,:oops: certainly don't miss going out to work.:)
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Keep encouraging me, Bee. Gotta get out one of these "daze"! At least knowing it will soon be over helps getting through the day to day b.s.!
 
TICA said:
I just retired at the beginning of June and love it. I've been busy, have lots of things I want to do and don't miss working at all. I do miss my work friends, but keep in touch the ones I want to. Life is good and like Poppy, I'd highly recommend retirement.
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You guys are my heroes and I hope to join your ranks . . . sooner if not later...
 
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I had early retirement forced on me due to my spinal injuries. I left work (mechanical engineer) at age 55. I worked in a research & development field and loved my job. I designed and built prototypes, mainly for the welding industry as well as new types of machinery and tools for various types of manufacturing. I also designed and built displays for a Science Education centre.
After 40 years of work, I figured I had done my fair share and was only too happy to retire. People who say they don't know what to do in their retirement aren't looking very hard to find an interest.
Some things I do now, joined my Car Club ("Dad's Army"...I organise the Club's maintenance, etc.) teach photography, volunteering ( friendly home visits, outings, etc) photography (my own and also for the Car Club, motor sport & social) coach and do beginner's courses at my archery club, go on at least one field trip a month with one of my two photography groups, until recently, was a member of Wildlife Photographers Australia and am also on the organising committee for Vintage Collingrove Speed Hill Climb as well as being the event photographer for same.
None of these are high impact activities as I am just not able these days as walking is a real problem for me...they supply me with a 4X4 so I can negotiate the hill climb track...
I am continually getting requests to build and or design things for people's cars or archery equipment...can't do as much these days as I just don't have access to machinery but do the odd small thing when I can.
This is just what I do now and if my health was better, I could easily be doing more, I continually get requests from various people/organisations.
As for the money side of things, we are doing OK and my roll over is ticking along pretty well, in fact, I nearly have the same amount in it as I did when I retired 11 years ago despite spending around $100,000 in that 11 years.
Our new house, in a Lifestyle Village, is well under construction and we hope to move in by next February.
Probably the biggest blow in retirement will come when I can no longer drive my car which I love doing, not only because I love my car but for all of us, it means freedom...
 
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