After retirement, what?

Post by **stephen500** » 17 Aug 2020, 09:01

Well in just over three months, I will write my resigination letter, just in time for Christmas.
I hope to go to some wonderful German Christmas markets, not restricted by having to have a short weekend to rush back to work on the Monday.
I also hope to visit Japan next year for a couple of weeks along with Germany a few times once again.
Football is high on my agenda, provided we are allowed to re enter grounds.
I also have work to do around the house and garden, but eventully I will have a lot of time on my hands.
So the topic suggests "what" happens next? For me it certainly won't be paid work. I want to watch football and go places without any manager or SRM telling me what leave I can or can't have. I have already chosen 52 weeks leave and I am number 1 in the seniority list.
So it has to be hobbies, cycling (even new ones) and voluntary work. I was going to volunteer to work in a hospital, but that idea looks a bit dangerous at the moment.
So while I ponder what to do, what are you going to do and if you have already retired, what are you doing?

TheStrangler · Post by **TheStrangler** » 17 Aug 2020, 09:50

stephen500 wrote:I have already chosen 52 weeks leave and I am number 1 in the seniority list.

That's a good line!
Interested to see the responses on here to your question.
Did you say you've done 38 years? You definitely deserve every minute of your retirement, I wish you all the best.
Sounds like you've got plenty to keep you occupied.
I hope to visit family more than I've been able to due to work.
I want to take occasional breaks in this country, Lake District etc and hopefully be able to have a keep fit program of sorts just to keep me active and hopefully healthy.
More of a racing man than footie myself so hopefully that'll be accessible at some point.
Certainly looking forward to NOT getting up at 4am every morning and commuting to work.
That's one reason I'll never regret leaving rm.

Post by **stephen500** » 17 Aug 2020, 10:13

TheStrangler wrote:
stephen500 wrote:I have already chosen 52 weeks leave and I am number 1 in the seniority list.
That's a good line!
Interested to see the responses on here to your question.
Did you say you've done 38 years? You definitely deserve every minute of your retirement, I wish you all the best.
Sounds like you've got plenty to keep you occupied.
I hope to visit family more than I've been able to due to work.
I want to take occasional breaks in this country, Lake District etc and hopefully be able to have a keep fit program of sorts just to keep me active and hopefully healthy.
More of a racing man than footie myself so hopefully that'll be accessible at some point.
Certainly looking forward to NOT getting up at 4am every morning and commuting to work.
That's one reason I'll never regret leaving rm.

Well started in 1977 and left in 1980 for 8 months for volunteer work, (no unpaid career break then) and rejoined in Jan 1981, so technically I have around 43 years service! I used to get up at 4am in the 1980s and open a delivery office as a PHG. Now I work twilights and overtime till around 6 am. Nights is bad for your health. I now have 2 stents from bad eating and well, nights. So I would either have to have stopped nights any way soon for my health soon or completly stopped overtime. I will cycle for my health, was doing 10 miles, will have to double that. Some volunteer work? I thought of that and you don't mention that kind of thing? The first thing to deal with, is to sort out my tax. I guess I will be on an emergency code of 20% on my pension, until I get my P45 and having paid my tax on a spread basis for the year, will have overpaid by December as I don't plan to work any more. So they either sort it out straight away or I will get a rebate of around £750 in April. Let me know how you get on.

Post by **RobertT** » 17 Aug 2020, 10:27

I'll probably do some DIY jobs around the house, which will keep me busy for a while.

Hobbies wise, it'll probably be fairly sporty.
I've always been a keen runner and hope to do more of that and maybe do another marathon or two?
I'm lucky to live quite close to an AONB which great for running, mountain biking and walking and can spend hours over there.

I also like my football – particularly non league. As well as following my home town club, I fancy doing a bit of ground hopping, both locally and further afield.

I've had phases of playing golf over the years and may get back into that a bit more? I also used to write and record my own music, which I might do again?

Financially, the aim is that once retired I won't need to work again. But I haven't ruled out some kind of part time work to fill some time, make new friends and bring in a few extra £'s.

I prefer holidaying in the UK and plan to visit all those places I've always fancied going to, but never have.

I've still got the best part of 3 years before I expect to leave RM, but as far as I'm concerned planning what you're going to do with your time is just as important and planning the finances.

Post by **stephen500** » 17 Aug 2020, 15:10

RobertT wrote:I'll probably do some DIY jobs around the house, which will keep me busy for a while.

Hobbies wise, it'll probably be fairly sporty.
I've always been a keen runner and hope to do more of that and maybe do another marathon or two?
I'm lucky to live quite close to an AONB which great for running, mountain biking and walking and can spend hours over there.

I also like my football – particularly non league. As well as following my home town club, I fancy doing a bit of ground hopping, both locally and further afield.

I've had phases of playing golf over the years and may get back into that a bit more? I also used to write and record my own music, which I might do again?

Financially, the aim is that once retired I won't need to work again. But I haven't ruled out some kind of part time work to fill some time, make new friends and bring in a few extra £'s.

I prefer holidaying in the UK and plan to visit all those places I've always fancied going to, but never have.

I've still got the best part of 3 years before I expect to leave RM, but as far as I'm concerned planning what you're going to do with your time is just as important and planning the finances.

I think the only thing that can hurt us is excessive inflation, but I can't see that happening for a few years at least.
My colleague at work is a ground hopper being driven mad by the lack of grounds to visit at present.
Here is his blog http://groundhoppersdiary.blogspot.com/
You certainly look like you will have plenty to do, nice to hear.

lordthornber · Post by **lordthornber** » 17 Aug 2020, 15:37

Retired two years ago, aged 54. Left RM in '04. Spent about 6 months holidaying, pondering, eating and drinking. Realised I had to get fitter,so rejoined the gym and made some great new friends and contacts. One of them offered me some paid work, I say work but it isn't work to me. I can do it absolutely as and when I choose and it's a nice little earner. My advice is take your time and don't plan. God might get in the way...

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 17 Aug 2020, 15:53

I'm gonna buy a dinghy
Gonna call her Dignity...

On my busy days I'll write a bit and drink a lot...
I'm not interested in living to 103 in a home being shouted at and fed by a spoon.

Post by **RobertT** » 17 Aug 2020, 16:06

stephen500 wrote:I think the only thing that can hurt us is excessive inflation, but I can't see that happening for a few years at least.
My colleague at work is a ground hopper being driven mad by the lack of grounds to visit at present.
Here is his blog http://groundhoppersdiary.blogspot.com/
You certainly look like you will have plenty to do, nice to hear.

I think I've seen that blog before? It definitely looks familiar!
I won't mention who I support for fear of giving away my location and identity, but I notice he's been to a few grounds close to me, but hasn't actually been to my club yet.

Post by **RobertT** » 17 Aug 2020, 16:09

Woody Guthrie wrote:I'm gonna buy a dinghy
Gonna call her Dignity...

On my busy days I'll write a bit and drink a lot...
I'm not interested in living to 103 in a home being shouted at and fed by a spoon.

I knew someone like that – drank a lot and died at 70! His liver was well and truly pickled.

yubin282 · Post by **yubin282** » 17 Aug 2020, 17:22

stephen500 wrote:Well in just over three months, I will write my resigination letter, just in time for Christmas.
I hope to go to some wonderful German Christmas markets, not restricted by having to have a short weekend to rush back to work on the Monday.
I also hope to visit Japan next year for a couple of weeks along with Germany a few times once again.
Football is high on my agenda, provided we are allowed to re enter grounds.
I also have work to do around the house and garden, but eventully I will have a lot of time on my hands.
So the topic suggests "what" happens next? For me it certainly won't be paid work. I want to watch football and go places without any manager or SRM telling me what leave I can or can't have. I have already chosen 52 weeks leave and I am number 1 in the seniority list.
So it has to be hobbies, cycling (even new ones) and voluntary work. I was going to volunteer to work in a hospital, but that idea looks a bit dangerous at the moment.
So while I ponder what to do, what are you going to do and if you have already retired, what are you doing?

Have you been to Japan before? Personally i would use my '52 weeks leave' and stay there as long as possible.

martjohn1 · Post by **martjohn1** » 17 Aug 2020, 19:26

I have been to Japan.....the best country of earth but bloody expensive....save your pennies!!!

Post by **General Mannerheim** » 17 Aug 2020, 20:42

I'm hoping to buy a small motor home (I've always fancied a Romahome) and intend spending a good few months travelling around Scotland ,coming through the lakes , into Wales and then down to Cornwall, along the bottom coast, visit a few relatives in Plymouth then onto Suffolk, Lincs and then finally home to Lancashire.
I've been planning it for a couple of years now, can't wait to put it into practise.

When I eventually get home the house needs a good few jobs that I can do myself and I hope to carry on doing a few tribunal cases for disabled people on behalf of CAB. I also have a static Caravan and will be spending a lot of time doing feck all except reading and listening to music on my decking hopefully getting a tan and sinking a few beers.

Have no desire to work for anybody else ever again, working for Royal Mail has put me off big time,

yubin282 · Post by **yubin282** » 17 Aug 2020, 21:46

martjohn1 wrote:I have been to Japan.....the best country of earth but bloody expensive....save your pennies!!!

best country on earth - yes

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 18 Aug 2020, 15:36

All my plans for retirement have been adequately covered in the many episodes of Still Game.

Before I die I would like to make a break of 25 on a full size snooker table.

Post by **stephen500** » 19 Aug 2020, 16:57

martjohn1 wrote:I have been to Japan.....the best country of earth but bloody expensive....save your pennies!!!

I have saved £400 for flights so far (flights should be around £530) and will be getting £550 after tax for my pension advice money (off Royal Mail) which is going towards my Japan trip. I have priced 14 nights at around £2500 with a Japan railcard, with reasonable hotels. I don't drink at all and will tailor my spending.
So it should cost me around £1500 after allowing for the money saved above and the pension advice money, I will get a little while after I leave.