On retiring, what new things did you start...

[Renato1]

Jealous+++. I'm nearly there age wise, but financiailly won't be able to retire at that age

Yes, I feel sorry for the younger generation (i.e. people seven years or more younger than me) with the Preservation Age to access Superannuation being raised from 55 to 60. It sort of made sense, that the government didn't want people blowing their lumps sum payouts too quickly, but why not allow people to still retire at 55 if they put their Superannuation into Allocated Pensions, where the lump sums were unlikely to be blown away?

I remember about 20 years ago reading an analysis of US Auto-Workers superfund which was flushed with cash. They had done the analysis and found that those who retired at 50 or early 50s lived the longest and got the most pension benefit from their contributions, while those who retired in their early to mid 60s lived the shortest and were getting the least pension from their contributions. And more members than originally thought were retiring later in life, resulting in a huge cash windfall to the fund.

If the same factors are at play in Australia as was the case back then in the USA, one could argue that raising the Preservation Age reduces average life span.

Is there any sort of Transition To Retirement scheme where you work, that would enable partial retirement in the near future?

Regards,
Renato

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I will say to the newly retire or plan to soon - be understanding to your spouse or partner and their home schedule. It took a good 4 weeks of my husband being underfoot and in my way because he was screwing up my schedule.

He would have a shower, without considering that he was delaying me leaving for work. He would be in the kitchen, in my way, while Im trying to have breakfast, do laundry ect. Then he would phone my office at 4pm, asking when I would be home

Early morning was MY time in the house and suddenly he was there. All the time. Which is why he now goes swimming every day approx 5.45/6am

Good advice.

Though in my case already taken care of as I having been running my business which is mainly Cloud based (and so can be done from anywhere where I can get internet) from home (when not travelling) for 3 years.

My wife left her full time job late last year and joined me on the 10 second daily commute from the bedroom to the family room (with home wifi the office can be anywhere from by the pool to any room that appeals at the time).

So for the last 5 months we have been effectively been in training for retirement as apart from holidays this is the first period in our shared lives since we were 19 where we have both been living together on a 24/7 basis.

 

[get me outta here]

People I know who retired and then I catch up with them a bit later usually look very much slimmer, healthier, fitter and happier having now had the time for enjoyable many different types of exercise.

 

[VPS]

Interesting thread as I'm almost there. I had six months travelling then came back and had a little break and got offered a short term contract. I want to keep doing part time or contract for a couple of years and then will probably volunteer one day a week and maybe some genealogy research (and sorting out my millions of photos)

 

[get me outta here]

I felt sure you were going to say, "sort out my millions."

Interesting thread as I'm almost there. I had six months travelling then came back and had a little break and got offered a short term contract. I want to keep doing part time or contract for a couple of years and then will probably volunteer one day a week and maybe some genealogy research (and sorting out my millions of photos)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I remember about 20 years ago reading an analysis of US Auto-Workers superfund which was flushed with cash. They had done the analysis and found that those who retired at 50 or early 50s lived the longest

I have read on this in the past and their are mixed views, and in part this is affected by the data that was used and what biases may have been in it the group looked at

Retirement age has NO impact on life expectancy | Daily Mail Online

Do those who retire early live longer?

Does early retirement mean an early death?


However one reason why I started this thread is that I believe that to have a long and happy post retirement life that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.

• What these are will of course vary for each individual.

For some males in particular these factors can be lacking and it is why I tend to believe some men only last two years post-retirement (putting aside illnesses like cancer etc). It is also why those that are forced to retire often can have a worse time of it as they have not a good balance of these aspects in their life.

 

[VPS]

I felt sure you were going to say, "sort out my millions."

Sadly no millions or I wouldn't be having to work part time

 

[JohnK]

I have even had similar discussions in Italy, where people invariably ask me what I do all day, and are surprised when I unashamedly say "Nothing", as many of them too are into the only-being-worthwhile-by-doing-worthwhile-things business.

I look forward to doing "Nothing". And that's nothing to be ashamed about.

 

[Renato1]

I have read on this in the past and their are mixed views, and in part this is affected by the data that was used and what biases may have been in it the group looked at

Retirement age has NO impact on life expectancy | Daily Mail Online

Do those who retire early live longer?

Does early retirement mean an early death?


However one reason why I started this thread is that I believe that to have a long and happy post retirement life that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.

• What these are will of course vary for each individual.

For some males in particular these factors can be lacking and it is why I tend to believe some men only last two years post-retirement (putting aside illnesses like cancer etc). It is also why those that are forced to retire often can have a worse time of it as they have not a good balance of these aspects in their life.

Sorry, but I have to strongly disagree when you say,
".....that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.."

All a person actually needs are food and drink, protection from heat and cold, and protection from someone trying to kill him or her, everything else is a nice-to-have. Believing that these nice-to-haves are actual needs which aren't being satisfied, often results in people making themselves miserable as if their real needs aren't being met.

And while social connections and activities are unambiguously very nice-to-haves indeed, I would be concerned about "meaning" and "purpose". We've had several thousand years of philosophers and theologians trying to figure them out, and unless one is very religious, I can see them being quite problematic to satisfy, and the probable cause of unnecessary unhappiness.

Interesting the links, thanks. The Australian business school study of Norwegian data seemed seemed a tad weird as to proving anything in an Australian or even world setting. None of these links raise the issue of culture and work ethic, and people subsequently caught in the worthless/wothwhile self-esteem trap

The famous Boeing Study which didn't exist, funnily enough accords with my father's observation while working at a factory - time after time wishing someone at age 65 well on their retirement, only to hear that he was dead six months to a year later. I on the other hand, used to organise work reunions for people who had retired as far back as when I was still in primary school, and who in general had retired earlier than the general population because they worked in government. I just kept thinking "These people must be costing the government a fortune, as they just keep on going".
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I look forward to doing "Nothing". And that's nothing to be ashamed about.

That's the spirit - Live long and prosper
It's sad how many people appear ashamed of their good fortune at retiring.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

I think once all our needs are met then we can afford to be Greens.

 

[burmans]

People I know who retired and then I catch up with them a bit later usually look very much slimmer, healthier, fitter and happier having now had the time for enjoyable many different types of exercise.

This will be me. Have had a couple of sizeable breaks between contracts and I'm always much slimmer and fitter in these breaks. When I was younger (pre-kids) I swam, went to the gym, rode my bike, played tennis & golf, went surfing, walked, just don't have the time now for so much but definitely will do this when I retire.

Then I might learn a language, do some sort of self-indulgent educational things, maybe do some sort of Latin American dancing, read more, spend a bit of time managing investments and even have time for the odd job around the house my wife will inevitably want me to do. Plus of course planning travel and travelling (slowly) itself.

I think what you want to do is up to you but surely most people have something they feel they could do/do more of if they just had more time?

 

[Denali]

I found in the first month or so, my husband didnt have peer communication and I worried about that. His first month was discovering his new normal but that also meant he wasnt engaging with others and some days I was the only person he would talk to, so I really encourage him to go to the weekly guys (from work) burger breakfast, photography meetup, get back into diving ect.

He said he didnt miss talking to people but I feel hes happier connecting with people. Its easy to become insular.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Sorry, but I have to strongly disagree when you say,
".....that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.."

All a person actually needs are food and drink, protection from heat and cold, and protection from someone trying to kill him or her, everything else is a nice-to-have.

That would be true except that you have ignored the first half of my sentence: However one reason why I started this thread is that I believe that to have a long and happy post retirement life

I doubt that the items you list would in themleves to be enough to have a happy life. You would have life, but without other factors I do not see how it could be happy, and from that I doubt it would be long.

Believing that these nice-to-haves are actual needs which aren't being satisfied, often results in people making themselves miserable as if their real needs aren't being met.

And while social connections and activities are unambiguously very nice-to-haves indeed, I would be concerned about "meaning" and "purpose". We've had several thousand years of philosophers and theologians trying to figure them out, and unless one is very religious, I can see them being quite problematic to satisfy, and the probable cause of unnecessary unhappiness.

I think that we are probably really in agreement as

".....that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.

is unique for each of us. And to achieve it is does not have to be complex, nor does it have to involve much money. One can find meaning in living a simple life. Some find it in caring for family, or for others by volunteering. Some from pottering around in a garden. Some from golf. Whether others find meaning in your life does not matter. It only matters if you do.

While you say you do nothing, I doubt that you just sit in a chair all day. Indeed being on this forum you obviously travel. Though again one does not have to travel to enjoy and find satisfaction in life.

There is no universal right or wrong only way in this. We each have our on path.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I found in the first month or so, my husband didnt have peer communication and I worried about that. His first month was discovering his new normal but that also meant he wasnt engaging with others and some days I was the only person he would talk to, so I really encourage him to go to the weekly guys (from work) burger breakfast, photography meetup, get back into diving ect.

He said he didnt miss talking to people but I feel hes happier connecting with people. Its easy to become insular.

Since I started my own cloud based business 3 years ago for me the only negative aspect has been I do not get as much human social interaction as I used to. Mind you I do not miss the human HR dramas

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Sorry, but I have to strongly disagree when you say,
".....that you need to have meaning, purpose, social connections and activities that engage one.."

.....and who in general had retired earlier than the general population because they worked in government. I just kept thinking "These people must be costing the government a fortune, as they just keep on going".
Regards,
Renato

That could be well due to that other "confirmed" fact - those lucky enough to have a defined benefit pension (govt workers) live the longest - why is this so, could be less stress, more likely they just want to screw the system for as long as they possibly can

In saying all that I strongly believe purpose and social interactions are vital components when leaving the workforce

 

[ellen10]

My husband retired 3 years ago and loves it.
His days are full. Plays golf, cycles, kayaks, has coffee dates, lunches with retiree mates, Mens shed (digital photography), sails, piano lessons. The list goes on!

I am still working (to mainly fund our travel) and maybe planning to retire in 2 years. But I need to find my groove for retirement. I only have a few girlfriends who are retired or semi retired and most of them a have some babysitting duties throughout the week and don't so much have regular activities. Yes I know there are lots of volunteering opportunities, which I have done throughout my life.

But there was always a fear for men of how they will handle retirement, but I feel for the men (certainly in my husbands group) there are lots more activities and events then for my female friends other then shopping (I am not a shopper) and coffee dates. Not so much the physical activities or regular weekly activities.

A work in progress for me I think.

 

[cove]

At 68 I thought I had better read along.
I am down to two days at the office and I feel I am replaceable.
I think I am there for the frequent flyer points......

 

[Deleted member]

All very interesting comments.
We have not retired , and won’t ever retire in the true sense of the word.
Mrs GPH had a nasty car accident last October, and that has meant some adjustments in our time line for the next phase of our life, which we will call retirement for want of another description.
We have now pushed back those plans until end of 2019. I will still be under 65 at that point (just) but we try and enjoy life now as well.
She loves her travel and the great friendships we have made through this and other travel groups.
We have grandchildren close by, our business is facing challenges, but we can see a great future for it in our succession plan. I suppose our interests will be keeping an eye on the business, doing things with our grandchildren, travel (spending extended periods overseas in Europe mostly) and generally having a bit of fun.
The actual report on how it’s going will have to wait.

 

[Limewood]

Retired a long time ago after spending years working crazy hours in a very demanding industry, made a sea change to FNQ and love it, got so bored after a few months, started an online business from home, never looked back, takes just a few hours max a day for us both, retire... can't see that happening anytime soon.