[Misc] Retirement

[dazzer6666]

Any tips from ‘the retired’ for those in the working waiting room. 18 months at most before I jump aboard the retirement train. Caught between showing enthusiasm to ‘f—k off’ MS Teams.

I had a fairly long run-up to it because I knew I was going to jump long before they did (and then the restructure that I knew would give me the exit opportunity was delayed for several months by COVID). My strategy was always to keep giving it my best (at least in terms of engagement and output) so when I did leave they really didn't want me to. What I did do, though, was be a lot more brutal with my time - more flexible hours, not going to meetings unless I was really needed etc. My other plan was to cut down on ridiculous amounts of global travel I was doing, but COVID solved that issue for me anyway

 

[raymondo]

Four years ago I was 56, and in the fortunate position of having a DB pension. One of the little perks of the pension was that, at 60, the pension would be augmented by 5 years. Hence, by working for 4 more years (to age 60) I would actually earn 9 years worth of pension. On the face of it, very attractive. But I’d had enough of 60 hour+ weeks and the aggro of a reasonably senior role. So I left - and don’t regret one moment. The last four years I’ve done loads of stuff I could never have dreamt of if I’d stayed. Of course, we’ve got less money and my pension is worth a third less than it would have been. But as you say….you can’t buy time.

Exactly, there comes that point when time is more important than excess money. Do your sums, people, and if you can...unless you really enjoy your job...get out whilst still healthy.

 

[raymondo]

Without wishing to reply for Lyndhurst 14, I found that larger companies in particular are increasingly full of corporate bull, fostered by a climate of insecurity, blame culture and bullying. The long-standing Bell Cheeses at work thread on NSC is full of wonderful examples. With me it got to the point where I realised that I could fortunately afford to walk away from it. Best thing I ever did.

Exactly as for me. It required a lot of chat support from friends (as I'd been in one company for 27 years) but I got there - never regretted it. "Get out before they carry you out"

 

[DJ NOBO]

I had a fairly long run-up to it because I knew I was going to jump long before they did (and then the restructure that I knew would give me the exit opportunity was delayed for several months by COVID). My strategy was always to keep giving it my best (at least in terms of engagement and output) so when I did leave they really didn't want me to. What I did do, though, was be a lot more brutal with my time - more flexible hours, not going to meetings unless I was really needed etc. My other plan was to cut down on ridiculous amounts of global travel I was doing, but COVID solved that issue for me anyway

Global travel sounds pretty glamorous to me. Like a poor man’s James Bond. I’m guessing the reality is different.

 

[dazzer6666]

Global travel sounds pretty glamorous to me. Like a poor man’s James Bond. I’m guessing the reality is different.

It always sounds glamorous. Reality is more like (taking Hong Kong as an example which was my most common trip):

-lose Sunday afternoon going to Heathrow, 3 hours at airport, 13 hours on a plane (spending much of the time making sure your presentations etc are ready for the week), train to hotel, arrive knackered (8 hours ahead so effectively almost 24 hours on) but unable to sleep because you're still 8 hours behind. Wake up at 2am, can't get back to sleep so go to the gym. Tube to office for 8am....back to back meetings all day (genuinely trying to stay awake from 2-3pm onwards - and just at that time London wakes up and all the shite from there starts landing in your inbox)........get taken out for dinner even though you'd rather just crash in the hotel.......rinse and repeat all week. Fly back Friday night, get home Saturday morning, usually shot to pieces, and with a week's work to catch up on.

Yeah, I really miss it (only thing I do miss is the air miles and BA status which was great for holidays)

 

[FamilyGuy]

Tomorrow is the 5th Anniversary of the day I retired - not saying, just boasting

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Global travel sounds pretty glamorous to me. Like a poor man’s James Bond. I’m guessing the reality is different.

I have been to a lot places I would otherwise not have visited but while it sounds glamorous, most of the time it isn't. If you get a few days somewhere then you do get time to actually experience a little but most of the time, I am like a budget version of Richard Ayoade or Joe Lycett.

For example. I was in Finland a couple of weeks ago - it was dark when I landed, I got a cab around the ring road to the hotel, cab to the office, work all day, cab back to the airport. Was there for less than 26 hours and the only bit I saw was the view from the office window. Did the same with Prague but did manage to grab a couple of hours to quickly walk around the city before getting back to the airport.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I have been to a lot places I would otherwise not have visited but while it sounds glamorous, most of the time it isn't. If you get a few days somewhere then you do get time to actually experience a little but most of the time, I am like a budget version of Richard Ayoade or Joe Lycett.

For example. I was in Finland a couple of weeks ago - it was dark when I landed, I got a cab around the ring road to the hotel, cab to the office, work all day, cab back to the airport. Was there for less than 26 hours and the only bit I saw was the view from the office window. Did the same with Prague but did manage to grab a couple of hours to quickly walk around the city before getting back to the airport.

It's all about the cheapo off-peak travel to interesting-looking places on the Easyjet network. Spent last midweek in Copenhagen. Sweet town. Tho prob worth 3 days rather than the 4 we booked. Spent one half of one day doing The Bridge thing from Denmark to Sweden. The Bridge was the star (tho it felt like a bridge) and the astoundingly comfy and affordable standard class on the train came a close second. Sweden came a poor third. Spent 90 minutes in dull n dreary Malmo - tho it seemed much longer - before heading back across The Bridge. It was either that or venture further into Sweden, next stop Lund. But that was never an option for obvious reasons *shudder*

 

[Seagull58]

Global travel sounds pretty glamorous to me. Like a poor man’s James Bond. I’m guessing the reality is different.

Global travel can be fun and is good for conversations about what countries you've been to, but it can be tough on the mind and body. I once did 3 return trips to Australia in a 6 week period. I had two young children at home too. One of the perks for me was, back in the days when golf clubs went free on longhaul flights, I always took my clubs and tried to arrange my trips to include a weekend, so I was able to play many courses in the US, Australia and South Africa. Lots of good food and drink also.
Now I'm retired I made the decision to live in the algarve so summer holidays are not required and I prefer to travel to warm places in the northern hemisphere winter. I retired at 56 and I'm not that loaded so I don't go mad with my lifestyle. Beer at 3 euros a pint and wine at 2 to 3 euros a bottle helps the process. I also don't have a car. 400m from the supermarket, 1km from the bars, restaurants and the beach, pool in the garden, busses and ubers for longer journeys (bicycle coming soon).

 

[Seagull58]

I have been to a lot places I would otherwise not have visited but while it sounds glamorous, most of the time it isn't. If you get a few days somewhere then you do get time to actually experience a little but most of the time, I am like a budget version of Richard Ayoade or Joe Lycett.

For example. I was in Finland a couple of weeks ago - it was dark when I landed, I got a cab around the ring road to the hotel, cab to the office, work all day, cab back to the airport. Was there for less than 26 hours and the only bit I saw was the view from the office window. Did the same with Prague but did manage to grab a couple of hours to quickly walk around the city before getting back to the airport.

I was in Helsinki for 3 days eary July one year. It never got dark! 2am and bright sunshine is a mindf**k

 

[A mex eyecan]

I was in Helsinki for 3 days eary July one year. It never got dark! 2am and bright sunshine is a mindf**k

Been there 3 times for ‘workish’ trips. Thought it a great place to visit for a few days.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

I was in Helsinki for 3 days eary July one year. It never got dark! 2am and bright sunshine is a mindf**k

I lived in Helsinki for 3 years as a child and those midsummer days were amazing. The downside was midwinter when it seemed dark all the time.

 

[Weststander]

It's all about the cheapo off-peak travel to interesting-looking places on the Easyjet network. Spent last midweek in Copenhagen. Sweet town. Tho prob worth 3 days rather than the 4 we booked. Spent one half of one day doing The Bridge thing from Denmark to Sweden. The Bridge was the star (tho it felt like a bridge) and the astoundingly comfy and affordable standard class on the train came a close second. Sweden came a poor third. Spent 90 minutes in dull n dreary Malmo - tho it seemed much longer - before heading back across The Bridge. It was either that or venture further into Sweden, next stop Lund. But that was never an option for obvious reasons *shudder*

Have you been to Stockholm? We thought it was amazing. A summer trip.

 

[Doonhamer7]

Exactly, there comes that point when time is more important than excess money. Do your sums, people, and if you can...unless you really enjoy your job...get out whilst still healthy.

Healthy! That’s why I want to go early - 2 of our VPs stayed on an extra couple of years when they could easily have gone early. One of them is now a full time career as wife has Alzheimer (came quick and severe) the others wife died a year after their retirement. This combined with a fact (don’t know if it was true) I was told by a trustee of our pension about 25 years ago - if you went at 62 you took pension on average for 10-12years, if you went at 65 then 3years. So my aim has always been to go early

 

[banjo]

I retired at the end of Jan, and was gonna look for a job 2 days a week. Not a lot out there though so I’ll enjoy my time off while it last.

 

[zefarelly]

I felt this about some of them but I wanted to move on and spend my time with people i liked talking about things I wanted to talk about, not to hear that “Isaac from Sales has reduced his hours” or “last week we started a deep dive on the dress code”.

You don't get people like that in my world of engineering. Thankfully. Just nerdy shit

 

[raymondo]

Mrs Amex and I both retired early last year, both early, we were lucky to have a few quid in the bank to tide us, hopefully, through until we can get our pensions.

Neither of us have hobbies, but have still kept occupied virtually every day. Much of it nice stuff, but also spending an awful lot of time trying to sort out many things for my elderly parents. Although that’s not exactly what we would choose do be doing we are grateful that the early retirement means we can actually support them at a time in the their lives that they need it.

That's all good, but a bit surprised you've gone public on here about retiring with Mrs Amex

 

[raymondo]

Been there 3 times for ‘workish’ trips. Thought it a great place to visit for a few days.

My local host ordered bear pate for me in a traditional restaurant... I wouldn't recommend it

 

[A mex eyecan]

My local host ordered bear pate for me in a traditional restaurant... I wouldn't recommend it

Mine requested bear steak, actually quite liked it

 

[A mex eyecan]

That's all good, but a bit surprised you've gone public on here about retiring with Mrs Amex

ah, she’s all good