Getting ready for retirement

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Getting ready for retirement

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Gordon,

I have only just retired as of 6.45pm yesterday 21st September. I found the hardest thing was to actually make the decision to retire, then to actually resign. The financials are still being finalised as in the actual pension start date, I am not 65 so will be attacking my super but in the Pension amount. I think the main thing I will have to get used to is getting payed Monthly and not Weekly, that and few minor lifestyle adjustments and it's all sorted.

The lead up to THE big day is a emotional roller coaster and the actual day is a real big roller coaster, then the last few hours drag on, then the last hour, well, I just don't know where it went.

I was up at the same time this morning as if I were going to work, it will take a while for that to sort out I spose.

I put a post in another section of this forum so check it out, it sort of has a lead up too and then THE day.

magraret · Senior Member

like doug i have just retired and have 6 months before i can go on the pension so its my super i could not handle the work politics and attiudes so made the decision and have neverr felt better you just have to do as life is to short

gordon_adl · Senior Member

Know that feeling well.

magraret wrote:

i could not handle the work politics and attiudes so made the decision and have neverr felt better you just have to do as life is to short

jetj · Guru

Once you see life from outside the work environment, you just never look back. It takes a week or more to adjust.

Nicholstones · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
G'day Gordon,

....I was up at the same time this morning as if I were going to work, it will take a while for that to sort out I spose. ......

When we were working the alarm was set to 6:10 to catch the 7:11 train at the station just up the road, half through the first week of retirement I woke to hear the 7:11 train chundering past, can count on one hand the days we've got up before 7:00 in the 5 years since - and they would have been early tee times!

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I retired and we left straight away for Tasmania for 6 weeks. So it wasnt until we'd been home for a few weeks that I got restless.... then I started a little business that was only ever part-time and I could get away for a month or so with no worries. I kept that up till we were both over pension age, and said why bother anymore? I still get restless from time to time, have done some volunteering, until it starts to feel like work again

.
You get so busy with various interests, even if you are arent travelling, that you wonder how you ever had time to go to work!

gordon_adl · Senior Member

yeah we're both tired of work. Too young for pension or to even access our super yet. Maybe what we're really considering is semi retirement. We're just starting to build a house though and want to sit there and enjoy the fruits of it for a couple of years before we get on the road though.

Bent Axle Bob · Senior Member

I agree with Gerty. I worked 2 years past retirement age as I was still enjoying it. 3 days after I finished I left for 2 weeks in NZ, back for 3 weeks and then to Bali for 2 weeks. 5 weeks later I began my trip around OZ. I was so busy enjoying myself for the first 2months that did not miss working at all. Yes I missed my workmates but not the 0430am breakfasts or the 13 hour days

neilnruth · Guru

We planned our retirement - but a massive heart attack for my husband dictated it happened a month earlier than planned. Now we wonder where we found the time to work. Love the freedom to go when we want to.

lizard · Veteran Member

We retired 6 yrs before pension date , self funded retiree .... hope the money lasts , living the dream , been in our van for 18 months now

golivers travels · Guru

Both retired at 54, 4 yrs ago, and have not looked back. Spent 12 months travelling around Aus. Have had 4 short van trips this year. Off to UK for 7 weeks on Tuesday. Will hit the road again next for about 4 months. We are self funded retirees. We both decided that working was hindering our LIFE. Have not looked back. we do supplement our income with a small amout of casual work, but have to be careful with tax implications. Every situation is different for everyone. Glenda

thomas01 · Senior Member

I had a much harder time quitting the fags than I did quitting work. Quitting work I had no cravings, I didn't have cranky mood swings and I didn't need lollies or patches to get me through the day. The hardest part was naming the day and then waiting for it to come around.

I have been on "holiday" now for 10 months and the only side effect is I just wouldn't have time to go to work again. Just too busy!!!

Now only 10 years till I can get the pension. Hope I make it. Many don't. If you have the option, get out now and live the dream. Just make sure you have something to keep you occupied. Something more than reading the paper and watching telly.

The lifestyle gets cheaper with experience and the experience gets better with practice.