Thinking about retirement.

On Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:26:05 -0000

S Mason said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55,

Heh. Signs of a decadent society #317: Pensions for the
fit&healthy middle-aged!

Quoted message said:

So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

Since you have the choice, I guess you have some fortunate level
of economic security. That might also imply other opportunities,
such as alternative jobs, or the groves of academe, or some
mix-and-match combination.

Quoted message said:

As for riding in my own time to a "false target"
the same distance to my work every day, well I just wouldn't do it -
especially not on days like today.

Indeed, that's a peril of working from home. I do get out every
day (I know I feel really grotty if I miss a day), but when the
weather's bad it tends to be on foot rather than the bike.

--
not me guv

On Nov 24, 1:26 pm, "S Mason" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but I've
thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many people I
know have come back to work after a year off as they have missed it. Also, I
need the discipline of getting myself out of bed at 5-15 and riding to work.
If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed until 10 and get fat and lazy. So I'm
going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd have
chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the feeling I get
riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be fit and healthy that
I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my own time to a "false target"
the same distance to my work every day, well I just wouldn't do it -
especially not on days like today.

--
Simon Masonhttp://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

After reading your post I wondered if there are jobs that give some
sort of incentive to employees for cycling to work.

Has anybody heard of this?

Cullen

"S Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but I've
thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many people I
know have come back to work after a year off as they have missed it. Also,
I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed at 5-15 and riding to
work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed until 10 and get fat and lazy.
So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd have
chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the feeling I get
riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be fit and healthy that
I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my own time to a "false target"
the same distance to my work every day, well I just wouldn't do it -
especially not on days like today.

It is an interesting question to answer. I chose to leave work at 56
because;

1. I could.
2. I wanted to do some other stuff whilst I still had full health.

People need some structure to their lives and work offers it. I finally
chose to stop because I had something else to give me targets - also because
I wondered "Am I worried about giving up work because I am
institutionalised?"

I decide I was institutionalised and part of stopping regular work was to
prove to myself that I could cope as an individual. So far so good. I
sometimes question my decision - after all, I was good at what I did, but on
the whole (particularly when the sun is shining) it's a success.

John

In article <23260bbd-211b-4d2b-a6b0-3ade792f0b84
@t47g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

After reading your post I wondered if there are jobs that give some
sort of incentive to employees for cycling to work.

Has anybody heard of this?

Apart from the tax free bike scheme there are organisations that pay
people to leave their car at home.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3200604.stm

--
Tony

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has
taken place"
George Bernard Shaw

S Mason said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but I've
thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many people I
know have come back to work after a year off as they have missed it.
Also, I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed at 5-15 and
riding to work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed until 10 and get
fat and lazy. So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd have
chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the feeling I get
riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be fit and healthy
that I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my own time to a "false
target" the same distance to my work every day, well I just wouldn't do
it - especially not on days like today.

I retired at 50. It wasn't a planned thing, although I'd always
intended to retire before OAP age. However when the chance came to
leave paid employment I jumped at it. After 30 years of working for
other people I at last had the chance to work for myself (or really for
Mrs G :-) ). It was the best decision I ever made. Getting up early
is much more pleasurable when you do it to your own tune rather than
because someone else decrees it. Now after 10 years of self-employment
I've finally retired altogether and am now proving the old cliche that
retirement is busier than working. I really don't know how I found the
time to work.

But best of luck with your own decision. At least you're having the
luxury of choosing, which not everyone enjoys.

--
Brian G
www.wetwo.co.uk

S Mason said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but
I've thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many
people I know have come back to work after a year off as they have
missed it. Also, I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed
at 5-15 and riding to work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed
until 10 and get fat and lazy. So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd
have chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the
feeling I get riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be
fit and healthy that I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my
own time to a "false target" the same distance to my work every day,
well I just wouldn't do it - especially not on days like today.

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2 or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.
Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to do.
The second I can afford it, I'm stopping. Why do anything else?
I assume you live in a city, otherwise you would not have any shortage of
real targets.
--

Martin Bulmer

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to do.

That's a bit sad. I actually enjoy my work, and take care to ensure this
state continues.

cheers,
clive

Brian G said:

S Mason said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but
I've thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many
people I know have come back to work after a year off as they have
missed it. Also, I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed
at 5-15 and riding to work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed
until 10 and get fat and lazy. So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd
have chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the
feeling I get riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be
fit and healthy that I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my
own time to a "false target" the same distance to my work every day,
well I just wouldn't do it - especially not on days like today.

I retired at 50. It wasn't a planned thing, although I'd always
intended to retire before OAP age. However when the chance came to
leave paid employment I jumped at it. After 30 years of working for
other people I at last had the chance to work for myself (or really
for Mrs G :-) ). It was the best decision I ever made. Getting up
early is much more pleasurable when you do it to your own tune rather
than because someone else decrees it. Now after 10 years of
self-employment I've finally retired altogether and am now proving
the old cliche that retirement is busier than working. I really
don't know how I found the time to work.

But best of luck with your own decision. At least you're having the
luxury of choosing, which not everyone enjoys.

Left paid employment at 44 to work for myself. Financialy beneficial (very
slightly), but don't imagine that being an employer makes you the boss, it
merely makes you dependant on sickly skivers. When you turn up at work with
chronic [censored] (ulcerative colitis), angina chest pains, and hay fever (the
worst of the aforementioned), just to be informed that none of your staff
are coming in due to "Being awake at 3 o'clock", "Having an
interview(!!!!)", "stress", having a "broken car", and the inevitable,
invisible "bad back", you kind of wish you'd continued in employment. I'd
probably have been pensioned off as too sickly by now if I'd stayed. Did I
mention the broken ankle I had on that day? No? Just as well, because it
wasn't broken, just badly sprained, possible permanent ligament damage,
twice the size o the elephant equivalent (ok, I exaggerate.)
We have a limited time to live. I see little point in wasting it working.
--

Martin Bulmer

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2
or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.

You're not related to Dave Bulmer, accordion player extraordinaire by any
chance?

Very interesting views.

I'm 57, have a very well-paid job, but have too much work-pressure and
decision-making pressure on me. I've multiple interests, cycling,
photography, Irish language, local history, computer programming,
Spanish, after-dinner speaking, maintaining and building bicycles etc.
I'm definitely going (if I'm alive) at 61, when I can get a full
pension. if I'm dead, I'm staying on until I die!

Clive George said:

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want
to do.

That's a bit sad. I actually enjoy my work, and take care to ensure
this state continues.

cheers,
clive

That must be nice.
--

Martin Bulmer

vernon said:

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all
day, 2 or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play
my mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on
guitar when I was 17.

You're not related to Dave Bulmer, accordion player extraordinaire by
any chance?

No.
My son is a Dave, but not an accordionist.
http://abigailryder.com/davebulmer.com/index.html
--

Martin Bulmer

Retired from full time paid employment at 54, nearly six years ago.
Started consultancy for part time work, now tapering off. (Previous
employer now has a more relaxed attitude to allowing employees to
'taper-off' their work time towards retirement, which would have been
an easier route, but maybe less 'interesting'.)
Never regretted it, but I can understand why some might find it
'scary'. Like others, I now have no idea how I ever managed to fit in
a 44hr working week - except that the garden, house etc. are now in
(marginally) better shape, and I seem to have rather more bicycles
than I used too 🙂

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2
or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.
Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to do.
The second I can afford it, I'm stopping. Why do anything else?
I assume you live in a city, otherwise you would not have any shortage of
real targets.

I've worked since I left school at 16 and I suppose I have a work ethic
ingrained in me. There nothing like riding home after work having had a good
day when your efforts are appreciated. Of course, there is the money side of
it as well, my pension would be a fair bit less than my current salary so my
standard of life would go down, there would be no 4 grand TT bikes that's
for sure.

I do need that kick up the back side though. Left to my own devices I get up
at 9 or 10, get the papers, a round of toast, fiddle with my radios, have a
nap, drive to Waitrose, drink beer and so on. I would go downhill very
rapidly.

--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

in message <[email hidden]>, Martin Bulmer

(') said:

S Mason said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but
I've thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many
people I know have come back to work after a year off as they have
missed it. Also, I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed
at 5-15 and riding to work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed
until 10 and get fat and lazy. So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2
or 3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.
Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to
do. The second I can afford it, I'm stopping. Why do anything else?
I assume you live in a city, otherwise you would not have any shortage of
real targets.

I expect to work until I die, whether that's at 70 or 110. I don't have
much choice, since I don't have a pension worth sneezing at; but I expect
to go on enjoying work until I die. I simply wouldn't do a job I didn't
enjoy; I did once, but changed it after nine months. If you don't enjoy
what you're doing, go and do something else.

But a lot of the most creative, interesting and rewarding things I've ever
done in my life are things I've also been paid for, and frankly I intend
to keep it that way.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Want to know what SCO stands for?
;; http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030605

On Nov 25, 7:12 pm, "Simon Mason" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2
or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.
Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to do.
The second I can afford it, I'm stopping. Why do anything else?
I assume you live in a city, otherwise you would not have any shortage of
real targets.

I've worked since I left school at 16 and I suppose I have a work ethic
ingrained in me. There nothing like riding home after work having had a good
day when your efforts are appreciated. Of course, there is the money side of
it as well, my pension would be a fair bit less than my current salary so my
standard of life would go down, there would be no 4 grand TT bikes that's
for sure.

I do need that kick up the back side though. Left to my own devices I get up
at 9 or 10, get the papers, a round of toast, fiddle with my radios, have a
nap, drive to Waitrose, drink beer and so on. I would go downhill very
rapidly.

My ideal retirement is to work gradually fewer days as I get older. In
fact given the opportunity, I'd probably be quite happy to work a 4
day week right now - it's not like I need the money. I know someone
who is still working part-time aged 75 or so, he seems to be enjoying
it still. Of course this strategy does depend on the nature of the
work.

James

"S Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am coming up to the final few years until I can retire at 55, but I've
thought long and hard about it and I'm not going to go. So many people I
know have come back to work after a year off as they have missed it. Also,
I need the discipline of getting myself out of bed at 5-15 and riding to
work. If I didn't have that, I'd stay in bed until 10 and get fat and lazy.
So I'm going to go on until 65 or 70.

The cycling has made up my mind. Had I commuted by car no doubt I'd have
chucked it as the traffic jams would drive me mad, but the feeling I get
riding to and from work makes me feel so lucky to be fit and healthy that
I'd be mad to give it up. As for riding in my own time to a "false target"
the same distance to my work every day, well I just wouldn't do it -
especially not on days like today.

--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/

Retired 5 mths ago at 59, and, because I now have considerably less money, I
cycle everywhere whenever possible - shops, library ..... pub! If I can't
cycle because of the weather, I try and get out most days for a good walk.
I'm actually feeling a lot fitter than when at work, although I think that
may be because I sleep better and longer, almost zero stress and my diet is
less "manufactured" and more natural/cheap!

I'm determined to keep my fitness - I've started doing some simple yoga and
pilates stretching exercises (just sort of incorporate them into the day,
nothing too enthusiastic or structured), and I'm getting myself an exercise
bike because I'm missing it with the foul weather. I reckon I can read,
listen to music/audiobooks, etc. etc. whilst pedalling away. And I can turn
the heating down when I get warm !!!

I hated my job and can't stand the thought of going back to work, I'm
getting through the adjustment (...which is quite big, actually, with no
husband anymore and sons left, therefore alone..) of not having to watch the
clock, I've stopped wearing a watch altogether.

I'm gonna live to 100!!! Too many books in the world to cram into a few
years!

Barb.

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Clive George said:

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want
to do.

That's a bit sad. I actually enjoy my work, and take care to ensure
this state continues.

That must be nice.

It is, but I have made decisions along the way which others might not - eg I
could probably earn a fair amount more than I do now in exchange for a worse
life.

cheers,
clive

Quoted message said:

On Nov 25, 7:12 pm, "Simon Mason" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, if I had that choice, I'd retire tomorrow. I could ride all day, 2
or
3 days a week, maintain house & garden on a day or 2, learn to play my
mandolin, banjo, concertina, piano, get back to how good I was on guitar
when I was 17.
Work has ruined my life and prevented me from doing anything I want to do.
The second I can afford it, I'm stopping. Why do anything else?
I assume you live in a city, otherwise you would not have any shortage of
real targets.

I've worked since I left school at 16 and I suppose I have a work ethic
ingrained in me. There nothing like riding home after work having had a good
day when your efforts are appreciated. Of course, there is the money side of
it as well, my pension would be a fair bit less than my current salary so my
standard of life would go down, there would be no 4 grand TT bikes that's
for sure.

I do need that kick up the back side though. Left to my own devices I get up
at 9 or 10, get the papers, a round of toast, fiddle with my radios, have a
nap, drive to Waitrose, drink beer and so on. I would go downhill very
rapidly.

My ideal retirement is to work gradually fewer days as I get older. In
fact given the opportunity, I'd probably be quite happy to work a 4
day week right now - it's not like I need the money. I know someone
who is still working part-time aged 75 or so, he seems to be enjoying
it still. Of course this strategy does depend on the nature of the
work.

Yep me too at the moment I either have to work in emergency/day before
yesterday mode or not at all. I would love to find a balance.

Quoted message said:

James