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.
0515? Crikey, I couldn't cope with that.
Neil
-- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
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.
I know a number of people that thought that and had the opportunity. Some went to play golf all day, one went and sailed round the Pacific for two years. It ruined the things they enjoyed for all of them. Before golf or sailing had been special but once you could do it every day it quickly became "normal" and they tired of it. The happiest people I know are those that keep it special and spend their time using the experience they have gained over the years in new ways and to help others but without the pressure of needing to work or needing the money. Losing that driver gives you a completely different perspective on work.
-- Tony
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" George Bernard Shaw
"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.
I was 58 this year and can retire at 60 so I have to start making up my mind when to go. My partner is 4 years younger, so I plan to work on until I am 64 so we can retire together - and that is the year the mortgage is paid off.
And being on the bike everyday makes me feel a lot younger than my colleagues who shuffle to work under someone else's steam.
In article <db92b3e3-687c-4dc9-b0e2- [email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
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.
"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <db92b3e3-687c-4dc9-b0e2- [email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
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.
"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
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.
I know a number of people that thought that and had the opportunity. Some went to play golf all day, one went and sailed round the Pacific for two years. It ruined the things they enjoyed for all of them. Before golf or sailing had been special but once you could do it every day it quickly became "normal" and they tired of it.
That's right. It's only by enduring the times of misery that you appreciate the moments of sheer joy when they arrive. There can't be many more miserable commutes than east Hull at 6 am in winter, but passing the local hospital sometimes makes me cry with joy that I'm not in there but on a bike instead. :-)
"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
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.
Not an option, sadly. I do the thing I'm qualified for, and it pays too well for the wife to allow me to do unqualified work.--
"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
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.
I know a number of people that thought that and had the opportunity. Some went to play golf all day, one went and sailed round the Pacific for two years. It ruined the things they enjoyed for all of them. Before golf or sailing had been special but once you could do it every day it quickly became "normal" and they tired of it. The happiest people I know are those that keep it special and spend their time using the experience they have gained over the years in new ways and to help others but without the pressure of needing to work or needing the money. Losing that driver gives you a completely different perspective on work.
That is interesting. I have always thought that if I retire I would like to move to the Scottish Highlands and do all the hiking that I always intend to do but never get round to doing. I guess you are right in that something you enjoy doing is special if you are restricted in some way from doing it most of the time but if you were able to do it all the time it would lose its interest.
I have a long way to go before retirement (but am thinking about pensions at the moment).
"squeaker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
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
Because you have filled your time with hobbies that you couldn't practically pursue during your working life?
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
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.
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
Our company has brought out a new incentive this year where anyone who cycles/uses public transport a minimum 25% of the time can receive a £150 reward/bonus at the end of the year. Trouble is, we don't have a shower at work and I don't fancy sitting in the office feeling clammy all day so I'll use the bus.
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.
Not an option, sadly. I do the thing I'm qualified for, and it pays too well for the wife to allow me to do unqualified work.--
plus, it's the time wasted working that I resent, not the specific job. --
