Originally Posted by
rovers4
For those coming up to retirement, you need to work out what it is that you like doing at your paid employment and what it is that you like to do as a hobby.
If the two are the same, then there it is. Just do the same but as a volunteer, or for wages but on a reduced hours basis. Come retirement age, you will not want to put in the same number of hours. Family and friends will gladly keep you occupied.
Doing something for others will give you a big sense of achievement. The Men's Shed groups are a great starting/finishing point for friendship, contact knowledge, learning new manual skills, mental wellbeing, and even mentoring others.
Think about brushing up on your first-aid skills. Volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels, Community Transport, the Learner Driver mentoring scheme, the new settler assistance schemes, or helping kids with their reading at the local schools.
Either way, do something to keep busy. You have plenty to offer. You have another twenty or so good years to enjoy. If you take the option of full-time touring, be prepared to do some part-time work/volunteering as you go.
Staying at work might give you ten years before you eventually slow down to doing nothing.
Retiring, but then just doing nothing will have you in a coffin in just a few years.
rovers4