Thread: What to do when you don't want to do what you do?

How did you come up with an idea of what to do after retirement?*

I Love my fishing so picking out what to do for me was simple and that is to travel to places that I have never fished and go fishing.

Whatever you decide, you can count on one thing. SWMBO will sticking by you, and that is half the battle. I agree with her, at 60, it is the perfect age to start planning. Most important thing is to be major debt free, own your house, have no major debts to address. A fact of life is, chances are health issues will raise their heads around 70 ish, think about living in an area where access to hospitals and specialists is a short drive away. Living near family means you would have support if needed. You must find something you enjoy doing, and work on it. Whether that be a hobby, volunteer work, whatever. You must keep your brain active, even though the body may be weary. Remain social, develop a group of friends you can depend on, cultivate those friendships. Keep an open mind, retirement can be the best thing that happens, or the worse, depending on your level of preparation. I feel more alive now than when I slogged away at work, LG.

sounds like you have a plan, the plan is to do what you're doing till you cannot continue or dead.

main thing is to ensure you bride is happy with your plan.......and or you're happy with her plan

me...........i'm keen to ditch my job right (enjoyment is wavering) but need to grind it out for awhile, sell everything and by a small patch of Aus than overland until money runs out...........2021 is launch date tick tick tick tick. its all been part of our 5 year plan, at the moment we are on schedule.

Failing to Plan is planning to fail they say...

I don't have a grand plan really - work while I can, travel when I can afford it, play with my Landy's when money permits, save for a rainy day.

Some may say that I need a better plan - and I do think about the future, but it don't plan to far into the future.

You've only got one life - live it.

If you're happy with what you do (and so is SWMBO) - then what's the harm in living and enjoying your life?

I didn't have a plan at all Jonesy, I just thought I had to keep working until I had enough $s for retirement and then one day I found out that I didn't have to keep working and that I had more than enough and that you don't spend nearly as much as you think you will in retirement and therefore with the benefit of hindsight I can now see that I kept working much longer than I had to and in retrospect I retired much later than I could have.

What you do is up to you but varied interests (from woodwork to LRs and everything in between) & chores take up my time as well as doing laid back community stuff like visiting old people. Visiting old folks seems to cheer them up lots if you're the kind of person who is willing to listen and I think you're the kind of guy who is.

It seems from your posts that you have a large family and I have found with my lot that they still need Dad's help - still being physically able to assist friends and family is a definite plus.

There always seems to be more on than I can possibly get to. Better stop prattling on - all the best with your planning, mate

Echoing the above post and all the others who have written it..... One Life - Live It !

For me the decision was easy. I never ever wanted to work. It was only the need to pay for things that kept me at it. I gave four weeks retirement notice the day after I realised I could afford to, I was just 56. I had just paid the last semesters fees at Churchie for my youngest and realised I had no ongoing financial obligations. Only current operating debts like power, water, rates, rego. etc. I am now 77 and never regretted the decision.

Do retire before you are old and sick. Go whilst you are still healthy and can enjoy retirement. I saw too many friends and colleagues struggle on working whilst their health was fading. I would ask others "Why don't you retire, Fred?" Usual answer was along the lines "I don't think I've got enough Super. I will have to keep going a few more years." In too many cases this was complete BS. Guys who had been in the public service for 25 - 30 years and more have more than enough Super to retire. Ill health and death come all too soon. Don't give your golden years to an employer.

It certainly is a big question and although I have quite a few years before I need to put mine into action we have already set out our goals.

One of points I think is the most important is the “we” element. Sure it’s great to set your ideas on paper but to make the plan effective and put it into gear it needs to be a joint effort. Just start with your bucket list in order of most important and then hardest to obtain and go from there.

If you love what you do for work and it keeps the brain/body active then keep going but maybe drop a day or two to maximise family time and hobbies. Several colleagues have done this and it’s great seeing them come in tanned and grinning ear to ear.

I'm currently deciding when next year to retire.
My advice is to ask yourself what you like to do when on holiday (you do have holidays, I hope?) and then make a Bucket List.
Hopefully you can work your way through the Bucket List before you call it.
An alternative approach is to make a list of things you have never done, but would like to try, and make that your Bucket List.
Also, get a financial planner and get some good advice. Your super fund should have a retirement planner on staff.