Keeping your brain alive in retirement - what do you do?

[Cyril Haearn]

I would trust the state pension more than a financial services company
I got info from gov.uk, quote your NI number, it is quite simple, a forecast of how much one -might- receive in xx years, remember it may be less, or more
Wish I had checked and made extra payments years ago, could have been quite rich on retirement
Money I paid in started more than 40 years ago, has been pliling up

[Cyril Haearn]

If one was unemployed for example, one may pay later, a few hundred pounds for a year
Looks good value to my financial adviser (myself)

[Cyril Haearn]

Years ago I witnessed a succession of herds ([i]shepherds[i]) who retired. Moved from their remote environment to live in a housing scheme and all died within a couple of years. Their mistake IMO their whole life had revolved around their work and they were now like fish out of water.
At that point I was determined it wasn’t going to happen to me.
My plan: I built a house in a small village with my nearest neighbour at 100yds I don’t have to live cooped up. I take exercise other than Cycling. I’ve nearly an acre of ground where I can keep chickens, build what like, grow what I like and just generally potter around with projects.
I built my house in a manner if either of us become unable to climb stairs it’s possible to live entirely downstairs. There’s a bus stop within 400yds in case driving becomes impossible. So I’ve future proofed as far as I could
..

Just to say thanks again for this post, Paulatic
I worked a lot but not as hard as a herd, after reading this I realised I had to organise and plan my life - retirement, pension etc
A project, organising, deciding, I like it too, even got my eye on a voluntary job
Thanks again

[Oldjohnw]

Years ago I witnessed a succession of herds ([i]shepherds[i]) who retired. Moved from their remote environment to live in a housing scheme and all died within a couple of years. Their mistake IMO their whole life had revolved around their work and they were now like fish out of water.
At that point I was determined it wasn’t going to happen to me.
My plan: I built a house in a small village with my nearest neighbour at 100yds I don’t have to live cooped up. I take exercise other than Cycling. I’ve nearly an acre of ground where I can keep chickens, build what like, grow what I like and just generally potter around with projects.
I built my house in a manner if either of us become unable to climb stairs it’s possible to live entirely downstairs. There’s a bus stop within 400yds in case driving becomes impossible. So I’ve future proofed as far as I could
..

Just to say thanks again for this post, Paulatic
I worked a lot but not as hard as a herd, after reading this I realised I had to organise and plan my life - retirement, pension etc
A project, organising, deciding, I like it too, even got my eye on a voluntary job
Thanks again

The secret to retirement is planning. Whatever your resources, planning is fundamental. I cannot say if my retirement will be long, but is certainly happy and fulfilling.

[Cyril Haearn]

The Guardian reports of someone who writes a letter to the newspaper every day, he uses humour, he admires Jurgen Klopp and wrote a letter accusing him of pinching jobs [one job only ]
I used to write quite a few, fifty a year or more, plenty were published
In use these fora now mostly, plusminus

[Cyril Haearn]

Preparing for retirement is plenty of work, keeps brain and body busy
I plan to make a 5-10 year plan too

[Cyril Haearn]

Just retired
Should be the best part of my life so far, by a long way

[Cyril Haearn]

Re-reading books after ten years or more, I kept them of course

[Paulatic]

Re-reading books after ten years or more, I kept them of course

We’ve 60 feet (5x12) of book shelving plus other bits here and there. I always thought I might reread some again when I retired. To be honest I haven’t time or if I did start rereading I’d get nothing else done

[Cyril Haearn]

Re-reading books after ten years or more, I kept them of course

We’ve 60 feet (5x12) of book shelving plus other bits here and there. I always thought I might reread some again when I retired. To be honest I haven’t time or if I did start rereading I’d get nothing else done

What, you had time to read when working, but not in retirement?

[Paulatic]

Re-reading books after ten years or more, I kept them of course

We’ve 60 feet (5x12) of book shelving plus other bits here and there. I always thought I might reread some again when I retired. To be honest I haven’t time or if I did start rereading I’d get nothing else done

What, you had time to read when working, but not in retirement?

I think the big difference between now and 20 years ago on long winter nights there was no b****y internet!

[Cyril Haearn]

Reading paper books in the bath is my solution, stupid phone does not follow me there

[Cyril Haearn]

I check and compare the offers at several food stores near home, I try to work out how to save cash, that is quite complicated, keeps the brain warm

[ferrit worrier]

For the last "N"( many) years ( too long to remember when I started ) I've been working on a model railway, end to end style about 45 feet long in the loft most of the electrics are done. control is analogue, 00 gauge.

over the last couple of days I've been building a small platform that sits outside the engine shed, this will be to facilitate "Brake van rides" from the goods shed at one end of the station to the loco dept.

[Cyril Haearn]

+1 fw
More pictures please