Enjoying Retirement
Discussion
skeeterm5 said:
So a big day here at Skeeter Towers yesterday.
I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
No way ! We only mentioned it the other day when discussing the MX5. I have just sold the 1600E, after almost 15 years of ownership and it feels like a big decision. I mentioned the fact that I was thinking of selling it to somebody I know and he said he would buy it. He has already paid for it and will be picking it up tomorrow,
So mixed emotions this morning, it is going to a good home, he and his wife already own a few classics, but it feels like a bit odd.
Why have I sold it? Well I am not using it, I have only done around 100 miles in it over the last couple of years. And when thinking why that was I concluded that it just wasn’t what I enjoyed driving anymore, so time to part.
What next? I still hanker after a Cosworth and have seen a couple now but they really were tarted up for sale. A couple of left field choices are also emerging which I am going to have a chat with the owners about over the coming days, so watch this space for developments.
I do get it though. Good to let someone else enjoy her and it’s also fun to search for the next one.
What’s on the short list ?
j4r4lly said:
I'm finally within touching distance of retirement.
As of today I have 21 working days left!
After applying for voluntary separation in 2019, being accepted and then at the very last, the offer being withdrawn, I have been trying to be relaxed about my prospects this time.
However, HR have approved the deal, I've been working with my replacement to handover my role, so it seems that it really is going to happen this time.
My wife will continue working for a year or two so it will be a bit of a "hybrid" retirement for me until she escapes.
Because of what happened in 2019 I haven't really thought too much about future plans, but now it's so close, I have been brain dumping all the things I want to do and it's fair to say I think retirment will be fairly busy.
Roll on December 20th!
Many congratulations I’m sure the Xmas period will give you a change to focus on retirement for the next year . All the very best for the next month preparing As of today I have 21 working days left!
After applying for voluntary separation in 2019, being accepted and then at the very last, the offer being withdrawn, I have been trying to be relaxed about my prospects this time.
However, HR have approved the deal, I've been working with my replacement to handover my role, so it seems that it really is going to happen this time.
My wife will continue working for a year or two so it will be a bit of a "hybrid" retirement for me until she escapes.
Because of what happened in 2019 I haven't really thought too much about future plans, but now it's so close, I have been brain dumping all the things I want to do and it's fair to say I think retirment will be fairly busy.
Roll on December 20th!
OldSkoolRS said:
Please don't feel lazy; plenty of times when I sit around on my laptop mindlessly reading on here and elsewhere, especially on the dull, damp days this time of year. I didn't get up until 9:30 today either, mainly as I woke very early with backache and then struggled to get back to sleep.
On a different tack: Has anyone heard from JaguarSteve?
I was just reading an old thread that he posted in, so I checked his profile/posts and the last time he posted on this thread was back on 3 May. Hope he is doing OK.
I think I mentioned a few months back he’d not been on here and like you I checked again earlier this week as he’d been on my mind. On a different tack: Has anyone heard from JaguarSteve?
I was just reading an old thread that he posted in, so I checked his profile/posts and the last time he posted on this thread was back on 3 May. Hope he is doing OK.
Like you say no posts since may.
I’ll send him a PM and see if he responds
Bugger - doesn’t look like he takes emails
mikeiow said:
MR2 Steve said:
Panamax said:
IMO there's a lot to be said for "self-insurance" although, as always, the secret is to start young. As this thread has highlighted, the problem with health insurance is the premiums go crazy as you get older.
FWIW when I left a company that provided health cover I looked at private insurance and rapidly decided to self insure, mentally setting aside an amount equivalent to the premiums. As it happens things have worked out sensibly. We've spent about £10k on private healthcare but saved an absolute packet overall. So far. But if you get something really long term and nasty most insurance cover won't keep paying out.
amongst the advantages of self insurance,
No need to faff about getting insurance company approval for anything.
If you feel like it, you can even sidestep the GP completely and go straight to a relevant specialist.
No excess to pay on top of your hefty premiums.
Never any questions about "is this condition covered"?
I’m tempted by this approach. Or maybe another option of a very high excess and then it’s only really covering big stuff and the minor items are self funded. I’ve typically found anything that doesn’t need surgery is generally less than £1000 for 2 consultations and some tests. Maybe a bit more if an MRI is requested. It’s £350 a month for wife, son and I on her comprehensive employer policy. FWIW when I left a company that provided health cover I looked at private insurance and rapidly decided to self insure, mentally setting aside an amount equivalent to the premiums. As it happens things have worked out sensibly. We've spent about £10k on private healthcare but saved an absolute packet overall. So far. But if you get something really long term and nasty most insurance cover won't keep paying out.
amongst the advantages of self insurance,
No need to faff about getting insurance company approval for anything.
If you feel like it, you can even sidestep the GP completely and go straight to a relevant specialist.
No excess to pay on top of your hefty premiums.
Never any questions about "is this condition covered"?
If we hadn’t, I suspect it’d still be “doing a GT3” - working (no offence GT3
- seriously, we all have our own lives to figure out) - instead of which I’ve had a very busy and enjoyable 30months or so….Checking that link back to the discussion over 18 months again, I note this comment, by someone intimate with this area:
Biglips said:
The best way is to self insure imho (and I speak as a healthcare provider, so doing myself out of business lol)
You can get a private outpatient opinion and/or a CT/MRI for a few hundred quid, so not much more than your excess. PHI will give you the benefit of seeing your preferred clinician in a timely fashion, but after that the benefits are less clear. Serious stuff and chronic conditions you are better off in the NHS
The NHS tend to deal with most major things anyway, albeit perhaps with a painful wait time….& you usually have an option to pay to speed something up. A pal of ours did so for a knee problem earlier this year, to get him back to enjoying golf 18+ months earlier than NHS were promising.You can get a private outpatient opinion and/or a CT/MRI for a few hundred quid, so not much more than your excess. PHI will give you the benefit of seeing your preferred clinician in a timely fashion, but after that the benefits are less clear. Serious stuff and chronic conditions you are better off in the NHS
Added to which, ‘going private’ isn’t always a panacea - you may get consultants with egos who won’t talk to others & keep things stringing along…..I had a (very minor) case of that years ago with one who kept regular checks going probably way past the required time (income!), whereas I had emergency laser eye surgery after a sporting incident that was done brilliantly with the NHS: one checkup later to confirm all good, & move on.
In some ways I feel it is more important to live somewhere with major facilities nearby. The dream of living remotely can be rose-tinted.
Perhaps why we may never move to a rural idyllic setting…..cities have more going on, generally more thorough facilities (kudos to Leicester Eye Hospital, versus the clowns in A&E on the Isle of Wight!)….
Sure, there is always an element of risk about this stuff, but life is a risk.
Anyway: Enjoying Retirement. Get back on topic.
Another task done in the past week is booking multiple shows for 2024. Musicals, music & comedy: nice to build a diary of fun during these darker days of winter!
MrsMikeIOW loves theatre, so her (shhh…..advance!) present was an annual membership to The Curve theatre - 15% discount. It really is quite a unique venue (although at least half our ents are at other places!).
Beery afternoon ahead: hurrah!
If we hadn’t, I suspect it’d still be “doing a GT3” - working (no offence GT3 wink - seriously, we all have our own lives to figure out) - instead of which I’ve had a very busy and enjoyable 30months or so….
Been doing a lot of head scratching recently Mike hence not posting on this thread sadly.
The new house needed more work that we anticipated and as has been mentioned previously on this thread you need to get the big ticket things sorted before you jump. That work is ongoing but will be very much worth it when done. We love the house.
We've also been busy getting our flat renovated ( more costs) ready for sale and its finally been listed but as they say timings everything & ours this time around hasn't been great in that regard as it appears the market has ground to a halt. The house sale was the smart move as its clear prices have been in steep decline over this last 6 months or so. Maybe there was a little more luck on that one.
For me it wont stop there. Mrs GT3 has decided ( yes she calls the shots) that one flat will be replaced with another for our Daughter that we will also use so divide our time . That in itself isn't an ultimate deal breaker but will take more planning . I am also mindful that i relocated the family a little earlier than they may have liked and buying another flat wasn't part of the original plan but, plans sometimes have to change. So here i am , still wanting to make the leap and mindful that i'm not getting any younger but have my youngest at Uni still needing my support. Sure, i could say i'm not buying another flat but then i'm a softie and i want her to be settled whilst she is studying at least.
As i said a number of pages back i feel like a bit of a fraud having started this thread but once i quit there is no going back so i gotta be 100% its right.
There's a good chance it falls into place early next year and i'll be bloody old at 56
but hey, best paid plans and all that. Anyhow everyone , great to see the thread is still rolling and that everyone's well and enjoying retirement.
OldSkool- i still haven't heard back from Steve Jaguar and not sure if he's on any other forum groups.
Take care all
OldSkoolRS said:
I hope it does work out for you. If it's any consolation I felt a bit of a fraud at first since I thought I might just go back to work after 6 months or so. Regardless, it's a great thread and lots of useful help and advice, or just simple support/a place to have a ramble. 
Shame about Steve, maybe just got bored of posting on here. I know some people do just drop off, having seen it on other forums (or done it myself). I hope he's OK though.
PS. I'll be ancient then at 58 in a few weeks time.
Tks OldSkool. If nothing else the thread is keeping me focussed so all good. I'm juggling balls still like a circus clown Shame about Steve, maybe just got bored of posting on here. I know some people do just drop off, having seen it on other forums (or done it myself). I hope he's OK though.
PS. I'll be ancient then at 58 in a few weeks time.
but needs must. The house is great , its Edwardian so needs to be properly done although was renovated fairly recently we need to make a few changes including the kitchen which will entail removing a chimney stack and arch. Bloody messy job but i feel that once its done spending more time in the house will be part of retirement enjoyment.
I'm not dead against owning a flat close to London as i still enjoy the chaos of living there a few days a week oddly. I'll get there, just have to accept its taking longer than my planned exit date.
Yeah , Steve's an odd one. I might ask around to check he's ok. Funny how you feel a sense of responsibility for virtual friends !
Happy b'day for a few weeks time
skeeterm5 said:
Yesterday was the third anniversary of my last ever day at work.
Looking back over those three years here are some of my thoughts;
- I don’t miss corporate life in the slightest, and now seeing stuff on things like LinkedIn makes me realise just how much guff is spouted. I do however miss a small number of people that I worked with but I am still in touch with them. Fair to say however that they are more pre-occupied with work and our common ground is drifting apart.
- the wife and I now spend almost all of our time together, and it is brilliant. I can see that if your relationship wasn’t that great that this change could put a tremendous strain on things. We both have our own hobbies but still it is a big change. I think we knew this element but would be ok as when we were younger we both took a year to travel around the world and found we actually enjoyed being together.
- we moved house and are slowly renovating it, the outbuildings and rewilding the land. For us It really helps to have a purpose or goal although we don’t treat it as work. I think this is an important part of retirement and gives a massive sense of achievement.
- when we both worked we also traveled a lot, and have been to every continent. Our vision was to travel more when we retired but interestingly we haven’t. I think we used travel as a way of changing our working lives by maki g non work time more special. Now that we don’t work we have felt the need to travel less as all of our time is our own.
- one of the biggest changes is being beholden to nobody, we can do whatever we want whenever we want and this is amazingly liberating.
- finally money, we are fortunate that this isn’t an issue for us but I am actually pleasantly surprised how much lower are day to day expenses are. And there is no sense of having to keep up with the neighbours, an invisible pressure of working life.
Everybody will be different but for us it iphas turned out to be life changing and the best single decision we have ever made.
Nice write you SkeeTerm . Looking back over those three years here are some of my thoughts;
- I don’t miss corporate life in the slightest, and now seeing stuff on things like LinkedIn makes me realise just how much guff is spouted. I do however miss a small number of people that I worked with but I am still in touch with them. Fair to say however that they are more pre-occupied with work and our common ground is drifting apart.
- the wife and I now spend almost all of our time together, and it is brilliant. I can see that if your relationship wasn’t that great that this change could put a tremendous strain on things. We both have our own hobbies but still it is a big change. I think we knew this element but would be ok as when we were younger we both took a year to travel around the world and found we actually enjoyed being together.
- we moved house and are slowly renovating it, the outbuildings and rewilding the land. For us It really helps to have a purpose or goal although we don’t treat it as work. I think this is an important part of retirement and gives a massive sense of achievement.
- when we both worked we also traveled a lot, and have been to every continent. Our vision was to travel more when we retired but interestingly we haven’t. I think we used travel as a way of changing our working lives by maki g non work time more special. Now that we don’t work we have felt the need to travel less as all of our time is our own.
- one of the biggest changes is being beholden to nobody, we can do whatever we want whenever we want and this is amazingly liberating.
- finally money, we are fortunate that this isn’t an issue for us but I am actually pleasantly surprised how much lower are day to day expenses are. And there is no sense of having to keep up with the neighbours, an invisible pressure of working life.
Everybody will be different but for us it iphas turned out to be life changing and the best single decision we have ever made.
I know you moved to the depths of Scotland . May I ask did you leave any kids behind as such ? In my post above I mentioned now buying a flat for my daughter so she still has some ties in the area she has known since birth .
skeeterm5 said:
We don’t have any kids.
However we still both have family down south. My parents and sister are in Shropshire and Sarah’s sister and family is in Somerset.
It takes us about 9 hrs to reach my parents and around 11 to Sarah’s.
It makes it more difficult to pop in but we find we now spend a few nights when we visit or they come to us, so we actually get better quality time together.
Understand many tks . However we still both have family down south. My parents and sister are in Shropshire and Sarah’s sister and family is in Somerset.
It takes us about 9 hrs to reach my parents and around 11 to Sarah’s.
It makes it more difficult to pop in but we find we now spend a few nights when we visit or they come to us, so we actually get better quality time together.
OldSkoolRS said:
Many happy returns for your 3rd anniversary skeeterm5. 
Was going to reply on the other retirement thread, but decided that I'm well out of the league of some on there. I feel like I'll be living like a King on a fraction of some of the budgets on there now I've got my financials sorted out...
I’d say you have your finances in far better shape than most on there and here tbh . Lots of us , myself included, are still playing with numbers and moving goalpost! Was going to reply on the other retirement thread, but decided that I'm well out of the league of some on there.
I feel like I'll be living like a King on a fraction of some of the budgets on there now I've got my financials sorted out...mikeiow said:
I have pretty good memories of my Christmas work parties, although towards the end, a few of us would have 2 or 3 (or 4) pints on our way to the venues….always helped 
That said, I’ve enjoyed been a few nice sessions with pals this year; a couple of drinks planned lunchtime today, & the family all together: good times!
Merry Christmas all: may your stockings be filled with your gifts of choice and may you be surrounded with people who bring light to your world, and here’s to a 2024 that is filled with good health and fine adventures!
Cheers
All the best Mike, merry Xmas to all on hear That said, I’ve enjoyed been a few nice sessions with pals this year; a couple of drinks planned lunchtime today, & the family all together: good times!
Merry Christmas all: may your stockings be filled with your gifts of choice and may you be surrounded with people who bring light to your world, and here’s to a 2024 that is filled with good health and fine adventures!
Cheers
Boringvolvodriver said:
I concur with this and we are probably spending more on enjoying life now and making the most of things.
My parents died aged 62 and 68 and Mrs BVDs dad was for many years ill until he died at 74 and her mum had worsening dementia from the age of 66 and spent the last 5 years of her life in a home so you never know what is found rhe corner.
We had 6 holidays abroad last year with 3 already booked for 2024 - doing things while we can and have the energy and when the money has gone, it’s gone!
Prior to Xmas I learnt of Guy I'd known in the city for years had passed at 52 having retired at 50 and only today I got a text about an Aussie mate last august My parents died aged 62 and 68 and Mrs BVDs dad was for many years ill until he died at 74 and her mum had worsening dementia from the age of 66 and spent the last 5 years of her life in a home so you never know what is found rhe corner.
We had 6 holidays abroad last year with 3 already booked for 2024 - doing things while we can and have the energy and when the money has gone, it’s gone!
told he had a brain tumour and passed yesterday ( Australia Day) late 50's. A very fit and healthy man.
We all worry about running out of cash but maybe we shouldn't ( so valid point)although our IFA's will tell us we need to keep working as we've gotta pay for our care at 95. Some won't agree with me but care home costs aren't on my radar.
Our situations are all different.
Moving on -
Having moved last august we've had work going on at the new house from day one. Next month the kitchen is getting reconfigured then the house is pretty much complete.
We had a viewing at our flat today ( although I suspect it's not for them) and hopefully it eventually sells .
The plan afterwards is to buy another flat closer to the area we moved from for our kids and us to use as we still enjoy the occasional madness of the area.
This won't affect the plan of retiring although it's all taking a lot longer than I'd expected. I can now see i totally underestimated my retirement planning having started this thread.
Im waffling so apologies!
Anyhow, once ( fingers crossed) we sell and buy a flat the conversation happens on when I get over the finish line .
One other issue I have is the work contract I'm tied to but as long as I'm upfront and give them notice that should play out .
Life's complicated I now get it !
skeeterm5 said:
Exactly this.
I have just entered my 4th year of retirement and have to say that my wife and I are living our best lives right now. There is literally nothing that could entice me back to the routine and hassle of the workplace.
@GT3 your plans seem to be coming along nicely, you are almost there.
Tks mate.I have just entered my 4th year of retirement and have to say that my wife and I are living our best lives right now. There is literally nothing that could entice me back to the routine and hassle of the workplace.
@GT3 your plans seem to be coming along nicely, you are almost there.
Yes hopefully all i mentioned previously comes off this year then i can set a date and be done with it.
Played golf today for the 1st time this year and my god i ache !
Key for me, when the time comes, will be more movement as i have arthritis and sitting for 10hrs a day in an office chair isnt helping.
This thread keeps me motivated thankfully
AdamV12V said:
We moved out of the city this week after 18 happy years living there. A significant change in lifestyle alebit at a largely similar cost. The move has been very stressful, so this is without doubt our final retirement forever home!
The new house is just 6 miles out, 11 mins on the train, but it could not be more different. 1960’s design with 1.55acres of green belt land, much of which is designated ancient woodland and no nieghbours visible. Trees and wildlife such as deer, woodpeckers, and owls have replaced the city visa as our views from the windows!
So onto the petrolhead angle!!!
The underground double parking space has been replaced by a spacious 10m x 10m garage! Both Astons fit very comfortably inside, indeed at a push with a bit of shuffling a third car maybe possible!
The cars have a new stablemate as I managed to negotiate a ride-on mower into the deal so will try fire it up later in the week and have a roll oround the grounds!
Such a nice change being able to hose down the car on your own driveway after a muddy drive out! Simple things in life!
Wow lovely Adam that's stunning . The new house is just 6 miles out, 11 mins on the train, but it could not be more different. 1960’s design with 1.55acres of green belt land, much of which is designated ancient woodland and no nieghbours visible. Trees and wildlife such as deer, woodpeckers, and owls have replaced the city visa as our views from the windows!
So onto the petrolhead angle!!!
The underground double parking space has been replaced by a spacious 10m x 10m garage! Both Astons fit very comfortably inside, indeed at a push with a bit of shuffling a third car maybe possible!
The cars have a new stablemate as I managed to negotiate a ride-on mower into the deal so will try fire it up later in the week and have a roll oround the grounds!
Such a nice change being able to hose down the car on your own driveway after a muddy drive out! Simple things in life!
Which city did you move away from if you don't mind me asking ?
Having moved the family further out last summer I do the commute into London on Mondays and back Friday evenings. The journey takes around an hour and a half but to be by the coast at weekends makes it worthwhile. We have everything we need there plus a house we absolutely love and is perfect for us.
I do the commute whilst I'm working but of course this won't be long term . Some think we moved too soon however we took the opportunity whilst it was there.
No regrets.
Enjoy your lovely new home
911hope said:
Many people never calculate the cost of getting advice from a FA. Pay 0.5% per year over 25 years, and the FA takes nearly 12% of your pension pot.
0.99^25=0.778.
I know of somebody that's a portfolio manager for a hedge fund. 0.99^25=0.778.
He fairly recently decided to self allocate his funds through the wealth manager he uses and it hasn't gone well .
Should have left them to it .
OldSkoolRS said:
Not as early as some here aged 56 when I retired. After nearly two years it does still seem like a holiday at times. Sometimes I've hit patches, usually in winter, when I've become a bit aimless but having hobbies and interests to fill the time in has helped; my problem has been motivation as the miserable weather just doesn't make me feel like doing much. Once I start something I feel better for it and achieving the end result, if it's a bit of DIY or some music related project.
The solution has been taking longer holidays in Feb/March and coming back as spring is starting. Only thing is that now I seem to have a long list of jobs I said I'd start 'when we get back'.
Haven't seen GT3 around much recently; hope it's all going to plan if you're reading.
Hi OldSkool tks for your thoughts.The solution has been taking longer holidays in Feb/March and coming back as spring is starting. Only thing is that now I seem to have a long list of jobs I said I'd start 'when we get back'.
Haven't seen GT3 around much recently; hope it's all going to plan if you're reading.
We've moved and spent the past few months making some pretty expensive adjustments to the main home. Some of the costs I wasn't expecting typically .
My costal flat isn't get getting any foot traffic although I'm hoping that changes obviously once we see some sun . The agent has said they are taking some calls and we have a booking for this weekend.
If the flat goes I'll then be buying another flat closer to London so that will likely take me to the the end of the year .
I've been watching the thread from the sidelines as a result !
I had a zoom with my wealth manager this week and things are
still on track and the good news is that this last year has been a positive one for the pension pot .
So , it's still very much work in progress but I can't see anything happening this year .
Maybe I called it all a bit early . Wishful thinking as they say .
Glad everyone is keeping the thread going and looking forward to enjoying retirement now the weather's looking to get better .
Edited by GT3Manthey on Friday 22 March 18:24
Silver Hammer said:
It’s a great feeling, that Monday morning when you don’t have to get on line to find out what needs fixing for this week and realise that you will never need to do that again! A leisurely day today after a wonderful family party to celebrate yesterday. Tomorrow we are off to our little cottage in Yorkshire for a couple of weeks with various works planned for the garden, happy days!
Maxwell
Well done Maxwell enjoy Maxwell
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