How many of you are retired?

Hi fellow gardeners,

Just wondered really as my husband is retired, he was lucky enough to be offered early retirement and took it gladly. I am now thinking of doing the same but to be honest I think in the winter especially I will get too bored... I will be in my elemant in my garden when weather permits any other time of year but today for intants pouring with rain what do I do?

I think I may find it difficult to adjust to a more sedentry lifestyle as I have to be doing something most of the time.

How do all you retired people cope with the winter? and should I retire?!

 

We both took early retirement two years ago. It was the best career move ever.
We are on the go all the time and our only problem is trying to fit everything in. We can't figure out how on earth we ever had time for "work".
If you want to get out in the garden in the rain, you should think about a greenhouse or polytunel. You can also use the poorer winter weather to provide some "indoors times" for planning what you are going to grow next year.

 

My friend i am retired i was forced to take retirement following an accident at work. I don't have as much health as i would like and the winter is dreadful, I cope by staying around home during the winter months i have a greenhouse at home as well as the allotment, when i was first retired i was in my early thirties of course i had received lots of councelling and indeed i still do i realised that i would have to find something to do so i joined the RHS the NVS i am the secretary of our allotment club which doesn't half keep me busy i am the secretary of our local show which i helped to resurrect and i am on the committee at our newly formed club that books in lecturers for talks during the dark winter nights. this keeps my mind active i would advise anyone who can afford to do so to retire and join lots of gardening societies and message boards like this one good luck my friend.

 

I only started to garden on my retirement 4 years and a half years ago. Two best things I ever did. I think you get bored if you have nothing to do, and stressed if too many things have to be done by a deadline. With gardening there are always plenty of things to do but no pressure.
There is a physical side to gardening that takes up the summer, but also a great intellectual challenge (if you so wish) involving internet, books, seed catalogs, planning and research that can occupy winter hours.

 

We are all different, Stingo, and there is no easy answer to your question. I took early retirement aged 52 and have never regretted it. You have to be positive about it and really get involved with things that interest you. It's fatal to sit around watching daytime television or mooching around the shops.

You can opt for semi retirement. Perhaps continuing your current work on a part time basis. Mrs H was not happy to retire so she does part time work in her old job, plus winter weekends at Marks & Sparks, plus one day a week as a CAB adviser.

As for me - I have never been busier. Photographing listed buildings for English Heritage, wildlife interests, family history, gardening, painting and sculpture etc etc. There are plenty of evening and day time classes for you to learn new skills and develope interests. The great thing is that you have the time for yourself and can CHOOSE what to do with it. Just make sure you have enough money!

 

Like Good Digger I had to retire early through ill health. I have to say it has not been a hardship. My wife gave up working to look after me. We moved to a smaller house with a big garden and thats what we spend our time doing. There is always something to do here.
I agree with Hornbeam though, whether you retire is a very personal decision and no one else can make it for you. Whatever you decide, best of luck with it.

 

One thing nobody seems to have said - do you enjoy your work? If so - carry on with it, if not, don't!!
I left teaching after a nervous breakdown - and now garden full-time and for me it was the best move ever - but I don't think I'd ever want to retire from that. I'll just do a bit less for others, and more for myself, I suppose.

 

good for you Dendy,my customers wont let me retire.sometimes I say I am on holiday when the want me,especially when you want a bit of peace and quiet. I love my garden and the allotment.the allotment has given me a new lease of life.

 

Good points from everyone thank you, I certainly wouldn't want to watch day time TV or shop all of the time they both bore me rigid so I will have to find some organisations to join.

dendy-good point no I don't enjoy my job which is only three days a week but every minute there is high pressure so I don't think my state of mind can take much more.

To garden all of the time would be heaven, I could maybe offer my services locally so to speak Is that what you do dendy garden for other people? and what do you do FANCY?

My hubby loves retirement and it's the best thing he's ever done, he's so laid back he's almost horizonal... :D

 

This is a phrase we often say and it's so true. T'other half was fortunate to be able to take early retirement through redundancy in December 2000 and I "quit work" in July 2001.

T'other half worked in computing so occupies himself most of the day designing websites and the like. I am just a "busy" person and like gardening and all sorts of arts and crafts. Since I joined GC I have also taken up photography on a very amateur scale. There are many charities to whom I could offer my services if I was seriously bored.

One of the nice things is you can do things at your own pace. I particularly like getting up and feeding the cats, having a cup of tea and then going back to bed for a lie in on a wet, cold day! It's no longer a weekend luxury! :D

You have to be comfortable with your decision, perhaps try it for a while and if you're not happy, go back to work! Good luck in whatever you choose!

PS Aaagghh, daytime TV! We hardly even watch evening TV now. Exceptions would be a good movie or nature programmes but unfortunately if we are having bad weather we lose our signal! :D :(

[ 11. December 2006, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

I yearn to retire. I need to retire. I long for a day when my life isn't ruled by how little time I have and how much I have to do.

I'd grab it with both hands if it were me. Just think of all those jobs you've been meaning to do for years!!!!!!!! :D

 

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm

And we're all enthusiastic gardeners. :D

 

Yes, Stingo - I run my own garden maintenance business, so have loads of gardening to do - and it never gets boring! Loads of exercise, and people actually pay me to do it! :D Beats going to the gym any day!

 

Windy miller, you might think that you will have loads of time to do jobs when you retire but I tell you its a myth and indeed other retired folk will support me on this one. most times I have to write a list of jobs to be done in the week and that includes raising my own veg. and flower plants.
I have 3 children and all grownup but no grandchildren, when they do come along I will have to find time for them.

 

Very true Fancy (I'm a new retiree) - the only difference is I'm doing what I want to do and still have no time - rather than having go to work to pay a mortgage. Goodness knows how I had time for work.

No matter how you love your job, there are times when you wish you didn't have to plough your way in through frost and snow, or when you could just enjoy the summer sunshine.

I loved my job, frustrating and stressful though it was at times - but now I got my life back and am relishing every darn minute of it.