A New Chapter Begins
By WorDazza
@WorDazza (15833)
Manchester, England
January 8, 2020 5:39am CST
Yes, I've finally retired. This is my first official week of retirement. After spending a wonderful 10 days over Christmas and New Year in the beautiful North Pennines in County Durham in the North East of England, the reality of not having to go back to work is just sinking in.
""What will you do?" they all asked. "You'll get bored" they all said.
Not a bit of it! After getting out of bed when I feel like it, walking Hugo, going to the gym, having a leisurely lunch and walking Hugo again I haven't yet found time to do the things I want to do.
Added into the mix is the fact my daughter has sprung a surprise visit on us and I'll most likely be playing taxi driver over the next few days as she visits her old friends and staggers home somewhat worse for wear at 3am. (Like father like daughter!! I'm so proud!)
I can only hope that I start to settle into this retirement lark and begin to get the time I envisioned to spend on learning to play guitar, learning Greek and Spanish and continuing with an online Chemistry course I started a while back.
And I also hope that the additional time I'm spending with Mrs. WorDazza doesn't lead to one of us occupying a shallow grave while the other is given bed and board at Her Majesty's pleasure!!
On that sobering thought I will wish you all a belated Happy New Year and to let you know I hope to be spending a bit more time in these parts. You have been warned.
15 people like this
14 responses
@1creekgirl (40636)
• United States
8 Jan 20
Congrats! I love being retired, especially not having to get up at 6am every morning. I loved my job, but I'm not a morning person.
My husband retired around the same time. Fortunately, the adjustments didn't involve a shallow grave. Close a couple of times, but we're good now.
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (40636)
• United States
8 Jan 20
@WorDazza Sounds like a good plan. I've had a few part time jobs since I retired because I missed being around people. I've just about gotten it out of my system, though.
3 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
8 Jan 20
@1creekgirl My wife's the same. She prefers being around other people. I'm perfectly happy in my own company. I might consider looking for some local part-time work if I get fed up of myself. But I'm such scintillating company I can't see that happening
3 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
8 Jan 20
I was getting up at 5:15am and I hated my job too so it couldn't come soon enough for me.
My wife left her job at the end of November but she's planning on looking for something local after taking a few months off so we shouldn't be in each others pockets too much.
3 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
9 Jan 20
Thank you.
I am wondering where I'm going to find the time to do everything I want to do. I'm finding that walking the dog and getting to the gym takes up a large portion of my day.
I might have to start getting up at 5:15am again just to fit everything in!!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326467)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 20
Yay for you! Way to go. You will love being retired and you don't have to rush about doing this or that. You have the rest of your life to do all sorts of things - and you can do them Monday to Friday if you wish, not just on the weekends. Good for you. Enjoy!
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
8 Jan 20
Cheers!
I must admit I've still got the weekday/weekend mentality. There's a few things I've thought "I'll get that done at the weekend" before realising every day is a weekend 
The mischievous part of me wants to be as awkward as possible and do stuff at the busiest times, like lunchtimes and weekends, just to annoy people.
The mischievous part of me wants to be as awkward as possible and do stuff at the busiest times, like lunchtimes and weekends, just to annoy people.3 people like this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
9 Jan 20
OMG! You have retired already, at this young age? My lovely friend whose husband has retired, told me that she didn't want to have early retirement because her husband constantly wanted her to do this or that whenever she was at home (preparing food for him, washing this or that for him, etc).
But I guess I understand what you mean, the freedom!!!
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85733)
• Bangalore, India
8 Jan 20
Happy New Year.
Retirement is just another milestone or phase in life. And I feel that just like any other phase, we can make it fun, productive and enjoyable. It's our choice to stay happy and engaged is all that matters. 
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85733)
• Bangalore, India
10 Jan 20
@WorDazza Any transition phase takes time to settle in.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
10 Jan 20
@arunima25 Indeed. And I have plenty of time.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
8 Jan 20
I am so happy for your and have a lot of fun now.
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
14 Jan 20
Cheers.
Mrs. WorDazza finished work before me (end of November).
Unlike me she can't envisage occupying herself longer term so she's going to start looking for a stress-free, part-time job in our local area once the winter is over.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
9 Jan 20
Not fair! I want to retire, but I still have over twenty years before I'm officially recognised as old. *sigh*
2 people like this
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
14 Jan 20
@Poppylicious It's actually very difficult to work out how much money you're going to need in retirement. If I'm being honest we're sort of winging it with the intention of getting part time, stress free jobs in our local area if the need arises.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
14 Jan 20
@WorDazza I think Husband has his sights set on early retirement. I just know that I'll never be able to retire early, unless his private pension is huge!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Jan 20
I am retired and hell no, I am never bored. It's a relief not to endure the work grindstone and the getting up early and the commute.
2 people like this
