I do need to find time to take more pictures so...

[shenstone]

I do need to find time to take more pictures so... I've done it ...

In three months I will enter an entirely new phase of my life...

I handed in my notice after 27.5 years working fo the same company (albeit under 4 different company names) and a few jobs before that. The deal with the wife who will still be working, is that I have to have her tea on the table when some comes home and keep the house tidy..

Oh... and rest of the list she read out at the weekend


it's a bit scary to be honest

regards
Andy

[Harold Gough]

Well done.

Harold

[Walti]

Originally Posted by shenstone

I do need to find time to take more pictures so... I've done it ...

In three months I will enter an entirely new phase of my life...

I handed in my notice after 27.5 years working fo the same company (albeit under 4 different company names) and a few jobs before that. The deal with the wife who will still be working, is that I have to have her tea on the table when some comes home and keep the house tidy..

Oh... and rest of the list she read out at the weekend


it's a bit scary to be honest

regards
Andy

I did the same just over 18 months ago and made the mistake of doing some consultancy work as the rates were silly!

My wife is fortunately very understanding and although I try and keep on top of the house work I’m only about 80% there!

More time for photos is great!

[TimP]

I’m another having done the same, about 18 months ago too. I found it very strange at first, possibly a bit depressing but with hindsight it was the right thing to do. You’re only here once so enjoy it and don’t be a slave to work if you’re in the fortunate position of being able to afford it. Wife still works 3 days a week so I know all about having tea on the table!

Enjoy!

[Phill D]

I'm in the same position too and after 3 years now my evening meal ideas are running a bit thin. There's only so many ways you can serve beans
I agree it's scary at first but definitely take some time out just for you to start with and don't feel guilty about it. Like Paul I did a bit of consulting too at first but in my case the rates were peanuts so I've given that up now. I have to say I do value the time I have on my own to do what I like. It doesn't work out as much as you might think though
All the best.

[Keith-369]

I retired seven years ago (1 year early) and I've loved every single minute of it.

Yes, I missed the banter and different company for a while but, in the words of the Bee Gees, No Regrets.

Enjoy your new found freedom ..... you've earned it.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Since I retired I have been doing more things that take up time than I ever did at work.

Best wishes for your new future...

[blu-by-u]

I have about another 3 years then I too will throw in the towel. Sigh..2 kids more to go..Unlike UK, Study Loans are not that easy to come by. So it's full family financed

[MJ224]

I ran my own business for 37 years, and was very very glad to sell it and retire some 2.5 years ago. I too have to cook for the poor missus who still works, (her choice) but my cooking might eventually help to change her mind...…….

Retirement has allowed me to follow my passion, crap photography..

Anyway Andy, well done on taking the plunge. It can be a bit of a large leap of faith, but I am sure it will work out well for you...……..

[Rocknroll59]

Well I still work a few days a month, started off two/three years ago when I stopped working on Mondays and Fridays (nice long weekends), this year has seen a decrease in workload and it is a strange feeling as like most on here I started work when I was 16 and have never been unemployed, (closer to 70 now), I still feel fit and healthy

It is a big adjustment and i'm not quite there yet, wife and I like the lifestyle that a bit of extra cash brings (she works 2 days a week) but will give up completely sometime soon I think. This year has seen 2 of our neighbours pass away, one early 60's the other late 70's and it brings it home a bit about your mortality.

Pete

[art frames]

Well done, a sane move.

I admit I was 'helped' into agreeing a company voluntary redundancy scheme, I resisted at first because I was only in my early 50s, but I'm so glad - with hindsight - as the escalating work stress would probably have affected my health at some stage. I immediately started my own company and consulted back to my ex-employers 3 days a week, in a separate, fun and very visible role training the high flyers! Plus I began University lecturing, putting my main skills to use with young people. Life became very enjoyable. I have slowly 'semi' retired over 10 years and now only do things I choose, which feels much better.

The alternative doesn't really bear thinking about.

My life as the main cook was the result of Natural Childbirth classes when our first baby was born, 30 years back. The class leader said to all of the men 'and what will you do for your contribution?'. So I chose the cooking, which I was OK at and now still do, along with the shopping and a few other little jobs. I enjoy it and it has a couple of real plusses for me. Both of our boys cook. I said to them 'I do it and I'm a bloke too!' and when they went to University - I was the one that had the calls to ask about 'how do I do this as they did dinner parties themselves!'.

The other side - which is just so much fun is whenever we have people round for dinner it is a delight to see the shock when I do the cooking. Several of the male guests say they came in for some stick afterwards!

Enjoy it, I do. And I get out most days to look at wildlife and enjoy the sunshine

[Wee man]

I escaped about five years ago due to ill health so retirement was not a sudden change. I found this site helped with outside contacts until I physically recovered. I also got more involved in an old passion of restoring vintage autocycles which lately has pushed my photography down the pecking order. Hence the lack of picture posts lately. I still use my mkii a lot with the bikes being my transport but find now my grand children feature a lot as subjects.
One thing which features is the "Dad can you fix this" requests which do take a lot of enjoyable time. Heading to England next week to floor a roof space and other jobs which appear!
Enjoy your time but pace yourself as hopefully you have a long time to fit it all in!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[TimP]

I too end up doing a huge chunk of the cooking, although we decide ahead what we’re likely to have for the week, it’s no bother and we’re pretty flexible if we don’t fancy what we thought we were going to have. Usually have at least one meal out in a pub each week too if funds permit.
I seem to be too busy pottering around the house and garden to find much time to anything photography related although I need to go through several thousand pictures from 3 trips away to sort the wheat from the chaff - boy does that take some doing. It’s bad enough that I need to sort a workflow that works for me and I can stick to. I’m more than 3 trips behind in total and meanwhile the images just sit there, backed up but unsorted. I always thought that retirement would bring a surplus of spare time but it seems I was wrong!

[shenstone]

It's arrived

as of yesterday I no longer have a job to go to … there were in the office and in the pub and curry house later

Now it's time for , but it's ****ing down outside so i'm going to ork on cleaning the house and catching up on the forum first

Regards
Andy

[Walti]

Yay!

Well done for joining the rest of us slackers!