Retirement

[port perran]

So.....I'm 60 on Boxing day and can retire (well actually, I'll probably still work about 2.5 days per week at the very most and then only a few hours  on each day. As I'm self employed, I can be a bit picky).
So....I'm very much counting the days now and due to having a couple of days off next week,  I have only 5 days of Full Time work left !
Looking forward to having more time to do as I please (including, of course, more modelling time).
And....more time to waste spend browsing the various posts on here.

[austinbob]

I hope you enjoy your retirement port perran. I think its a good idea to keep working part time if you can. It helps maintain contact with the world outside model railways and also helps to pay for all the N gauge 'must haves' which seem to crop up on a daily basis.

I'm coming up 70 next year and still work a couple of days a week on average. Will probably pack up work at the end of 2015 as the job I currently have will disappear then.

Then I'll have no excuse not to accelerate the layout building.

[Malc]

I retired at the end of last year and now I don't know how I found time to go to work. I was self employed and worked all over Europe and Scandinavia, so lots of travelling. Now I've retired, I should have plenty of time to finish the layout, but things keep getting in the way. Day trips out, weekends away, short breaks, so much so that I got more done on the layout when I was working than I do now. Still, I wouldn't go back to work if you paid me. Thinks...they did pay me, but I still don't want to go back!!

[d-a-n]

Congratulations! You'll have to keep us updated on your adventures so those of us who still have another 40-odd years to go can live vicariously...

[port perran]

Congratulations! You'll have to keep us updated on your adventures so those of us who still have another 40-odd years to go can live vicariously...

....I certainly will. We have a few adventures planned.  One of which will involve a rather exciting rail journey !

[Malc]

....I certainly will. We have a few adventures planned.  One of which will involve a rather exciting rail journey !

Don't keep us in suspense.....do tell!

[port perran]

....I certainly will. We have a few adventures planned.  One of which will involve a rather exciting rail journey !

Don't keep us in suspense.....do tell!

Nearer the time (the trip is scheduled for probably early to mid April next year).
It all has to be planned carefully so the itinerary still has to be finalised etc and I've found that really helpful website http://www.seat61.com/ invaluable as a planning tool.
All will be revealed nearer the time.

[longbridge]

Congratulations on your retirement, my advice for retirement is keep fit by walking, keep your mind active like building model train layouts, don't spend to much time watching TV and most of all if you are married agree with everything your wife tells you, silence is golden.

[austinbob]

Congratulations on your retirement, my advice for retirement is keep fit by walking, keep your mind active like building model train layouts, don't spend to much time watching TV and most of all if you are married agree with everything your wife tells you, silence is golden.

I agree with all that 100%. If you like dogs then get one. You have to take them for walks or they make your life a misery!

[port perran]

Congratulations on your retirement, my advice for retirement is keep fit by walking, keep your mind active like building model train layouts, don't spend to much time watching TV and most of all if you are married agree with everything your wife tells you, silence is golden.

I have no problems with keeping active. We both love walking/sightseeing and are lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the world that offers so many walking opportunities.  Indeed we have many walks right from our back door to both North & South coasts. And some to local hostelries !
We also have 2 large allotments which will help to keep us very active.
In addition I have just started to learn to play the guitar (a birthday present from my lovely partner, Lorraine) which is something I regretted not doing 40 odd years ago!
And....lots more to keep us active and (hopefully) healthy.
Plus the model railway (OF COURSE).

[GrahamB]

I retired four years ago (aged 53).
I have no idea how I ever found the time to go to work. My eldest daughter constantly complains that she has to make an appointment to see me.
Keep busy, do what you want to do but make sure you do something that gest you out of the house.

[Newportnobby]

Erm - shouldn't that be model railways i.e.plural, Martin?
Whatever you do - enjoy it. I've been retired nearly 18 months now and just love it

[port perran]

Erm - shouldn't that be model railways i.e.plural, Martin?
Whatever you do - enjoy it. I've been retired nearly 18 months now and just love it

Certainly should be. Plus, of course, Mrs PP is building Descanso Farm .

[Dorsetmike]

It's great for the first few years, but it can start to drag when you pass 80; me get up and go just got up and went.

It's not helping that I've had this 3 bedroom 102 year old ex corner shop on the market since March, but can't do much about finding a rented retirement flat until a buyer gets as far as exchanging contracts. I dismantled the layout and salvaged as much as possible, tried sorting out what furniture and other stuff  to sell and what to keep, but until I know where I'm going I'm not sure what I'll need.

[Trainfish]

I've found that really helpful website http://www.seat61.com/ invaluable as a planning tool.

Thanks for the link Port Perran, looks like a good/useful site. The wife and I were planning to go to Hamburg this year but it was postponed due to my employment status not quite going to plan. Hopefully next year though especially if the job interview I attended on Tuesday was successful