John Laidlaw
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2013
- Messages
- 26,373
- Reaction score
- 9,163
- Location
- Wirral
- Your Mercedes
- Land Rover Discovery 4
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #21
Firstly many happy returns Keith!Well, young man, I'll give a few thoughts.
I turned 60 over the weekend, and like you have a young family (daughter just turned 13). I paid the house off in 1994.
In respect of cars, I have a BMW Z3 in storage that will be the daily when I retire, can't see that any time soon as I work when I want to. I did 'retire' once, before we had daughter. I'm minded to keep the GLE once the 4 year PCP is up, it's done low miles and we need a tug for as long as the heap of crap of a caravan gives us lots of holidays. I should have kept the W221, but you live and learn. Mrs has a qashquai for her commuting all the time she's working.
Like many, we've had tough times recently, and realise we can have a comfortable life into retirement with top ups as and when. Our current thinking is to get young un through school, then sell this house, sort her a home, then move somewhere where property is less expensive, but rentable and go seasonal pitches with the caravan and enjoy our time out all the time we have our health. Some friends have done just that this last year. He's a paramedic, she's a midwife fed up with the daily crap they get from 'managers', so do shifts as and when to keep their tickets up. Lots of options once kid free.
When not tied to school, its amazing what opens up.
I have a mate who retired 22 years ago at 42, bought a small property in Kernow. Goes beating for the gentry this time of year. Volunteers at the NT, does odd jobs fetching and carrying. Doesn't touch his pension and is happier than when he worked. Stopped drinking and took up cooking and teaches blokes to cook when he needs a meal out. The most chauvinistic bloke I know, es submariner. He's the house hubby since retiring.
I certainly don't feel, or act my age, unlike when I started out and thought you were dead by 60. 40 hours a week for 40 years and peg it before retirement was the norm then
Once I get me buss pass, won't need a car driving is not the fun it used to be.
Yip next year I also hit the big 6-0 , the i8 missus and me are doing the NC500, minus the NE part which I frequent anyway ...
Thanks for the insight , it’s a struggle trying to juggle pension aspirations, reality and current working life ( which frankly is less than great), but every year is a bonus !
And like you I certainly don’t act my age !!