Are you going to retire at 66

tough ould job, tis a bit of a shock when it all stops

“If you like to travel I find it relieves the boredom of retirement.”

In my experience of people retiring in the last few years, and indeed some who are retired decades, they fall into a few distinct categories. But the key differentiator is not things like using travel to “relieve boredom”- it’s actually the persons mindset.

A few examples:

I know someone who feared retirement- he travelled and whatnot- but developed a gambling problem of all things. Totally miserable right now

I know a couple who have spend their retirement essentially watching television and complaining about all sorts of things- they’re not happy.

I know someone who retired over 20 years ago and hasn’t let the golf course since- hugely active life and yes does travel too and involved with her wider family, nieces nephews etc

I know someone who travels, involved in family etc etc- not hugely active but very comfortable with their own company too - they’re happy.

Others I’ve known unfortunately developed medical issues which destroyed their retirement years unfortunately.

For me the first two examples above show the importance of mindset - money wasn’t an issue for any of these people- they all had enough to live and indeed enjoy - but their mindset towards retirement was what influenced to what degree they actually enjoyed it.

Personally I would love it and can’t wait for it to happen - I’m comfortable having quiet days as well as exciting days, travel etc

I’d probably do a self paced degree or Masters in something just to keep the brain going - but only if I enjoyed it .

But I’d like to leave work behind- I know some who are continuing to work part time long after retirement - that’s not for me - I’d prefer to embrace retirement and all that it would allow me to do . I’ve worked enough and will be dead long enough

That hasn't been my experience, but it might depend on the train.

They dont have any of those scenic train journeys, which are travelling restaurants in the style of the Orient Express in Ireland.

So I was thinking of doing my own version, getting the train to Killarney or Galway, staying the night in a nice hotel, bringing food from a high-end deli, a picnic basket, a tablecloth, proper cutlery, and glasses. The only issue is that you can't drink on a train in Ireland, so I would have to ditch the bottle of champagne.

In the UK, you can consume alcohol on a train, so maybe I could do it on the Belfast to Derry Train suppose to be a very scenic journey as well.

That's a mad price so no thanks, I looked it up you cant consume alcohol on the Belfast to Derry train.

I looked it up, alcohol can not be consumed on trains in Ireland unless in limited circumstances where it is sold on the train, in the UK, alcohol can be consumed on trains, but can be banned after football matches and certain concerts.

On our Eurotunnel, I got a bottle of champagne from M&S and some nice food, and there was no issue with having on the train; alas, I had to use a polycarbonate champagne glass, but it didn't take much from the experience. It was fantastic to arrive right in the middle of Paris

It is in some respects but unfortunately it’s as a result of the few spoiling it for the many.
There were many stories of stupid drunkenness impacting negatively on other passengers through the years so not surprised it’s not sold anymore - as it is there seem to be plenty of stories of bad behaviour on trains- haven’t been on an intercity train joirney in Ireland in decades but I’m not sure I’d enjoy it these days

I had a young fella working for me some thirty years ago who raised the same point, and having given it some thought myself, I made some significant lifestyle changes (along with the wife-and-children) and "retired" five years later at the ripe old age of 35 and no pension to speak of.

I subsequently "unretired" into the rhythm that's served me well in the interim, and from that perspective I find it quite sad in a way reading so many of ye planning great things for your retirement when I get to do pretty much all of it all of the time, and while I have the mental and physical health to enjoy it.

My parents are still going strong (albeit with a hefty daily dose of Big Pharma) and never short of things to do; and neither am I. Last year, I found my "To Do" list from when we bought this house, and I'm only a tenth of the way through it after twenty years, so there's more than enough on that to keep me busy till I fall in a hole and don't get up again.

In that regard, my spare cash doesn't go towards building a million-euro pension pot that might never fully pay out. Instead, I invest in much shorter-term objectives, like buying the tools and materials necessary to convert my chicken shed into a wheelchair-accessible, zero-energy one-man retirement home; or the field next door (if yerman would ever sign the fekkin papers) along with a new roof on the barn and diesel for the digger to create a flexible event space that I can manage and/or rent out when I no longer feel the need to traipse around the planet.

"Work" - as in the revenue-generating professional kind - is something I fit around my travels and festivals and DIY projects. Because I only do about 20 weeks of it a year (and organised in such a way as to make a holiday of every weekend while I'm doing it) there's no burn-out, no sense of still "grinding away" and it feels like easy money when I see a month's pay deposited into my bank account.

At this stage, I can't imagine what being "retired" would mean for me. It sounds like something dead people do.

As for retirement itself. I tinker (or mess about as my wife calls it) with loads of different things. Gardening, electronics, woodworking, beer brewing. I think if I have a blend of things that interest me that don't all need the strength and fitness I have now, I'll have a better chance of enjoying the free time.

This is another form of "life insurance" that's very much overlooked, and worth bearing in mind even when you're still a sprightly youngster. Having a passion for one thing is all very well, but a change in circumstances can suddenly leave you with a gaping hole in your life. Just as with financial investments, diversification in one's range of personal interests is very important.

This is so true. Even amongst my own friends and work colleagues retirement is just "not having to go to work" or golfing. Not working will grow old quickly and golf if you have a passion for it is great, but a hip or knee injury can scupper that and in the the depths of winter you're not going to improve your handicap staring out the window from the 19th hole.

one factor to bear in mind if you are trying to retire as early as possible,once you reach a point where you are reasonably financially secure your perspective on work can change as its no longer a "must do" rather a choice,secondly you can be much more bullish with your bosses to your own advantage and if you are valued staff member you can leverage changes like part time working,dumping work you don't like ,look for increases in pay etc . Certainly for me the last few years were the most stress free .enjoyable of my working life.

Everyone approaches retirement differently.

I see those who are having a ball in retirement, and it's not always about money, either, and I see the other side as well, the non-accepting of their age or situation.

I often wonder about those with messy personal lives. What did they think was going to happen as they got older?

I'm just trying to visualise the looks from the three commuters sitting with you at a 4 seater table as you pass Portarlington on a packed train to Kerry while you swallow your oysters and spread some goose liver paté on your rosemary and thyme crackers! Would you allow them to rest their laptops and iPads on your tablecloth? 😂