Be careful what you wish for

[GRAgusta]

It doesn't feel like a big impact at the moment because it has been slowly evolving through lockdown since I finished my last shift in Kazakhstan on 18th March, but I am about to enter the world of retirement.

My assignment to Kazakhstan ends tomorrow on paper, on Monday I have a new contract with the UK parent company and at the end of August that contract will be terminated by mutual consent. From then on I'm a pensioner.

Years ago, I started a new job in Aberdeen in April 1991, then in September '91 - just before my 30th birthday there was a major reorganisation and lay offs. Colleagues I had recently got to know left, one especially I remember he was under 60 and was leaving work with cash in the bank, no mortgage and healthy. I thought then that this would be a good outcome to potentially anticipate.

Move on 29 years and that is the position I'm in, albeit I'm not as fit as I once was.

Our initial thoughts were that with our youngest daughter in Auckland travelling will be our first priority, plans for that are currently on hold sadly.

There is a new 4 wheel toy in the toy box, and everything else is clean and good to go. The golf sticks have been getting an airing, plenty of walks in the Ochil Hills have been explored. Before lockdown we had a winter dive trip to the Caribbean, soon we may get to do some cold water diving.

But it does feel somewhat strange to be in this new sate of retired. The run into Autumn will be fine, but I will need a strategy for winter me thinks.

[dave the german]

Gawaine, congratulations!! What about a restoration project for the Winter months? Something therapeutic about patiently cleaning parts and getting them refurbished and rebuilding

[Paul]

Congratulations Gawaine. I'm sure you'll find after a couple of months of retirement, you will start to wonder how you ever found the time to go to work!

Hopefully see you in Moffat in October, if you need a self help chat with a bunch of retirees

Cheers,

Paul

[herrman]

Hi Gawaine,
Congratulations upon joining the pensioner club !! I hit retirement in May although i'm still working P/T --go to work when I feel like it.
Does feel good to have the state give me money every 4 weeks rather than me giving it them. Hope to see you and Jenny in Moffat.

Regards Peter.

[Al]

I felt the same as you Gawain, I finished work last June at 61, I new I would be ok as a beach bum and doing sailing and outdoor stuff in the summer but knew the winter would be the test but to be honest I found plenty of neglected house jobs to complete, transferred aviation skills to marine by doing yacht engine and outboard servicing for friends and a few others who found out I could do it, some days I did nothing but read books and dog walks but so what, and I have settled into it far too well apparently!!
Don’t worry/ overthink it too much, you will be fine.

Al.

[Steve W]

Hi,
This retirement business is catching as I finalLy finish tomorrow(Friday) instead of the originally planed end of May,
With plenty to keep me busy till we fully relocate to Plymouth around the end of August.

Steve

[boxerscott]

Aye, Gawaine join the rest of the Everyday`s a Saturday Club and drag yourself along to the Moffat do .

Good luck and long may you wack your pension!

Chris

[Al]

Hope it all goes to plan Steve, nearly ended up in Plymouth myself, wife has family there but decided Exmouth is better for us at present.

Al.

[BoxerCup R]

Hi Gawaine
Your post is very interesting and one that I would imagine the majority of men feel and fear. On a personal note, lockdown has given me a taste of retirement that otherwise I would never have experienced, although a few years off yet, I'm 55, it gave me plenty to think about.

It sounds like you are 'geared up' for retirement and I wish you well in trying to find time to do what you would like to do, swell as things you need to do

Being a Porsche owner/lover, would love to see your 992

All the best

[Blackal]

Reckon I will continue working around 5-6m of the year.

I love the work
I need the stimulus
I am not ready to stop earning and say: “That’s what I have - to live off now”

[SP250]

Go for it Gwaine and enjoy every minute of doing what you want or doing nothing at all - you will now have the choice to do that.
I wish I could do the same because I have far too many things I want to do and places I want to go and work gets in the way.

[GRAgusta]

Being a Porsche owner/lover, would love to see your 992

All the best

IMG_3958 by gawaine appleby, on Flickr

John

i understand you're not far away, I'm sure we will meet up.

Anyway, this is the retirement toy box.

[BoxerCup R]

Ooh, She looks awesome





One of my Mates from the Boxster OC & a biker too bought himself a 992 coupe in March and I popped down to see it just before lockdown, beautiful



IMG_9416 by John Taylor, on Flickr



IMG_9417 by John Taylor, on Flickr





Aye, we can pick and choose what to meet up in/on must do that







My bikes

IMG_9863 by John Taylor, on Flickr



Cheers

[boxerscott]

Whooaah! lads put yer guns away!!

Chris

[BoxerCup R]

Whooaah! lads put yer guns away!!

Chris

It's ok Chris, were just firing blanks