Saturday 7 April 2018

Living So Simply

For years I juggled...................

First........ working full time and  looking after a home and being a Cub Scout Leader

Then ............2 small children, a housewife, an allotment and being a Cub Scout Leader

Next.......A Saturday morning  job, a housewife, 3 children,  after school childminding, helping at playgroup, a big garden, a few chickens and being a Cub Scout Leader.

Followed by..........A smallholding growing veg to sell, 3 children, keeping milking goats, breeding sheep, more chickens,selling eggs, small campsite, membership secretary of the Suffolk Smallholders Society, writing for their newsletter and The Penny Pincher Paper and selling second-hand books at country shows.

And finally after the children had flown........... 3 poly-tunnels and a big garden growing large amounts of fruit and veg to sell, baking for a Country market once a week, keeping goats, looking after 120 chickens, selling eggs and running a very busy campsite.

Somewhere in there, probably in that 4th period, I remember writing a list of everything I did and wondering which I could stop doing as life seemed so hectic.

Now, apart from the illness which we can't change, life is so simple. I love it. I do the things I want to do, avoid things I don't want to do, enjoy the quiet, read a lot, make a few cards, stitch a bit, look round car boot sales, grow some food, bake a little,visit youngest and grand daughter, tour charity shops, go to 2 WI's and write for the blog.

I don't have to prove anything or strive to keep up with other people  or justify my lifestyle. Enough is plenty.

Simply Living and Living Simply .

But...............I'm only 63 later this month, have I "retired" too early?



Back Monday
Sue

45 comments:

  1. No, it's good that you've 'retired' whilst you're still young enough to enjoy it. Same for me.

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  2. No definitely not. I am 64 the end of the year and like you I am enjoying living simply wish I had done it years ago😀

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  3. No, I don't think that you have - we're both aiming to retire at 60 (currently 48, but youngest is not-quite-9 years old) - it theoretically gives you longer to enjoy a more fun/ peaceful life whilst still being more able to cope with travel/ grandchildren/ gardening. This is, of course, sadly not always the case. Life is for living, not just working - although it is prudent to undertake financial planning along the way to survive the later years.
    My eldest is 20 and away at university. No 2 is 18 next week and hopefully also going away later this year to study medicine. I look back to when my youngest was not yet one, my husband was working away from Sunday afternoon - late Friday night every week and I had the 4 to myself, with various after school activities to ferry them around to, WI membership (with being a member of the committee), being Treasurer for the PTA, a trustee, Treasurer and general volunteer for a local charity, household pets to look after - I certainly prefer my gentler pace of life now that the children are more able, I'm not up several times a night feeding one of them and my committee roles are all a thing of the past (I've never likes 'office' politics and bureaucracy when I had a corporate paid job - I disliked them even more when it was all to do with voluntary roles!)

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    1. Goodness, that must have been hard with your husband working away.
      I decide quite a while ago that I was allergic to committees!

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  4. Definitely not. I was 63 when I retired and it was the perfect time. My life is much simpler now, I have time for the things I need to do and the things I want to do (like crafting, gardening, etc). I may not be changing the world any more but my world has changed and, despite worries and stresses, I am extremely happy. It's wonderful, as is your life now.
    J x

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  5. This is probably 'sexist' but I don't think that women do retire, they just don't get paid for the work that they do.

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  6. I understand every word in your post, busy busy lives, rushing everywhere for years, feelings of no time to finish anything properly, must make time for our girls. Last year I quit my job, like you I'm 63 this year. I love my life now, time to do things, time to sit, time to finish things. And yes I'm too young to retire, but after two days in our garden, I am loving every moment.

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  7. Perhaps don't use the word retired, it's a change in lifestyle, just like the seasons of the year, maybe call it mid summer, you are bathed in warmth, sometimes relaxing in the sun and other times dodging life 's showers but always knowing you deserve this " holiday ", regards, Chrissie.

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  8. Not at all, Sue. I was 57 and I was going nowhere on the treadmill of my job. My life is so much simpler now and I please myself how I manage my time. I do volunteer with older people and this morning I am off to teach some basic sewing skills at the upcycling project where I also volunteer. Our motorhome will be here soon and we will be of travelling round our beautiful country and just generally pootling. Have a nice weekend.

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  9. Wow you have worked very hard.

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    1. Pity the penny pincher paper is no longer around I would have enjoyed that.

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  10. I decided to retire at 49, new adventure. Like you I was so busy, family, home running a business, PTA etc etc as they say if you want something done ask a busy person. People ask aren´t you bored, nope to much to do to be that and to take the time to smell the roses. xcx

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  11. You’ve done everything gthe way it was meant to be. All kudos to ya!

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  12. I finished paid work Septermber 2015 3 months after my 60th birthday on a small pension. I've done childcare for my daughter whilst she worked full time. Grandson started school last year and we've got another grandson, our daughter now only works part-time now so I now only do 1 day per week. You will still have things to do but more time to do them in that's what I've found. Enjoy your freedom Sue and make the most of it, you could even let Col tag along lol xx

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  13. You and I are similar ages (I will be 63 in August) but I took early retirement when I was 58 following redundancy and love it. I have just lived through 4 pretty bad years with one of my kids having mental health problems (new on the men thankfully) so I feel as if I am starting again. Work colleagues kept asking me what I was going to do but I said "I'm not going to do anything, I'm just going to be be"! In reality I now do all sorts of things - lots of new stuff I never had the time or energy for before but all fairly inexpensive whilst I wait for the state pension - three and a bit years and counting. Although I do have a fairly good work pension, I am a very cheap date.

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  14. your life sounds just perfect to me.

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  15. You have worked like a Trojan!
    I imagine that you didn't take much time off during those very busy years so, perhaps you should simply regard retirement as 'accrued leave'. You have earned it.

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  16. Id say you have done absolutely the right thing ! After a few decades of pure stress i have decided to give up work & survive on just over 1,000 pounds a month for 2 adults , mortgage free so should be do-able ...i am 59 ! I have over the last few weeks taken so much inspiration from your blog & you have spurred me on to make this decision & i am so looking forward to a simpler way of life... its much more fun !!

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    1. You should be fine. We have a little more than you each month ( and I mean a little) but still have a mortgage. That, and the council tax, take almost half our income each month. I don't work, we receive no benefits, have never inherited anything, and my husband has just semi-retired. We still save each month, go on holiday, run a car and eat well. We have no debt other than the mortgage and live a simple life. I'm 53 and he is 56.
      Wishing you well in your new way of life!

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    2. Hello scarlet - good to hear from you. Hope you've had some good weather to enjoy the new allotment...and the old ones!

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    3. Thanks Sue. Thursday was warm and sunny so we were at the allotments, and I only needed one jumper and no hat!

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    4. and to Anon. Good luck with your plans, we have under £1000 a month income now, no mortgage. We were lucky enough to have inherited money from 3 relatives over the last 20 years which has given us a cushion against being dependent on cancer benefit and work pension..... as we have savings for bigger expenses

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    5. This post could have been written for me ! I am 58 this year , spent the last 10 years juggling NHS nurse work , caring for 2 children and a severely disabled husband . My husband is now in a nursing home , the children are married and moved out and the NHS work continues to be exhausting. I would be in the same situation with £1000 a month to live on . Think I could do it , but it’s just taking the plunge , isn’t it ?

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  17. I should cruise along and take life one day at a time...much as I love my job it is so tiring what with having hubby's paperwork and the home to run as well...but needs must at the moment x

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  18. I retired at 57 and never regretted it. Being able to do what you want, when you want is priceless.

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  19. I'm 44 and have been able to live simpler since the nest emptied a couple years ago. I aim to retire at 60 and make doing not much of anything my full time job. Younger the better I say, so you can enjoy it.

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  20. The younger you can retire the better. You obviously paid your dues with all the things you did over the years. I also did a lot of things, also raising dairy goats and chickens and did 9 years of scouting, 3 for each of my 3 kids. Now that I'm retired I may be doing too much volunteer work. But I'm not sure what to cut out! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  21. That is up to you. You are now in a position to do more or less as you please. Enjoy!

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  22. You could always be a Cub Scout Leader....Just enjoy it. I retired from many a varied career when I was 62. Then lots of unpaid voluntary 'work' which continues as my health permits. But I get to choose!

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  23. I think part time is the answer. I'm 63 and work 2 days a week. I wouldn't want to stop entirely as I have seen other friends lose touch a bit when they've done so. I have great colleagues and I can fit in my hobbies, exercise, dogs, friends and travel but still have the bonus of a salary. My advice is don't do it too early but when you do keep up with exercise and a good diet.

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  24. Evening Sue

    Phew! I think you've worked jolly hard and now is the time to give yourself a bit of slack. Obviously, Colin is your number 1 priority at the moment, so just go with the flow. Enjoy yourselves.

    Have a good weekend.

    Carol

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  25. No Sue. You have not retired too early. Treasure every moment - every moment is precious.

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  26. Enjoy every minute of it Sue.
    My husband semi-retired this week aged 56. It has been fab to spend more time at the allotment this week. I wasn't fit for much on Thursday as my B12 was depleted( I had my jab yesterday), but it was blissful to sit in the sun in my recliner chair ,potter a bit, spend time together and chat to other plot holders.

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  27. If you're happy, you retired at just the right time! You were very busy before retirement. I've never had that much stamina! Enjoy your time, you have earned it.

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  28. A life enjoyed that does no harm to others can only be a good thing. We all have different needs and wants and what is right for one may not be for another. If it suits you, then that's what matters. We are almost the same age. I would like to retire but if I did, then there are things that I couldn't do, and as I want to do them more than I want to retire, I still work. So no, you haven't retired too early .....if that is what makes you happy!

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  29. No you have not retired too early. I retired at 63 although I had originally planned on working until 65 I simply got to the point where I could not handle the pressure of a full time job any longer. I worked full time over 40 years, raised two boys, did volunteer work, took care of a household and helped out with two grandchildren. My brain and body both told me it was time to stop! Even so, the first year I felt guilty and I should not have but it takes a little time to change a lifestyle even if you want to. I've discovered that we need time to be retired while we are still young enough to do a lot of those things we put on the backburner because we were always too busy! I'm 65 now and I know I easily have several years worth of things I either want or need to do and I love being able to take my time and do them at my own pace. But most importantly do what you are already doing - spend as much time as you can with your family and loved ones!

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  30. That's what I enjoy most. I'm not saying I will never go back to work, but for now I enjoy being home. I didn't actually realise how exhausted and wrung out I was until I had to be still after my ankle surgery. I can't say I'm actually retired as I'm only 47.

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  31. No way!! I'd retire now if I could! As it is I've 21 years still to go???!!!! Crazy - I can't even imagine doing playground duty at 67!!!!

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    1. The little dears will love you like a granny!

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  32. I'm that generation that expected my state pension at 60 only to be told, nope, 65, oh wait, now it's going to be 66. And we're not giving you much time to make more stringent savings so yah boo sucks to you. Well I did yah boo sucks back to the governments in question and finished at 60 anyway. I loved my job but it was stressful and I'd done my share of 'pit ponying' i.e. out in the dark mornings, home in the dark evenings every winter. I've always been a saver so took my tiny little pension (less than £400 per month) and decided would live off pension, savings and casual work when I fancied it until I've had enough. At the moment my old employers are keen to have me back so I do a few weeks of a couple of days a week for them (10 -4, no early start!), and then have a break for a couple of weeks. I used to tease my late mom about her 'little life', how on earth could she find it interesting? But now I understand, she had it right: eat well, sleep well, read books, watch nature, a lot to be said for the little life.

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  33. I love being retired, I decide how long something takes me to do, what time choose to get up or ho to bed...bliss. Yes I help with the grandchildren during holidays but it's the old 80/20 rule. I do what I want 80% of the time.

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  34. Ummm. guess I'm the only one who doesn't relate to all these posts!!!
    Gillx

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  35. My hubby is some years younger than me. He retired for a few years then went back to work because he got a very good job offer. I retired 4 years ago and have never looked back. The other day I was being sympathetic with him when he got up to go to work and had a bad backache. I said I was sorry for him and he replied, "You don't have to feel sorry, you already worked for FIFTY years, so enjoy yourself!" He's the best hubby! I would advise anyone who can get by financially to just retire as soon as you can. Any time spent just enjoying life as you like is worth more than money. One doesn't need a fancy house or car or even expensive, exotic vacations. Just living at home is so wonderful!

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