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Today the state pension age hit 66 for those people born between 6th October 1954 and 5th April 1960. I am one of those who will have to wait 6 years longer than my own mother did to receive the state pension, but funnily enough I’m happy to put off the evil day when I have to say ‘I’m retired’.
When I was 60 (I’m now nearly 63) I wasn’t ready to retire, and even now I still want to work (and do). However, the eyes are not what they were after being damaged by much radiotherapy treatment in the past. I rather think I will be forced to retire due to eye problems at 66 whether I like it or not.
At the moment I’m fit enough to park my car for free a mile from the hospital and walk there and back 2 or 3 days every week. Being able to work keeps me happy, and eschewing the courtesy bus that the hospital puts on keeps me active. Going to work has been part of my routine for over 25 years since I went back to office work after my boys were old enough. I enjoy the money that typing clinic letters brings, and I really do not want to give it up.
But hey, the body wins out in the end, doesn’t it? Internally I feel the same as I did at 25, but externally I’m succumbing to the passage of time just the same as everybody else does. The path to a happy retirement is just to accept the fact that I’m no longer young any more, and to plan more visits to our caravan on the Isle of Wight.
Sam plans to retire when he’s 70, and he’s still as fit as he ever was. Cancer treatment, successful as it was, does leave a legacy. In my case it’s my terribly dry eyes that I have problems with, and although I douse them in ointment twice a day and use warm compresses, some days this just ain’t enough as I also have early age-related macular degeneration as well. I can see a point some time in the future when I won’t be able to drive, and this will suck big time.
How does one cope with not being able to drive or go to work, or maybe even not being able to use a computer? I will hate to be dependent on Sam, but there is no other way around it. Forty years ago we vowed to look after each other in sickness or in health, but so far poor old Sam’s had the short straw after I was diagnosed with advanced thyroid cancer back in 2005. He tells me not to worry and enjoy every day, and he’s been a tower of strength over the years. He’s only ever had one sick day off from work, and even when he had his Achilles’ tendon op 4 years ago he still worked every day from home.
The sickness and health bit of the marriage vows does take a more prominent place as the years go by, as one partner usually ends up looking after the other one. However, until that happens to us we’re doing our best to stay fit and healthy by walking and cycling as much as we can. We’ll be leaving for the van in about an hour’s time, and so I’ll answer any comments tomorrow (providing the Internet is working okay) as it’s time to switch off, make sandwiches for later and start loading up the car. The IOW is calling me… oh, and just in case you’re wondering… it’s not me on the bike in the featured image!
See you all soon. x
Vivek Sharma said:
Keep rocking. Goal is not 66 it’s 106.
http://www.barfanibaba.com
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Stevie Turner said:
Lol!
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robertawrites235681907 said:
66 for retirement is older than here. It is 65 here and always has been. England must be running out of money to have done this. I hope there are enough jobs to go around. I certainly don’t want to do my job until I’m 65. It is incredibly stressful and I don’t think I’ll last much past 50. I am already exhausted after 25 years of non-stop anxiety and no proper holidays. I am hoping to find something else to do that I will enjoy but which won’t kill me young through a stress related stroke or heart attack.
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Stevie Turner said:
You’re right – there’s no money. Businesses are closing left, right and centre. I think my sons will probably have to work until they’re 70.
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robertawrites235681907 said:
Yip, my generation will also have to work until we drop [I have planned to reduce my income from age 50 and we have always lived very frugally in terms of what we earn – this is the only reason I can retire earlier]
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dgkaye said:
Ya, sounds familiar. They started that a few years ago here, and guess who fell on the bloody cusp along with you? I think at the rate of the world and the markets, we’ll be bloody lucky to receive anything in a few years 😦 x
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Stevie Turner said:
Exactly. There’s no money, and that’s a fact, Jack (or Debby!). x
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dgkaye said:
😦 😦 x
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Cathy Cade said:
I planned to work till I was 65, but I remarried. My husband lived a 2 hour drive away and, while it was good not to have to walk the dogs before work (he’d take them back with him midweek), I got fed up with the Friday night train journey and the commute back to get into work for Monday lunchtime (I’d timetabled myself onto the evening shift for a later Monday start).
I’m one of the last UK women who could have retired on pension at 60, had I wanted to, having paid full National Insurance contributions since 1968… but, in spite of my delay in taking it, I’ve already been drawing my pension longer than my Mother did before she died.
So I have little sympathy for those who complain about how much they are ‘losing’ because of the inevitable and much-needed changes in pension age.
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Stevie Turner said:
Work keeps us young, I think. I’ve known too many people who have given up work and regretted it.
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Cathy Cade said:
I went out and joined a writing group and a couple of other things. Of course, they’re all suspended at the moment… 😦
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Clive said:
I always wanted to retire at 60 and managed to achieve that – I couldn’t have envisaged working any longer! But I hope you can work for as long as you want to, health permitting. Have a good time at the van 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Clive. Been out cycling today. Lovely and sunny.
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Clive said:
Glad you’re having a good time. We have a smattering of sun here too and I’ve managed not to get cold with the windows open – a pleasant change!
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Darlene said:
66 is certainly not that old and I think most folks can work up to that time without a problem. 60 would be way too early to retire. Work keeps us young and keeps our mind active. Had we stayed in Canada I would still be working, perhaps part-time or on contract. As long as you enjoy what you are doing. Sam is a gem!
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Stevie Turner said:
I plan to work until the eyes give out. Yes, Sam is indeed a gem. He’d have to be, to want to be stuck with me!
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Maggie said:
We retired early, and the years fly by. Life becomes more about finding some little morsel of joy in each day.
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Stevie Turner said:
Absolutely. You’ve got it right, Maggie.
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jwebster2 said:
I’m one of the men who will have to work until I’m 66 rather than 65, but I’ve no real plans to retire. In my job it’s tradition to be given an afternoon off for our funeral 😉
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Stevie Turner said:
Lol! Poor old Jim.
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jwebster2 said:
🙂
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