Hi,
I've been looking into retirement issues for a couple of years now, and during one of my regular internet searches looking for inspiration and clarification, etc I came across your forum - looks like many others are mulling over similar concerns to mine!
At age 56 I am eligible to retire now on the excellent superannuation scheme I am in, on a good pension, despite the recession ... so why haven't I retired?
Well the issue for me is not that I can't retire (although the longer I put it off, the greater percentage of final income I will receive as a pension), but my fears that I may find I have issues with feeling not useful, everything being rather pointless, etc.
OK, I enjoy reading, could try to build up skills in a few hobbies (rather than the fumbling effort in spare moments over many years!), could go on holidays, do lots of walking, etc, but I have the feeling that this is probably all too self-serving and perhaps what is the point at this age? Perhaps work has so dominated everything for so long that as 'freedom' approaches it is difficult to handle it.
Maybe it is better to keep on working as long as possible, but then again perhaps those who are old enough to go should move out to create opportunities for the young ones looking for work - perhaps it is greedy to stay on too long??
Any others feeling like this?
I've been looking into retirement issues for a couple of years now, and during one of my regular internet searches looking for inspiration and clarification, etc I came across your forum - looks like many others are mulling over similar concerns to mine!
At age 56 I am eligible to retire now on the excellent superannuation scheme I am in, on a good pension, despite the recession ... so why haven't I retired?
Well the issue for me is not that I can't retire (although the longer I put it off, the greater percentage of final income I will receive as a pension), but my fears that I may find I have issues with feeling not useful, everything being rather pointless, etc.
OK, I enjoy reading, could try to build up skills in a few hobbies (rather than the fumbling effort in spare moments over many years!), could go on holidays, do lots of walking, etc, but I have the feeling that this is probably all too self-serving and perhaps what is the point at this age? Perhaps work has so dominated everything for so long that as 'freedom' approaches it is difficult to handle it.
Maybe it is better to keep on working as long as possible, but then again perhaps those who are old enough to go should move out to create opportunities for the young ones looking for work - perhaps it is greedy to stay on too long??
Any others feeling like this?