Retirement

I neither can, nor want to, retire. I’m more attracted by the idea of retirement, I think. Or rather, being able to retire. It’s financial freedom…the ability to not work, rather than actually not working.

A large part of my financial planning and saving over the last few years has been geared towards pulling my theoretical retirement data earlier and earlier. Right now, I think I’m at the point where, if I pulled every lever I have available, I could retire at 40. I could keep up our current spending level, stay in our current house, and retire at 43 or 44 (depending on risk tolerance). I’m 37 at the moment.

I’ve got two guides for what early retirement looks like in my dad and father-in-law. One of them went on lots of holidays, brought a motorhome, brought a farm, and now spends a lot of time struggling with poor health. One of them took up golf in a big way, cycles regularly, and does lots of DIY projects. Both of them (apart from the health thing) sound pretty good, and I’d say both are fairly happy.

I had 5 months parental leave earlier on in the year and got to experience what my version of mini-retirement would look like. I did most of the school runs, a lot of housework, took on a few home-improvement projects, went to the gym regularly, and did loads of ‘hack projects’ on data that interests me. It wasn’t wildly dissimilar to my life while working, to be honest. That’s heartening, and tells me that I’m not really ready to retire yet. If my retired life and my working life look really similar, why would I not get paid for what I do!?

The one thing I feel like I’m missing for a top-class retirement is a group of local friends who I can do things with. Golf, or pub trips, or cycling, or…well, anything. I see them, when I work from pubs. Groups of retired men who come in in the middle of the day and enjoy themselves. Groups of retired women too, for a daily wine and chat. That looks like the point of retirement…a group who you can spend your days with.

If I’m not going to retire early, then perhaps I should spend more money now and save less. However, you never know what’s going to happen in the future, and with AI disrupting everything…make hay while the sun is shining, right?

Going to Hawaii tomorrow with work, as well. That’s the sort of thing you don’t get when you’re retired!