Retirement

[Terry Wilcox]

Hi All. I have one and a half years to go before I retire. I am still ative and would like to do a part time job ( NOT COOKING ) within the M.N. or anything to do with ships. Does any of our members know of anything??? If so I would be interested to know. Take care..... Terry

[Captain Kong]

Try the Dover Harbour board, they have some small harbour vessels, the dredger, the tug , the pilot cutter etc.
Cheers
BRIAN.

[Trader]

Try the Dover Harbour board, they have some small harbour vessels, the dredger, the tug , the pilot cutter etc.
Cheers
BRIAN.

Not much chance there Brian, they are deadmans shoes jobs.

[happy daze john in oz]

Terry if there is still a seamans mission in that part of the world you may be able to get some voluntary work there.

[Captain Kong]

Not much chance there Brian, they are deadmans shoes jobs.

Yes I can believe that.all family business`s.

If I had known retirement was so good , I would have retired 50 years ago.

[Gulliver]

John says, " you may be able to get some voluntary work there. "

This was in the thread advising Terry ,who was within 18 months of the U.K.state retirement age of 65.
Now,obviously we don't know whether our Terry has an occupational or a private pension that he has built up over the years,or even whether he has built up enough N.I. contributions for a full state pension,or whether a decent wage is required...

I also know that voluntary work can be immensely rewarding (not financially of course) for some people....

I also know that there are not enough jobs to go round,and that younger people want to be given the chance to get on the 'jobs-ladder'.And that we older generation are taking some of those jobs by not retiring early...

I also know that,with some of the population generally living longer,and expecting a few more years in retirement,that we should perhaps all be expected to work longer....

I SAY ...Rubbish!.......Be Thankful to Bow Out at Normal Retirement Age.!

And as for VOLUNTARY(???) Work..Well I didn't work 40 years all the hours God sent me to do more work AND NOT GET PAID? FOR it!
Sorry, but if a particular organisation requires volunteers,then the Government can jolly well employ PAID staff to do the job. I've paid my taxes over the years,and you can't blame me for the state of the economy,such that volunteers are now required!

"But,voluntary work will keep your mind and body active",they say.
I say, Codswallop!...I 'm on the computer,do Sudoku and Cryptic X-Words,do loads of research and read copious amounts,and walk miles every week...

This will no doubt upset some of you,but I say "Retire at 65,or even earlier if you are able to".
I took early retirement at 55,three years ago, and it's the best thing I ever did.I don't necessarily have lots of money to live on,but I manage comfortably,and most of my expectations are catered for.I contributed 20 years into my MNOPF pension and 20 more years into a second career occupational pension.Fortunately those two pension schemes were well managed,and were quite 'tough' as regards the contribution amounts deducted from my take-home salaries(ask others who were in the MNOPF scheme for similar periods-it was a fair amount).

Problem is there are many people today who didn't contribute or think about their future retirement plans,relying on the state to see them through.

Was it worth it? YES!
Oh,and retired I may be,but it's not costing my government one penny.It will in 7 years time(when/if I make 65).Then I will effectively double my income-just what you need at 65(when sunshine holidays,incontinence pads...and Viagra tabs(maybe)!...required.
But...VOLUNTARY Work......"LEAVE IT OUT,mate!".....Pay me the going rate!
　
Like Capt.Kong just said ,"If I knew what retirement was going to be like ,I would have done it 50 years ago!"

Life's too short....and it's not a rehearsal.
Best Wishes to All.

PS. Nicest thing to happen this morning? Well,I woke up to several inches of snow and ice...and didn't have to get dressed and go to work!
(Or equally,if I lived 'down under',I could wake up.knowing I could go to the beach,or take a ride up country-instead of work!)
Smashing!...Now,I might just volunteer to have a lie-in for another hour or so. No pressure!
Gulliver
　

[Terry Wilcox]

Ha. Ha. Gulliver. You have hit the nail on the head. I have always been at work since I have been 16, and have paid all of my stamps.The trouble is.... that when you are always on the go, it is going to be hard to stop, ( I get up for work at 5.45, and at work 6.20. sometimes for a 12 hour shift ). to just stop is worrying, and feel that I need to come down easy, and "yes" it would be good to be paid for it. Take care..... Terry.

[Gulliver]

Hi Terry,I certainly respect your concern about retiring,then not knowing how you're going to cope with the change in routine and/or boredom!

I think a lot of folks fear that....why,I can't understand?

It depends on your nature I suppose.
I've always been very laid back in outlook.At sea,despite sometimes long hours and tours of duty,I made sure I didn't volunteer for any extra,took shore leave whenever possible in port(so that I wouldn't be called on to do extra duty),and always made sure during leave that my company understood that I was on leave and I'd be out of contact until about one week before my leave was due to end(even if that involved a little white lie).I never had problems.
The more work you do,the more stress !

Despite absolutely loving my seafaring career,and my subsequent second career ,I never resented being made redundant or retiring early.
To me Work is there to be endured(enjoyed if possible),but still something to be forgotten about on leave,or the end of the day.
It's a means to an end...and that is to enjoy a life in Retirement!

I love Retirement......wish I could do it again!

Gulliver

[Anthony Atkinson]

The Seaman's Mission at Dover is now closed down, and has been for some time. The pilot cutter at Dover, is a two man job, and the tugs and dredger, well, the actual manning of these vessels strongly suggest that catering staff at all levels are not used. I am on talking terms with one of the skippers of the tugs and he tells me they are down to the bare minimum with regards to crew. The dredger is not permantly manned. Regards Anthony Atkinson R796905

[happy daze john in oz]

Well Gulliver mate it is like this. Me and her indoors were retrenched from the uni system with a very nice golden handshake. I was then done a second time so took early retirement at 61. Have avery good super scheme running for us, part U.K. pension and part Oz pension. Enjoy cruises, weekends away, and all the other things we do. But I still do three mornings a week as a volunteer in the local community health centre. I am the OHS and First Aider for the 'mens shed'. This is a couple of workshops where men of all sorts gather to do woodwork and associate. Much of the work they do is to make wooden toys for the less fortunate kids at Christmas time, this year they have made about 300. I alos do the occasional drive to take a client to hospital appointment. I can do as much or as little as I want, no pay but do get to go to a number of outings during the year all paid for by the centre. It keeps my mind alive, it gives me personal satisfaction, and I feel I am giving something back to the community. The centre employs some 79 persons and has 105 volunteers there as well at various times. Many work in the day centre which four days a week takes in 20 persons, mainly female, for a day of association and lunch. I agree not for all but for those who do it they enjoy. Not sure about U.K. these days but being a volunteer here in Oz is a big thing with thousands doing it each day, part of the culture and identity of us down under. 30 forecast for today.