Do you still work?

[Gemini]

I mean paid work outside the home, of course.
I know we all work hard. Tasks around the home and garden, volunteer work, help with grandchildren and older family members. The list goes on!

When I joined the original forum I think quite lot of us worked. Daisy, Libra Gran, me, Glamma, Tizzy, Clover spring to mind, and several more I'm sure.
Are we a community of retired ladies now?!

[Grauntie Mag]

Yesssss and I wouldn’t change it for the world! I still enjoy voluntary work though. I wouldn’t want the pressure of paid employment.

[Daisy]

I'm with Grauntie. I like being non-employed! I like being able to please myself, more or less, and at the moment I don't even do any voluntary work, although I have offered to help with a small local charity if they need admin help.

After many years of looking after grandchildren (which was always a joy, never a chore) I very rarely need to help these days. Recently staying with our grown-up GSs while their Dad was in hospital was more for their parents' peace of mind than because they need looking after!

So, yes, I'm retired and pleased with that.

[Mimi]

No I don't work., initially not by choice

I was very happy in my job until my lovely boss ( still meet up for coffee now and again, exchange Christmas cards etc ) sold his business and it was apparent from the start that ladies of a certain age and dare I say it, race ( white , Biitish ) weren't wanted .
One by one my work colleagues left only to be replaced by young males.
The owner was very two faced I didn't trust him. He tried to cheat me out of money owing to me. My wage slip would say one amount, my bank payment another. My tax code changed from week the week. I challenged him about it and he just said its a blip , I'll sort it out
Well to cut a long story short I told him I would be late in work as I had an appointment at the tax office to sort this out.
Surprisingly next morning there was an envelope on the doormatwith a cheque inside with the money he owed me
This didn't stop me keeping my appointment. The lady at the tax office was extremely interested in my wage slips. She said they weren't actually legal, so many errors and obvious tax inaccuracies.
She looked at the cheque and quickly worked out that he had over paid me by £9 but she said the tax office would let that go , they were more interested in my boss and his financial working practices.
Needless to say being at work after that was difficult, I had only just lost my dad and my boss was making things very uncomfortable for me. but I was determined to leave in my own time .
He tried to make me change my work hours, change my lunch break and even get me to work in one of his shops in another town. I said its not in my contract so no.
Anyway I left a few months later but not until I was sure I had driven him mad trying to get rid of me .
That'll teach him to get on the wrong side of a 59 menopausal woman who was grieving for her dad and over the years has had to fight many a battle.
A few months later the shop where I worked was raided by immigration enforcement and arrests were made . No it wasn't me I didn't report him but maybe the tax office had something to do with it

When I left work at the age of 59 I foolishly thought I would get my pension at the age of 60 , yes I am one of 1000s +who thought the same

I don't miss work I enjoy being able to take each day as it comes. Most of my life was a juggling act with children , caring for parents and work so its nice to have time for myself and I still manage to meet up with my original work colleagues now and again. They are very dear friends to me

[Daisy]

Mimi, for all that you stood your ground and weren't intimidated by that bully, it must have been awful. Especially after being so happy in your job. I hope that man got his comeuppance with a vengeance.

[Oma]

Oh I love being retired and now no child care I can do as I please ,
I choose to look after the dog because I love having him but if anytime I decide I want to go out that day it’s not a problem , DD doesn’t expect us to have him it’s our decision.
I think at our ages and the things we have had to do in life we deserve to spend time on ourselves.

[Nanto2girls]

I love being retired, and so does hubby.

Looking after the grandchildren wasn't a chore,i loved having them.
Taking care of elderley in laws was work.

Its nice that we can go out now as and when we want.

Mimi,well done for standing up to your boss,when he was your boss.

[Clover]

Yes,I still do paid work-for two to two and a half hours a week! It’s housework for a family I’ve been with for forty plus years! The lady I work for was out at work as a Superintendent Radiographer and it was her Mum I originally worked for. The lady is now in her eighties.!

[Daisy]

Clover, I think you must feel more like a member of their family after so many years. xx

[Gemini]

Clover, I bet the lady doesn't ever want you to retire!

Mimi, what a nasty man.

It does sound as though the fully retired amongst us are all happy with the situation

I didn't expect to retire for many years if ever! I had my own business I can do from home or mobile, it was easy to scale down and do as much or as little as I wanted.

However, with grandchildren increasing and my mum needing more and more care, I didn't have much time to work.
Then came the pandemic and I couldn't work for some time even if I had wanted to. This sort of pushed me into retirement, as I was already well into my 60's.
I did work last year as friend bought her OH a 2 treatment voucher from me. She has only used one so could be working again, but these are one-offs. Only for friends as I have no insurance cover now. If I wanted to work again I could take out insurance easily enough, but I think like the rest of you I have got used to being retired.

As Nan2 said looking after the GC is pleasure and privilege. Looking after the older generation was work and not always easy or pleasant!

I love looking after my GC, but do occasionally envy people like my OH who literally can do whatever they want with their week!