The Retirement Newsletter: Looking forward and staring into the void

Issue Number: 1 — What awaits me?

Photo by Author — an art installation

Welcome

Welcome to issue number 1.

Finally, after more than 63,000 words spread across 147 newsletters, I am retired. It feels good. I can also start giving the newsletters positive issue numbers. Seems weird.

This week, I look to the future and ponder what awaits me as I enter my new career of “being retired”. And yes, I view it as a career. It is not the end. It is a new beginning (Star Wars?).

Planning

I like to say that I have been planning my retirement for 40 years, but that is not true. I have been planning to retire for forty years — I have not been planning my retirement. I have not been planning what I will do in my retirement.

And now, here I am, staring into the abyss. It is both exciting and scary.

The Future — what am I going to do?

As I said above, I will view my retirement as a career. I have some plans and have thought about what I want to do.

Health

This is a concern. I am overweight, and I have a few niggling health issues that I need to address.

In my first year of retirement, I will lose some weight. I need to drop about 10 kg (about 22 lbs, or just over a stone and a half), possibly more, but it will be tricky due to my commitments. So, I have got my excuse in early if I don’t reach this goal.

Anyway, I plan to do more walking and cycling, so there is a chance to drop some weight and get fit. I have already started and ramped up my walking.

I’ll start the diet once I have finished my Easter Eggs. (Another excuse for a delayed start.)

My other health worry is the stories about people retiring and dying. They get hit by a bus on the way home from their last day at work. Or, a week after retiring, they die of a massive heart attack. I hope I will not become one of those statistics.

Money

Money is a worry. (When isn’t it?)

In the last issue (issue -0.5 — Have I lost 12% of my pension?), I wrote about my huge pension scare. It looked like I had lost 12% of my pension. Hopefully, HR had saved the day.

If I had lost 12%, I wouldn’t have been able to retire. Things will be tight even with my pension and the 12% I almost lost. I can have a retirement, but until the State Pension kicks in, I will have to be careful. So, to provide a bit of a cushion, I need a side-hustle or two, and I will have to budget.

I have written about side-hustles a lot (see issue -1.5 — Skiing — a side-hustle? for more information), and I have some plans. And one of the things I will be doing is launching a paid version of this newsletter.

Should I start a paid newsletter?

I have been thinking about starting a paid version of this newsletter, and my plans are finally coming together.

My current thinking is that I will keep this free version (my mad ramblings) and have a paid version based on making some extra money in retirement. The plans are still fluid, but I am getting there.

Anyway, watch this space for more information in the coming weeks.

Travel and Holidays

Another thing I want to do in retirement is travel. I love travelling (see Travel — Nostalgia Corner below and Nick’s Wanderings on Medium). I must plan my trips carefully and manage my budget, but travel will be on the cards.

At the moment, I have no fixed travel plans; apart from my travels will be mainly UK-based. I had planned to travel around Europe in a camper van, but Brexit (the UK leaving the European Union) has caused me to change those plans.

Reflections

It has been a struggle to get here. Work over the years has been challenging but usually fun. I am relieved to have finally arrived. I hope it is all I wanted, and if it isn’t, I only have myself to blame.

At this point, I am excited about the future. I have made the right decision. I was desperate for a change and wanted to explore new opportunities and ideas. I have always dreamt of working for myself. Now, I have the financial security of my pension to explore some self-employment opportunities (side-hustles). Exciting times.

Onwards and upwards…

Travel — Nostalgia Corner

This week, more stories and photos from Bali:

• Bali — Shrines in Bali, Indonesia — So many shrines! Everywhere I went, there were shrines.

• Bali — Photos of the people of Bali, Indonesia — People watching in Bali.

• Bali — Sahadewa Barong and Kris Dance, Bali, Indonesia — Traditional theatre in Bali. This was odd, and I was unsure what to make of it. It was incredibly colourful.

• Bali — Pura Tirta Empul (Tirta Empul Temple), Bali, Indonesia — This was the best temple I visited in Bali. It had stunning architecture, and watching the worshippers and exploring a temple was great.

• Bali — Danau Kintamani — Batur Caldera and Batur Lake, Bali, Indonesia — Visiting the local volcano. Stunning views, but not a lot to see.

Next week, I will finish my time in Bali and move on to Hong Kong.

Next week

Next week, in issue 2, my first week of retirement — how was it?

Thanks

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Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you want to contribute something to the newsletter — a story, advice, or anything else — please get in touch.

Please note: I am not a financial advisor. When I write about money and financial matters, I base my opinions on what I have read over the years about money and retirement preparation. IT IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.