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Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Old Oct 25th 2017, 11:27 pm
  #16  
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Hi Macsta - Great topic!

We're the kind of people who find it hard to imagine that anyone would rather go to work than have all their time to themselves. Our plan was always to retire early. The main thing for us was to find the balance between living for today but saving for tomorrow. We managed to do that and retired at 55 as planned, that was 2.5 years ago.

We sold everything and after our last day at work flew to Bali on a one-way ticket. We've been travelling since - currently on Tasmania.

We're fortunate that we have a good monthly budget which we have not yet exceeded and feel that we are living life to the full and exactly how we always wanted to.

No regrets here. Hoping that it all turns out well for you too!
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 4:37 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by Fenella
We're the kind of people who find it hard to imagine that anyone would rather go to work than have all their time to themselves. Our plan was always to retire early. The main thing for us was to find the balance between living for today but saving for tomorrow. We managed to do that and retired at 55 as planned, that was 2.5 years ago.
This. Applies exactly to my situation. Just like Fenella I also managed to do this 2.5 years ago, albeit at age 50.
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 9:43 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Both Fenalla and SushiFan seem firmly in the "best thing I ever did camp" so more power to you all.

Fenalla if I can ask (I checked out your great blog) are you planning to constantly travel or do you have a permanent base that will eventually be home?
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 10:22 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Fenalla if I can ask (I checked out your great blog) are you planning to constantly travel or do you have a permanent base that will eventually be home?[/QUOTE]

No permanent base. We do have MM2H for bank accounts and a PO box in KL.
Of course we will have to settle down at some point but no idea where at the moment. Hopefully some day we’ll go somewhere and think “this is it”.
At the moment Bali is top of the list. But we’re heading to Greece and then Central America next year so who knows😄
Strangely Malaysia is not a consideration at the moment. But again,everything is open and Langkawi may be a possibility 😄
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Old Oct 26th 2017, 11:32 pm
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by Macsta
Thanks all for the advice and observations.

Ranging from fully planned to retired on a whim, it's more proof that "one size does not fit all".

Picking up on some points:

Yes SushiFan and NeonHippy pursuing hobbies would be on my list. I am a avid golfer but disc issues put paid to playing everyday but I can certainly "manage it twice a week" (my thanks to "Carry on Doctor").

IVV it would be nice if any new friends don't dribble but after spending my youth drinking with friends who at the end of a weekend boozing duly dribbled then it would feel like full circle.

uk_grenada its sound idyllic but would you advise keeping moderately active?

Gunnar45 yep I agree years ago I lived in Thailand and when I moved back to the UK (in the winter) it felt like my daily life had moved from technicolour to black and white - I'd rather live in technicolour.

"Is it sometimes more financially stressful to retire, than not retire?"

Like you mrken I am considering the actuarial but of course as bakedbean poignantly highlighted you cannot guarantee the time you have so your own risk taking persona has to kick in.

When I was younger I backpacked around the world and a group of us were drinking beer on Copacabana beach and a Aussie guy who joined us had been travelling for 5 years while renting his Sydney house out.

I was in awe that he's been able to do this and I asked "so what's your plan" and he replied "you know I don't have a plan but everything is going to plan".

Sometimes its just best to do things.
"Carry on Doctor"? No,no. With all due reverence to the hilarious high-camp antics of Kenneth Williams in the Carry On series (not to mention "Round the Horne" & "Handcock's Half Hour"), this phrase really belongs to the psychiatrist episode of "Fawlty Towers". Watch it & weep
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Old Oct 27th 2017, 12:02 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

P.S. For more of this uproarious but self-effacing comedian, unfortunately from a by-gone era, see the Parkinson interviews on UTube
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Old Oct 27th 2017, 6:58 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by Fenella
Hi Macsta - Great topic!

We're the kind of people who find it hard to imagine that anyone would rather go to work than have all their time to themselves. Our plan was always to retire early. The main thing for us was to find the balance between living for today but saving for tomorrow. We managed to do that and retired at 55 as planned, that was 2.5 years ago.

We sold everything and after our last day at work flew to Bali on a one-way ticket. We've been travelling since - currently on Tasmania.

We're fortunate that we have a good monthly budget which we have not yet exceeded and feel that we are living life to the full and exactly how we always wanted to.

No regrets here. Hoping that it all turns out well for you too!
Since you guys are always on the move, what about your lodging? you staying in hotels or airbnb type monthly apartments? would love to know what's the most feasible type of lodging for such lifestyle
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Old Oct 27th 2017, 7:36 am
  #23  
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by skates81
Since you guys are always on the move, what about your lodging? you staying in hotels or airbnb type monthly apartments? would love to know what's the most feasible type of lodging for such lifestyle
It varies. Mostly we stay in hotels. A lot of the time (visa dependant) we stay long term (a month or more at a time) so can negotiate very good deals. We're platinum members of the Accor hotel group - lots of bonuses there.

We have rented places before - villas on Bali for example can be rented for very good prices with a private swimming pool thrown in (as long as you don't want to stay in Kuta or Seminyak or such like)

At the moment we're touring Australia (currently on Tasmania). We bought a camper van and will be selling it in about 5 months, they hold their price very well, so we'll get a lot of our money back.

It's all a learning curve and like I said we're fortunate enough to have a pretty healthy budget but even if we didn't there are so many options around that it wouldn't be a problem. It's a great lifestyle for us, for now.
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Old Oct 29th 2017, 7:04 am
  #24  
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by merlinman
P.S. For more of this uproarious but self-effacing comedian, unfortunately from a by-gone era, see the Parkinson interviews on UTube
Many thanks for the correction merlinman and Fawtly Towers is certainly a classic.

Not sure if the phrase "self effacing" or indeed "comedian" should be used to describe Williams who was an actor who (to his own chagrin) ended up playing mostly comedic roles. He was however an amazing raconteur and in the 70s I recall watching his bravado appearances on Parkinson and in the 80s on Russell Harty.

With his acerbic wit and infamous verbosity, radio abundantly suited him and his long time appearances on "Just a Minute" were hilarious.

Indeed funny by-gone times.
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Old Oct 30th 2017, 5:39 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by Macsta
Many thanks for the correction merlinman and Fawtly Towers is certainly a classic.

Not sure if the phrase "self effacing" or indeed "comedian" should be used to describe Williams who was an actor who (to his own chagrin) ended up playing mostly comedic roles. He was however an amazing raconteur and in the 70s I recall watching his bravado appearances on Parkinson and in the 80s on Russell Harty.

With his acerbic wit and infamous verbosity, radio abundantly suited him and his long time appearances on "Just a Minute" were hilarious.

Indeed funny by-gone times.
Hi Macsta, We are obviously on the same page when it comes to radio & early TV comedy shows. However getting a little off-topic for the forum so I'll PM you for further chat
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Old Oct 30th 2017, 8:01 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

I recently rediscovered ancient radio comedy, round the horn, stuff like that. The bbc have 3 radio 4 channels on web radio, one specialises in the back catalogue of plays comedies and the like, pretty good stuff overall.
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Old Oct 30th 2017, 10:37 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by uk_grenada
I recently rediscovered ancient radio comedy, round the horn, stuff like that. The bbc have 3 radio 4 channels on web radio, one specialises in the back catalogue of plays comedies and the like, pretty good stuff overall.
Family Favourites, Round the Horn, Educating Archie etc.

They don't make Sunday Dinners, as we used to call them then, like that any more.

Some of those episodes are on youtube.
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Old Oct 31st 2017, 1:10 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Thanks for the valuable info, uk_grenada. From your co-ordinates I take you're somewhere near Bangkok, otherwise I'd suggest we get together in Penang for a "grumpy" tete-a-tete
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Old Oct 31st 2017, 5:53 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by merlinman
Thanks for the valuable info, uk_grenada. From your co-ordinates I take you're somewhere near Bangkok, otherwise I'd suggest we get together in Penang for a "grumpy" tete-a-tete
Or possibly Grenada
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Old Oct 31st 2017, 8:56 am
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Default Re: Early retirement - was it what you expected?

Originally Posted by merlinman
Thanks for the valuable info, uk_grenada. From your co-ordinates I take you're somewhere near Bangkok, otherwise I'd suggest we get together in Penang for a "grumpy" tete-a-tete
12 degrees N of the equator does as suggested go round the planet... Bangkok is very nice [just reminds me of blade runner occasionally - the occasional derelict skyscrapers...] but i am in the caribbean - Grenada. We have many many groups of grumpy old men - we meet in rum shops - the underlying issues are that the temperatures too comfortable, the beer and rum are too cheap and far too strong, the rum shops never close AND there is no such crime as drunk driving...

Last edited by uk_grenada; Oct 31st 2017 at 8:58 am.
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