h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So today is R for retirement.

I retired early from my job in the civil service, because I was tired of travelling up to London and back on the train, and of being at the bottom of a big organisation. But my husband was still working. So I spent some of my time working for the Citizen's Advice Bureau, and following a series of courses - first French conversation, later Creative Writing.

Now my husband has retired too, more or less (he still does a day a week work)he faces the question of what to do with the rest of the time. In the summer, we went travelling to France and to the USA. In these grey winter days he's not doing much, except surfing the internet.

If you're going to deal with retirement, you obviously need a certain amount of money and reasonable health. But maybe you also need the flexibility to try new things. It seems to me that women cope better than men on the whole, probably because a lot of us have had career breaks, worked part time and done voluntary work. Those men who've always worked full time risk lurching into idleness and ill health.

It's no use suggesting he joins the local golf club, or the Rotary Club -he'd hate that. I've suggested an Open University course or some voluntary work that he might like, such as working for the local preserved steam railway, but nothing seems to appeal.

[Amy P]

An ex-colleague of mine has joined the University of the Third Age - her & her husband seem to enjoy quite a range of activities together.

http://www.u3a.org.uk/

Deb

Thanks Deb. We are members of the local U3A. All we've done so far is French conversation but there's talk of a science group, which might suit.

Reading and gardening have become a bigger art of my life since I retired. I'm expanding my gardening so as to make my neighborhood look better. I'm part of a neighborhood committee that thinks of ways to put in more flowers and trees. We've sponsored a harvest party, and hope to sponsor another one in May to celebrate the rebirth of Spring flowers.

That sounds good paulh.

It's fun, it's intense, and it can be exhausting. It's better than sitting around with nothing to do.