Maybe one of the new hobbies I’ll pick up when I’m retired in Sydney is to round up fellow Malaysians there and /kopitiam with them in person hahah

This post has been edited by hksgmy: Apr 24 2024, 11:07 PM

Maybe can even open a real /k/opitiam (cafe) too while we're at it

This post has been edited by polarzbearz: Apr 24 2024, 11:09 PM

Congrats on your upcoming retirement! I'm sure there'll be plenty to fill your day with. Try out new stuff, work on projects that you've always wanted to! You're still really young so lots of energy compared to other retirees

I saw you mentioned Nordic countries. I recently spent 2 weeks in Iceland (on tour) and 2 weeks in Norway (self drive). Would not recommend to follow a tour. Horrible experience lol. Iceland wasn't really that amazing imo. NZ has equally amazing views. Norway on the other hand, was worth the visit and I intend to visit Norway again in the future. Self drive with all the time in the world (I think 3-4 weeks is ideal) would be the best way to explore Norway. Flying direct from London, we drove from Oslo to Tromso and back down to Lofoten Islands. Did not manage to visit all the other small towns since the drive was pretty long and speed limit was 60-80kmh most of the way, so it wasn't easy to get around if one is trying to cramp everything into 2 weeks. We saw the northern lights from our airbnb and it was amazing.

America has some pretty nice spots too. Depends what kind of travel activities you're into. Might wanna put it on your radar for future trips

Just a month in NZ? Which part of NZ? Do 1 month alone in South Island and another 2-3 weeks in the north There's tooo many beautiful walks around NZ lol.

Well, we’ve done large swathes of the North Island as we have a small apartment at Lighter Quay in Auckland that we used to visit (at least until COVID put a stop to all that), so 1 month self drive South Island (much like my SYDNEY to TASMANIA road trip last year) should be more trip than 2 old fogeys can handle hahaha

This post has been edited by hksgmy: Apr 25 2024, 09:16 AM

Haha then yea 1 month in South Island should be just nice. Enjoy the drive! I'd recommend autumn time as it's really pretty in Arrowtown during autumn. Think I went in April over Easter holiday that one time. Go during winter time if you're into winter sports. November is also a nice season and before the crowd comes in December. I'll be visiting South Island this November too when my friends from MY/SG goes over.

Congrat! @hksgmy

I plan to retire soon too around mid of 40. Too many things i want to do but being dragged by works!

Luckily i do not like travelling and not interested on sport cars (involved in car accident when i was young (i wasn't the driver), i drive quite slow since then), else i think i will need to work more years to enjoy those things

Thank you bro. I count myself lucky that I’m in a position to contemplate early retirement with minimal (if any) adverse consequences on our present lifestyle choices.

The plans I made are quite fluid - while I was quite keen on doing the round the world trip, but the ongoing geopolitical situation is putting a serious dent in that original idea.

I’m hoping things and tension will settle down and I can resume my original plans.

Otherwise, I’ll have to come up with an alternative plan - perhaps more regional travel, but with another level of luxury?

HolyCooler, I’d be both honoured and delighted if you could share with us your retirement plans… mid 40’s is a courageous age to be walking away, especially since you are at the peak of your earning capacity and apex of your career? What does your wife/partner/spouse think?

I really hate the way we can't enjoy our lives because some "big bosses" the ammount of which you can count on your fingers can't control themselves and want to play around with people lives. Really really hate the century I must be living through

To be honest, every era, every generation would have their personal challenges. My father’s generation was poorly educated, my grandfather’s generation was not only illiterate but lived through a world war.

I’m just blessed and count myself fortunate to have been given the opportunities when they became available and I count myself blessed to have been able to grasp the very same opportunities when they were presented to me.

I understand not everyone is as lucky… but I also believe that if they continued to work hard and make the best of what they have, they too will have a better life than the generation that came before them.

My wife retired 3 years ago. She is enjoying life to the fullest everyday.

I love my job but i hate being treated like a pawn by my boss, i am tired of his endless requests and pressures that he is giving me. Even if he has earned over 100millions he wouldn't stop trying to use me to earn more for him and still acting like i still didn't do my best to make more money for him. I am lucky my life have drastically changes since a few years ago and i finally have the chance to retire earlier.

It is true if i continue working i would earn a lot more than now, but no way i could endure it anymore. Once i was in such a pressure that i couldn't sleep well every day, and if i finally fall asleep, i would woke up after 1-2 hours and felt like i never slept, and my brain is full of the boss' fking face.

I pity those people who said retired = die earlier. I say that is bullshit, they have no life and pitiful. I have too many things to do and i have so many hobbies that would keep me very busy.

I have no commitment anymore since my houses and cars' loans are fully settled.

This post has been edited by HolyCooler: May 23 2024, 03:18 AM

Sorry bro, i think i ranted instead of talking about my plans.

My plans, (some already started, just need more time so i can spend more times on them)(All of the below aren't in sequence, i will write when i think of it)
1. Coding. I was graduated as a software engineering student, been doing coding on and off even i am not working in the field. Stopped it for many years, plan to do it again once i am retired. (Coding is a very fun hobby)
2. 3D Modelling / 3D Scanning / 3D printing. These are something i want to do for a long time. Once i am retired, i will spend money to buy high-end PC/3D scanner/3D printer and learning these things.
3. Swimming. Got to learn this and enjoy the peaceful mind in the water.
4. Bicycling. I used to cycling a few hours per day when i was young, i enjoy the peaceful / me-time when i cycling alone.
5. Gaming. I started gaming when i was 4-5 years old, and i almost still gaming daily until now. It is one of the most wonderful hobbies in the world. And this hobby would help me to keep my mind sharp, help me to train my reactions, and help training my memory.
6. With AI is getting more and more useful, i can forsee i will be doing something i like (but without the skills) with the help of AI.
7. lucid dreams training / exploring. (I trained and success one time, but then due to life-pressure i stopped it)

There are actually more things to do, but i think the above enough to keep me very busy.

This post has been edited by HolyCooler: May 28 2024, 03:31 PM

Looks like you are the crossroads. If you cannot sleep well and only wake up 2-3 hours later is not good for your health.

Take care of your health. Because in your boss eyes you are just a resource to use. Once u breakdown he will just throw you under the bus.

Plan and just go... no need think so much especially your house and car loans all settled. The rest u can do minor adjustments so long u can maintain the lifestyle you want.

Just a word of caution, since your wife already retire 3 years earlier and once u retire u will spending more at home also. Your wife might become your new boss

Thanks man. The couldn't slept well part was about 8-10 years ago.

My wife won't become my new boss, because no one can control me now included my parent and my wife, except my boss. My parent and wife understand my temper. I am the kind of guy / husband if i want to go out / go any where i don't need to get permission, i just inform and go out, and i can go out until 4-5am and my wife won' have any complain.

My retirement plans:

1) I want to read books as many as possible without distraction.

2) Volunteering as many as possible for NGO, religion association and others. During degree study, I'm actively involved in NGO.

3) I don't want kids and prefer my single life. I don't like my life having too much commitments. I have few past traumas in my life that makes me decided I prefer single life.

4) Cycling and stay healthy with other activities.

Not really a fan of vacation or travelling around. I tried, but I don't really get the enjoyment of travelling. Will still travel but not frequently.

This post has been edited by xpole: May 28 2024, 08:11 PM

That is nice, traveling. Just like some people love hiking. Last time I read a couple sold their house & everything to travel around the world.

I even heard some people collect inserts, figures, rocks & etc. That makes them happy

I hope to make more money and help others, especially in education. More people are losing hope in education nowadays.

Hi, for european travels, I recommend Iceland or Madeira.

You can see my thread about Madeira here:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5360763

However if you been to NZ already, you might not be keen on Iceland

For city break, I actually like Belgium: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=5353157&hl=

Might be worth a detour if you are heading to the Netherlands

I'm doing Malta+Croatia this year (via cruise), will let you know if that's worth a visit in a few months time

Actually Belgium gives waifu and I beautiful memories and if there’s one last European trip in our lifetime, I know that’s one place she would love to revisit. We have very close friends in Ghent (or Gent, you’re Dutch or Flemish speaking) and they’ve offered us an open invite anytime…

1-5 years away from retirement. Yes, that's quite a large range but my retirement goalposts are constantly being moved as I hit certain milestones.

1. spend as much time with parents as they're getting older
2. continue helping friends overseas move to SEA and retire
3. develop more opportunities for friends looking to retire/semi-retire in SEA

Thanks for sharing. You might even make no 2 and 3 into a retirement business !