Are you working towards early retirement?

THREE-TIME Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis has announced his retirement from acting at the age of 60. We asked our Email Jury, if they were financially secure and physically fit, would they rather retire early or carry on working – and what would they do if they chose not to work?

I am already retired and feel it is all about how much you enjoy your work. I was glad to retire from a very stressful job but know many friends who enjoyed their work and were reluctant to retire. Liz Kelly, Glasgow.

When I was younger I always said I would never retire early, but having had to do so through ill health, I do not know how I found the time to work! Lorna Smith, North Yorkshire.

You must carry on working in some capacity just to keep your mind active. I retired in my early 50s as a bank manager. I obtained a PCV licence to drive buses and coaches and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience over the last 22 years. I am still healthy and of sound mind, so I prove my point. Robert Cockburn, North Tyneside.

I retired from the police 17 years ago at age 55 and keep myself out of mischief as a volunteer driver for our local community car scheme. Davie Kerr, Lochaber.

Due to ill health I had to retire at 50 but would much rather have worked until I was 60. My late husband spent years yearning for retirement but when it actually happened, he hated it. Margaret Gibb, Fife.

As I write this I’m sitting in my lovely garden, where I can enjoy the birdsong, the trees swaying and can read or snooze and enjoy the very laidback life I have. I have earned it. Lorraine Anderson, Edinburgh.

I worked until I was 64 but I’m now retired. It would be nice to have a wee job but things are so different. Also, because I have a work pension, I get taxed, so it’s not worth it. Linda Cox, Aberdeen.

The best thing that ever happened to me was enforced retirement at 65. I fought to get kept on working but in hindsight I have no regrets. James Walker, Glenrothes.

I’m semi-retired and I do enjoy the two days I work. But if I was financially secure I could easily fill those days with other things. Susan Ireland, Kendal.