retirement options

RE: retirement options

Julian Earl — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:33:54 GMT

Sorry Jonathan, I thought that the tongue-in cheek smiley gave it away? I was merely joking by implying that it is a good job your comments are not said to potential vets otherwise they'd choose another career! They may well be perfectly true in that none are happy but I'd be surprised if none are happy at all!

No offence meant if any was taken.

RE: retirement options

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:20:26 GMT

The vet I’m mentoring is a very happy bunny. She is a real grafter, bright and enthusiastic and just needs someone else to bounce ideas off in addition to those she works for and with. She was a bit taken aback by the human race in all its glorious variations when she started work but like most young vets I meet she’s a pleasure to talk to. Sometimes I give her an employer’s perspective on stuff, she needs a sympathetic ear from someone who understands if things go wrong but she is doing fine, and appreciates someone to listen who is not in the same practice. I’m only too happy to oblige.

RE: retirement options

Niall Connell — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:47:19 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

[quote user="J G Wray"]But, but all young vets are miserable and disillusioned aren't they?[/quote]

Ooh I forgot lots of other words as well:

Exploited, overworked, underpaid, stressed, with no prospects or future, friendless.

Give me time and I can think of more.

Whatever they are, they are definitely not having a good time, ever.

[/quote] Dr Wray, I know quite a few young vets. I’ve helped at GUVS for the last few years and have seen many graduate. I keep in touch with several of those young vets via Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. I meet them and others at BSAVA Congress, LVS and other CPD events. I speak to young vets at the VDS Recent graduate Seminars and at RCVS Regional events. I am humbled by their ability, the various roles they take on and their positive attitude. They are miles better veterinary surgeons in every respect now than I ever was. The veterinary profession faces many challenges but there is a lot of work being done to look at those challenges and get things better. Those young people should play a vital role in that work because they are the profession’s future.

RE: retirement options

J G Wray — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:41:08 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]So Mr Wray, how did your position of interviewer of potential students at the university work out? [/quote]

Does anyone know what this question means? There is another Jonathan Wray MRCVS, who might have done some interviewing I suppose.

Should I take up interviewing students to make sure they fit the profile?

RE: retirement options

Julian Earl — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:23:53 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

[quote user="J G Wray"]But, but all young vets are miserable and disillusioned aren't they?[/quote]

Ooh I forgot lots of other words as well:

Exploited, overworked, underpaid, stressed, with no prospects or future, friendless.

Give me time and I can think of more.

Whatever they are, they are definitely not having a good time, ever.

[/quote]

So Mr Wray, how did your position of interviewer of potential students at the university work out?

RE: retirement options

J G Wray — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:51:32 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]But, but all young vets are miserable and disillusioned aren't they?[/quote]

Ooh I forgot lots of other words as well:

Exploited, overworked, underpaid, stressed, with no prospects or future, friendless.

Give me time and I can think of more.

Whatever they are, they are definitely not having a good time, ever.

RE: retirement options

J G Wray — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 14:13:08 GMT

[quote user="Niall Connell"]That’s a great point, Clare. I also mentor a young vet who has recently graduated and I find it very rewarding. Now in practice and having a great time by all accounts.[/quote]

But, but all young vets are miserable and disillusioned aren't they?

RE: retirement options

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 09:12:16 GMT

[quote user="Clare Tapsfield-Wright"]Ive thought about helping at the local cat rescue but not sure if I can stand the other volunteers ( I’m such a nasty person ) . [/quote]Having dealt with them as clients for an entire career I understand that one! We're not nasty, just realistic and they are at best deluded at worst nutters.

RE: retirement options

Niall Connell — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 07:46:19 GMT

CLARE TAPSFIELD-WRIGHT “I am a sort of an unofficial mentor to a young vet which I really enjoy. I did not know her well, daughter of a friend but it has been very interesting. ” That’s a great point, Clare. I also mentor a young vet who has recently graduated and I find it very rewarding. Now in practice and having a great time by all accounts.

RE: retirement options

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 23:10:19 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]

has anyone discovered resources/links/associations whatever that have proved worthwhile after taking the plunge to keep busy and not discard your skills?

[/quote] getting back to your OP , I do think it’s a waste of knowledge when vets retire completely but unless you locum I expect we deskill quite quickly . I am a sort of an unofficial mentor to a young vet which I really enjoy. I did not know her well, daughter of a friend but it has been very interesting.

Ive thought about helping at the local cat rescue but not sure if I can stand the other volunteers ( I’m such a nasty person ) .

i think attending meetings and congresses would offer opportunities though I’ve been too busy so far, they might present opportunities. Vetlife are keen to have volunteers.

RE: retirement options

George Cooper — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:26:45 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Many folks I talk to, talk about a loss of 'self worth' on retirement[/quote]

True - having worked in the same small town for 25 years I guess I was pretty well known locally as 'The vet'. Then suddenly you are a nobody ....'Didn't you used to be Bob Lehner?'....

Quite common for people to retire and then die fairly soon after for some reason.

[/quote]

Bob’s thread triggered another thought process in this old brain - that of continuity. As Bob had, so had I. 25+ years in the one town where I was known as George the Vet, able through contacts to open doors, call in favours, scrounge contributions for fund raising and the like, I moved from the City of Hereford to a small scattered rural community up in the hills of mid-Wales, where I must say, the welcome was genuine and all-embracing, and I became known as George on Guitar Amongst other epithets!

One caution, though. A number of those who retire do so with the intention of moving, say, to the seaside, like Torquay or Eastbourne, having had holidays perhaps there. Once there they find that they know nobody and have to start all over again to create a circle of friends, and can become quite withdrawn and lonely, particularly if Health is not optimal. While there are good reasons to move, my personal feeling would be that remaining where one is known, among friends, would be a better option.

RE: retirement options

Julian Earl — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 13:45:10 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]

True - having worked in the same small town for 25 years I guess I was pretty well known locally as 'The vet'. Then suddenly you are a nobody ....'Didn't you used to be Bob Lehner?'....

Quite common for people to retire and then die fairly soon after for some reason.

[/quote]

Thanks Anon, for this excellent thread. I could have done with talking to you five years ago! As some of the people know, my own career ended abruptly on the 8th August 2012, rather a shock, quite literally when I sustained life-threatening injuries in a cycle-race. I originally was thinking that I'd go back to work but quickly realised I'd have to sell the practice. It took me over two years to get used to the idea of not being a "proper" vet, getting my ands dirty, but have finally accepted this nowadays. I had planned for retirement for years but my current state is not quite what I had in mind! My wife has been my rock and support and she suggested writing down my well-used talk for Women's Institutes and Young Farmer's Clubs which resulted in my book, Cows In Trees. Otherwise I had looked at mentoring but no-one was interested.

Te idea of finding new objectives has been critical so I indulge my passion of cycling as much as I can albeit as a Para-cyclist now.

If I die soon after retiring I shall be extremely cross, Bob! I've battled since 2012 to progress as much as I can physically and mentally so I hope no-one pulls the rug from under my feet [again!!]

A good, thought-provoking thread.

RE: retirement options

George Cooper — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:17:42 GMT

As a rising 70yo I have found that I still thrive on and enjoy being in a job share situation of 2 day’s one week and three the next, with no night or weekend duties. One of the most unsettling aspects occurred when I found myself with every weekend available having spent my entire career in mixed practice doing my share of full weekends. Suddenly to find oneself on a Saturday morning faced with “nothing” to do created a very interesting void in the ability to think creatively!!

I still enjoy the discipline of getting in to start consultations, of performing routine surgery, and particularly of helping clients with whatever their current problem is, and seeking ways to resolve it -even if it is simply how to get their pet to take Omega 3,6,9 capsules, or its contents!

Outside veterinary work I’ve always been involved in musical activities, Open Mics, Theatre, Young Farmers and the like. Learning the saxophone family when I still have the puff is the latest ambition, and up until yesterday when I sold it, driving around posing and hopefully pulling in an attractive soft top Audi was an additional pleasure. Mostly learning new songs and refining ones ability on guitar is really fully time-consuming.

However - my advice to all is that, while you have a wife, husband, partner make sure that you do stuff together as much as you can. Having lost my second wife to pancreatic cancer 8 years ago after just two years marriage I can tell you that the void it leaves is almost unfillable. The concept of “aloneness” as opposed to ‘loneliness’ is one that continues to exercise me, and does somehow curtail any meals out or visits to the cinema as I hate going alone!! That said - I actually enjoy my own company. Message :- Make EVERY day special.......!!

RE: retirement options

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 09:22:05 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

It's alright for you wrinklies, I was born in the 80's, I'll never be able to afford to retire!

[/quote]

What's this 'retire' thing people keep banging on about?

RE: retirement options

Niall Connell — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 07:18:31 GMT

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 43 years old and had to stop clinical practice, taking ill heath retirement when I was 49. I had been in clinical practice for 27 years. I did think then that was game over. I was very concerned that I would end my days sitting in the house playing the PlayStation. I decided to volunteer a bit for a hospital Patient Information Centre and helped out a couple of local practices by doing occasional shifts on Reception. This helped to restore confidence. I’ve said this many times but I really do regard the activities I do now as a career highlight. I do some work at Glasgow Vet School, mainly practical testing and online portfolio assessment, some seminars for VetsNow and the work on RCVS Council and VN Council. I enjoy meeting up with vets and RVNs on a regular basis. I’m chairing and giving talks at CPD events this year. I hope to keep this up for as long as I’m able. Mind you, I did become very good indeed at Black Ops II on the PlayStation on the way….

RE: retirement options

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 00:06:27 GMT

It's alright for you wrinklies, I was born in the 80's, I'll never be able to afford to retire!

RE: retirement options

grumpyoldman — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 23:25:47 GMT

I was hoping to slowly wind down over the last 5 years upto retirement age then pass it on ,but easier said than done, probably best to carry on as long as physical and mental capabilities allow, as long as someone you trust is on the sidelines watching and can tell you when things start failing. Maybe the RCVS should look at people over 60 as part of the PSS in the same way they look at graduates with PDP?. I think its ok to carry on as long as I can go into an exam with a bunch of much younger people and not be disgraced once every 5 years as long as I remain interested.

RE: retirement options

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 18:47:24 GMT

You know when retired people say , I’ve never been so busy! Well that’s me ! Horse , new Labrador, allotment , family , travelling, saying yes to invitations DURING THE DAY , doing outside stuff in the daylight and when there’s a window in the weather rather than in the rain , reading , writing , wasting time on the iPad, seeing friends and staying in touch with my vet friends and doing bits and bobs of a veterinary nature because I want to do them , not because I have to . It’s great

RE: retirement options

Anthony Todd — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 17:42:53 GMT

Yeah, well here I am 79 and still happiest when I am arguing on here [never mind the results].

Some years ago while I still owned the practice I tried to knock out a cat [with my glasses on].

Thrust needle into the vein only to realise that I was 1cm above the skin....

Gave up after that....

Dunno, do what you want, 'cos sooner of later you won't be able to, would be my advice.

RE: retirement options

Niall Taylor — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:36:50 GMT

[quote user="Derek Lyon"]I retired at 54 and did lots of different types of work.[/quote]

You know the four signs of old age, don't you?

1/ Repeating yourself.

2/ Memory loss.

3/ Repeating yourself.

and I can't remember the fourth one.

Niall

(Moderator's note: I deleted the duplicate post, and only then read this one which is rendered nonsensical by my deletion!)

RE: retirement options

Derek Lyon — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:14:22 GMT

I retired at 54 and did lots of different types of work.

Car delivery driver to and from airports
Lots of Zoo Inspections
The usual round the world trip
Blog writing
Involvement with my Golf Club committee
Writing weekly golf press reports to several magazines and newspapers
Going to our holiday home in Snowdonia on a weekly basis
Now involved with starting up a Mens Shed
Plus lots more
However I do miss the cut and thrust of practice despite the very long hours I did work!

Best wishes

Derek

RE: retirement options

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 14:28:03 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]Quite common for people to retire and then die fairly soon after for some reason.[/quote]

True story this

If an employer offers you an enhanced pension payment for working longer, please refuse it. A friend who trained as an actuary told me that they'd done the maths and that the employer wins, because the longer you work in that job, the shorter your life expectancy

Neil

RE: retirement options

bob lehner — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:29:20 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Many folks I talk to, talk about a loss of 'self worth' on retirement[/quote]

True - having worked in the same small town for 25 years I guess I was pretty well known locally as 'The vet'. Then suddenly you are a nobody ....'Didn't you used to be Bob Lehner?'....

Quite common for people to retire and then die fairly soon after for some reason.

RE: retirement options

Bob Russell — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 11:05:16 GMT

Ideally I want a second vet to join us here. Over the next five years work together to grow the practice further in a way that allows us both to continue to develop interests. Five years time let them steadily take over and at some stage just work as much as I would like!

I love the idea of giving up work but know full well I would go bonkers without any work at all.

As long as my Zimmer frame fits through the door then I intend to do at least some work!!!

RE: retirement options

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 10:51:28 GMT

I deal with a lot of professional people on the point of retirement who are looking at retirement and it isn't easy. Many 'binge' on travel the year after retirement. Many face the same dilemma

Personally I started leading cycle tours 15 years ago as a retirement option. Sounds mad but people DO need something to fill there time in post retirement and for me it's working very well.

Many folks I talk to, talk about a loss of 'self worth' on retirement which was echoed by a partner of a local practice when I asked him why he locummed at 60, that fall of the cliff edge of work can be dramatic.

Personally I feel that you need to develop another side to yourself, that is NOT being a vet. Martin and others have pointed out that in fact it is really hard to carry on with Vet stuff as you will always be critical of what you are seeing and not being in charge must be even harder.

Neil