I worked for one of the big 6 energy companies before it became a big 6, so started off as admin assistant in an office in Chichester, closed down office & transferred to Portsmouth and Street Lighting and stayed in various capacities until the company wrote and said that I had 40 years pensionable service and didn't need to pay anymore contributions. Asked if I could go early in that case, they sent me pension projections so I told them to sort it out and then went and told my boss where he could put the job (somewhere the sun don't shine much, though he seemed to think it shone out of his). Some would say my leaving date of 31st October (2010) was appropriate, but I couldn't possibly comment! Money may be a bit tighter than it was, but my improved health more than makes up for it even with T2. Husband was sort of retired anyway from teaching guitar and now just plays with an Irish band about once a week