Well!!! Huh?

Joyce in NY wrote:
Just remember that what you plan and what actually happens may be two different things. I retired a year ago June at 55 with the intention of flipping our travel schedule -- travel winters and stay home summers. A lot of people I worked with retired and found out they had various health issues, and I was NOT going to have that happen to me. I was getting out while still young enough to enjoy retirement! In late August, I got a diagnosis of breast cancer, which I've been battling for almost a year now. Life is too short and unexpected, so do what you LOVE the most, whether that means working, spending time with family, camping, whatever.

...Really doesn't matter what age you are....at 64 I've already outlived quite a few of my friends over the years, one is never promised anything, and one never knows how a day might end. I had a friend killed in a car wreck one year after graduating HS in 68' by a drunk driver, one very good friend drowned while in HS, friends killed in Viet Nam, those who developed life threatening diseases and are no longer with us....So, lets retire in our 20's, 30's, 40's, because life is short and even at those very young ages, I've had friends who didn't come close to enjoying retirement, much less, marriage, kids, grandkids, etc...

So, some, if they are able to retire early, have at it, more power to them....I've done a lot of living in my 64 yrs with raising 3 kids, being married 44 yrs, and now helping raise 2 or out 4 grandkids....love it, we camp, fish, I was a Scout Master for a while, even coached soccer and wrestling some years back, so very involved with family....Now have a camp on a river in WV where we go about every other weekend and spend most of our time with family, making LOT'S of great memories. Great insurance, everything paid for thanks to the job and planning on being even more secure at age 66, Good Lord willing...

Plan in less than 23 months when the wife and I retire, (maybe sooner, will depend on situation with daughter and two grand daughers..), will do our traveling around the country and will have two paid for "home spots" we can spend time and if we want all 4 seasons, we'll have them, if just spring and summer...well, that is also part of the plan...

One cannot know how long they're going to be around in this world..so 55 is a nice age, but if some of those who passed in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's, etc would have known, odds are they would have quit their jobs and enjoyed family and life to it's fullest no matter financials,....but again,, one just doesn't know.....