Amazing the diversity of everyones stories here really. The thing is, if you like what you do and your life is full then don't retire. On the other hand, I am among those that didn't wait and I have no regrets either. I was 52 when I retired but my circumstances were DW and I had no kids(by choice) so no raising expense, no college, no weddings.....money went in the bank. Worked in skilled trades in the auto industry, 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week......for 10 straight years. Then I started taking Saturday off for the last 2. Money went in the bank. 32.5 yrs. total and I was more than ready to go.
I knew plenty of guys that were carried out the door because they didn't want to retire. That was not going to be me. We now travel when we want to. Our time is ours to waste or whatever. I feel no need to be productive and I am hardly bored. I guess the moral of the stories here is "to each his own".