Neither my wife's parents nor my parents enjoyed any sort of retirement due to medical issues. One of the four of them died on the job, and the other three spent the last years of their lives in medical care. None were able to do any of the things they had hoped and planned for their retirement years.
DW and I have been retired for 13 years, much of that spent full timing. Now, my health is starting to make life more difficult and less enjoyable than in the past.
I am so glad that we've been able to use our RV as a magic carpet that has let us spend a lot of quality time with our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and other family members and friends, as well as visiting 49 states and most of Canada.
I think that if you retire and decide it was a mistake, you can probably find some career to satisfy your needs for participating in the work environment. But whatever you choose, you can never turn back the clock.
Best wishes to you and yours!
Addendum: DW just reminded me how many widows we've met who are now doing the things they had hoped to do with their husbands - husbands who worked until it was too late to enjoy retirement together.
