I retired 13 years ago at the ripe old age of 50. My company was downsizing and I took an early retirement package so the younger folks could keep working. My job at the time was a high stress, high pay, upper management marketing position. I have had a few jobs in retirement, Handyman, Classic car shop, Car Rental Agent, and School Bus Driver. Of all those, I loved driving school bus. Unfortunately that stint was cut short with a major heart attack at age 57. They frown on people with half a heart driving 70 school kids around town. So for the last 6 years I have been medically retired. During that time I have restored 3 cars, babysat my grandkids when needed, moved to a retirement community, become active in my church, adopted a regular exercise routine, and took many camping trips in our RV. We look forward to many more if our health holds out.
Given my family's medical history and my personal medical history, retirement was the best thing for me. If I had kept working the stress would have accelerated my undiagnosed heart condition and probably killed me in a year or so. The trick to retirement is to have a passion for something that gets you out of bed every morning. In my case I have several. Oh, and it can't be a passion for TV. I look at what I have been able to accomplish, the things I have been able to see, and the joy of doing what I enjoy, and the desire for another day on God's green earth and I say, "Yes, retirement was very good for me".
