That's encouraging!

I am shooting for 52-54 but that’s just from working for others

Truthfully, the thought "doing nothing" scares me. Part-tine consulting, on a schedule that does not interfere with hunting seasons, it the plan.

"How long to plan for in retirement" is a tough question. The wire's family on both sides is long-lived, but mine is not. On my dad's side, no male has died of natural causes for 5 generations, so that is not much help.

I will be retired on Tuesday, I’m 59 1/2. Not sure what’s next, but I’m looking forward to it. I know my financial situation, but have no idea how much time I have left….

Thought this was about Tom Brady.

Retired at 53 ; 30 years of teaching public schools was plenty . Plus the school system offered a buyout to get some getting the biggest paydays out of the feed barrel . Didn’t need any incentive but sure was nice !

My wife got a buyout. Close to $100,000 in December to retire. That, plus both now on Social Security and 2 rent houses(paid off) that bring in $2,500 per month; also we’re debt free.

We aren’t high rollers so the wolf isn’t near the door.

I didn’t save as much as she did. I put mine into real estate. Heck, she has about $800,000 in a 401K.

The smartest thing that I accidentally did was to buy 133 acres of junk land(they call it recreational ranch land) for $415 per acre about 30+ years ago. It’s about 5 miles South of Bowie. We don’t live there. All oaks, cedars, rocks, hogs, deer, bass and bluegills. Add a white trash trailer house with out buildings and it’s home, sweet, home. Have my own shooting range. According to a rural realtor buddy, that POS is now approaching $900,000 or more if the buyer is a California immigrant. It’s not for sale.

I enjoyed my work and and health was good so I didn't retired until 70.

I'm 68 and still have not "retired" because of many decisions that we made while raising five daughters. And I'm OK with that.

Four years ago we simplified our lives, dramatically reduced expenses, sold the big custom home and moved to a smaller house on a lake. We started a little wholesale distribution company back in 2009 and that is our income now. It allows us work part time, travel and play a lot.

Turning 69 soon - loved my work over the years - what I did was partially retire a year ago - now I still go to my office every day in the mornings and head home around noon - told my wife that I am "practicing" for retirement - it has been good so far just easing into it

I was 66 when i left , 2 yrs ago in April

I just can't come up with a good reason to retire. I make more money now than I've ever made in my life. I spend everyday on one of the nicest ranches in West TX. I hunt, I fish, play with my camera's and set my own hours and when I want to take off I go. Yea there's work involved but it's nothing like it was in my younger days and nothing I can't handle. Hell I'm even drawing full SS now and enjoy the extra cash. The last 30 years have been a blessing.

And to think that just over 30 years ago I'd let a job get to me so bad I ended up in a doctors office weighing about 135 lbs being diagnosed with severe stress problems. He told me to eliminate the stress I was going to have to quit my job. My response was how in the hell was being unemployed going to eliminate stress? Followed his advice, quit the job and opened up a small welding business and changed my whole life. No way I'm going to quit now, it was to hard getting here.

I had a doctor tell me the same thing about stress. I changed jobs and the stress eased.

Not everybody wants to retire. I was having lunch many years ago with an older fellow that could have retired, and I asked him why he didn’t do so. His response was that, being in outside sales, he ate at nice places every day, took folks hunting and fishing, and played golf a bunch, and it was all on expense account. Then he said “why in the world would I want to quit doing this”?

Good point!

I "can" retire at 53, but it will be much more lucrative to hang on til 58...in 8 years.

Great. Spent 30 years creating some of the dumbest kids on the planet and got a buyout. Ain’t America great?

My dad retired at 65 perfectly healthy and died at 69. That scares me. I am 45 and plan to retire by 50. I will probably still dink around doing things to stay busy but won’t have the stress of working like I do now.

Retiring from the PD at 51, that gives me 30 years. I’ll keep working but it will be according to my schedule

I just ran my income tax numbers. My income included Social Security, RMD, and my pension. The net income was more than my gross for the first 10 years of work. Yours is probably higher than that. I started drawing my Social Security at the age of 62. Life is great.

59 and pretty healthy! Bailed on last job with decent payout and went right back to work. Work harder than did the preceding years and enjoy 99% of it. All I know is million bucks ain't what is use to be and thats debt free view point. No real hobbies or expenses on my end and single so cost of living is low. If body will hold together aiming for 62 but that could be extended if it keeps me moving.

I’d like to get out of corporate America at 55 and consult my last 5 years , work two weeks a month