I have a little bit more to work but will retire as a teacher in my early 50s and am thinking of what I want to do. I definitely will not sub. There are a lot of subs who come in for social reasons.

I’m planning on having the freedom to visit my kids, who will be in college and out of it, whenever I want.

I’ll volunteer or get a part time job just to get out of house. Something mindless and not for the money. I’ve even thought about signing up for Rover. DH will also be retired and we won’t be able to sit looking at each other here all day.

I retired at 53. I live on very little, for now. No partner. Children in college. I work very part time when I want to.
Time is priceless. I can be available for my kids, to help and support. I can be available for elderly relatives. I can serve my community. I can enjoy my life.
I just can’t spend a ton of money until retirement age. No new car, no big trips, etc.

I "retired" the instant my youngest turned 18.

Long term separated but still married. Have not seen him in 6 years despite our living in the same county. My ex didn't have much use for kids but does a lot better with them now that the kids are adults and can travel and take care of themselves.

He basically wanted to revert to a form of college or 20s life where he was captain of the football team or whatever and he still goes out with his work girlfriend and large groups of people and picks up tabs for everyone. Lots of stunt vacations like staying in celebrity mansions and chartering yachts, jumping off buildings, helicopters to concerts. Whatever

Me? I have a lot of pets. I have a large a property he left me in total charge of. All my bills are paid. He's happy this way as long as I don't get in his way anymore.

I like my very (VERY) quiet life now, I get up early at 5am or so, go to bed early, get to watch a lot of TV, babysit my grandchildren, knit, and do it all on my own time instead of his.

My retirement is from having to be that guy's wife, it was hard work because he sucks.

I think many Type A personalities benefit from continued working. I know tons of lawyers and academics who work well into advanced age. It keeps them sharp and young.

Anonymous wrote:I know lots of career feds, teachers, police, etc (the kind that get nice pensions in their early 50’s) who retired at that time and are doing great. None died early. That sounds like something people tell themselves because they can’t retire anyway.

I agree. I retired last year, late 50s, and my mental and physical health has improved. I have less stress, no long commute, and more time to do things that I've always wanted to do. Unless you love your job, I don't see how staying in the rat race improves your health. I have hobbies and interests though. If someone doesn't have outside interests, that may be a different story. We live more modestly than many on DCUM.

Is it retiring early if you simply rely on your partner to work and the pay the bills?

Anything before 65 is retiring early.

I’m envious of anyone who can retire early.

My DH is 4 years older than I am, and I’ve made clear that if I’m forced to work until 65, then he needs to at least work PT during those years when he can technically retire.

We both have pensions and will presumably be fine once we downsize. I’m hoping we can travel and help our kids with future grandchildren.

I have worked part time since age 35. I was home with the kids and only had night and weekend hours for work.
My retirement is like sliding into it slowly, because my work is very flexible.
Right now at age 48, most of my attention is in getting in shape and staying healthy. One child is in middle school, but very independent.
Working 15 hours a week (or any commitment) really makes me appreciate my free time and use it wisely.
Healthcare? I'm healthy and go to doctor's abroad.
Had I worked full time up to now, I'd also wonder what to do with my time.

I know two people who took VERA in their early 50s, moved to South America, and travel around.

I retired just before the pandemic.
I spend 3 hours doing every.bleeping.day chores. (dishes/trash/pets mostly)
I spend 3 hours a day doing other chores that are not necessarily every day (cooking/cleaning the house/errands/laundry/yard work/washing the cars/pressure washing the driveway/washing windows/ plus 10 million other things)
I spend 2 hours a day socializing (with the people I live with/on the phone/ having people over or going to their house or meeting up for lunch)
I spend 2 hours a day on personal care.
I sleep 6 hours overnight and take a 2 hour nap most days.

Anonymous wrote:For those that did, what do you do with your time?

For those that have not, but given the opportunity, what would you do?

If I were to retire when my kids went to college (because I don't think my life would change that much if I did before then), I would travel and sail more. I would maniacally organize and purge our house. I'd walk the dogs more (pre-kids my husband and I would constantly take them hiking but now we just have time for neighborhood walks). I would read more. I would cook more (new recipes, mostly, I love cooking but don't have time to experiment like I want to). I'd play more pickleball. Mostly more of everything I already do, I'd just have more time to do it all!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 51 (former fed), but then I turned around and started working as a contractor for the federal government. I enjoy it because the work I do is intellectually stimulating, but I don’t have to manage people or work a punishing schedule anymore. I plan to work as a contractor until I’m 62, then I will either go part-time or do something entirely different.

The key is to stay mentally engaged, intellectually stimulated, and then exercise, socialize, and eat right. All of these will keep you mentally and physically fit and hopefully lead to a long life.

You are not retired so your answer is irrelevant.

You missed the point. I work because I want to — because it keeps my brain engaged and offers me socialization that I probably would not get if I completely stopped working. The keys I noted above are based on research that point to ways to ward off dementia. I am an introvert, so I worry that I could fall into a routine where I never talk to anyone or do anything to stay active. My work engages all those factors. As a retired fed (now contractor), I have more control over my schedule adn flexibility in my life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 57. I do whatever I feel like. I exercise a lot. I read. I’ve traveled a good amount. I’ve spent a lot of time helping out my elderly mom. I have been doing a lot of home projects, tackling the deferred maintenance that I didn’t have time or energy to deal with when I was working. Some days I binge watch shows. Some days I go exploring - to museums, parks, trails. I have volunteered. I go to cultural events like film festivals, art shows, special events at embassies, walking tours. There are so many things to do in DC that even as a retiree I don’t get to all of the things on my wishlist. I balance activities with downtime depending on my energy level. It’s wonderful.

I retired at 60. Pretty much same.

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I don’t consider 57/60 early.

Well, I guess everyone can a have a subjective definition of “early” but 57-60 is too early for Social Security and Medicare and below 59.5 is too young for penalty free withdrawals from IRAs and any other retirement accounts not subject to the Rule of 55. So, yes, it’s early by most standards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 57. I do whatever I feel like. I exercise a lot. I read. I’ve traveled a good amount. I’ve spent a lot of time helping out my elderly mom. I have been doing a lot of home projects, tackling the deferred maintenance that I didn’t have time or energy to deal with when I was working. Some days I binge watch shows. Some days I go exploring - to museums, parks, trails. I have volunteered. I go to cultural events like film festivals, art shows, special events at embassies, walking tours. There are so many things to do in DC that even as a retiree I don’t get to all of the things on my wishlist. I balance activities with downtime depending on my energy level. It’s wonderful.

I retired at 60. Pretty much same.

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I don’t consider 57/60 early.

I consider anything before Medicare kicks in as early. Health insurance/benefits are what keep me working at 59.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired early - at 40. I am 60 now.
-Kids were young so a lot of my time went in guiding them and their academic and EC life.
- I invested and played the stock market of two countries and it has done well.
- I have invested time and energy in my family and relatives. I have cultivated a huge circle.
- We travel a lot. DH and I have several hobbies that we spend time on.
- Home improvements and yard improvements also take our time and we also entertain a lot.
- Exercise, daily life, yoga, healthy eating etc.
- We don't have pets. We have two adult kids who have launched well. We are empty nesters. DH is gearing for retirement but I encourage him to continue working because he enjoys his work a lot.

Maybe this is semantics, but I don't consider it "retiring" when you had young kids, and your spouse still worked and continues to work 20 years later. You just quit.

More charitably, you became a SAHM when your kids were young, but after that, you just didn't work. Which is great, good for you . . . but it isn't retirement.

It's mostly semantics. The kids are launched, she doesn't work, and doesn't plan to in the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I retired at 57. I do whatever I feel like. I exercise a lot. I read. I’ve traveled a good amount. I’ve spent a lot of time helping out my elderly mom. I have been doing a lot of home projects, tackling the deferred maintenance that I didn’t have time or energy to deal with when I was working. Some days I binge watch shows. Some days I go exploring - to museums, parks, trails. I have volunteered. I go to cultural events like film festivals, art shows, special events at embassies, walking tours. There are so many things to do in DC that even as a retiree I don’t get to all of the things on my wishlist. I balance activities with downtime depending on my energy level. It’s wonderful.

I retired at 60. Pretty much same.

.

I don’t consider 57/60 early.