Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:everyone I know who retired early died early as well.

Not my experience at all.

me, neither. I know a few people who retired early. I know two couples who moved to Portugal; one bought an orchard and spent their days gardening, swimming in their pool, having friends visit etc. Sounds glorious.

I'm planning on retiring at 56. We are going to travel, and when not doing that, spend our days fixing up the house to sell soon.

I retired 11-12 years ago as a Biglaw equity partner when I was in my early 50s. (As an aside, I'm not quite Medicare eligible at this point, so I still participate in my firm's group plan which isn't cheap. But my spouse just hit 65 so that helps.)

I don't have a minute's regret even as I read that the average PPP at my old firm have double since I left. I also don't feel the need to fill up every waking moment of my time with activity. There's no law that says you have to be busy all the time.

We travel. I've spent maybe 3-4 months this year out of the country. It's more than I have in the past, but COVID put a damper on things and we're not getting any younger so taking advantage.

We help out a lot, and I mean a lot, with the grandkids who are all local. And when we're not helping we're just hanging. We'll go to their games; text them and say let's have dinner, etc. We also take in our grand dogs when their families travel. We have two homes, one in the country with several acres and a pool so we putz around with that.

I walk every day. I'm more than 30 pounds lighter than I was when I was working.

And, finally, we manage our portfolio. I've learned a lot about financial planning, budgeting, optimizing tax benefits, etc. Stuff I really didn't know about or focus on when I was working because I was too busy. The funny thing is, with the frothy stock market over the last decade we actually make more now (unrealized, of course) on average than when I was working.

I can't even imagine still working. I would have lost my mind. Zero regrets. Absolutely none.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your age, OP? Early retirement mean different things to different people.

48 Me. 50 DH.

What do you do for health insurance?

Well, we currently both work. But if we could retire early, our option would be to buy insurance on the open market until Medicare kicks in.

Do you have the budget as a retiree? It will be $2k a month just for a mid insurance policy.

Budgeting for it.

For those of you that work PT- what do you do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your age, OP? Early retirement mean different things to different people.

48 Me. 50 DH.

What do you do for health insurance?

Well, we currently both work. But if we could retire early, our option would be to buy insurance on the open market until Medicare kicks in.

Do you have the budget as a retiree? It will be $2k a month just for a mid insurance policy.

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!