He kept working only because he loved it. He loved flying his airplanes and had over 18,000 hours. He had retired from the FAA and started there when it was the CAA. He retired from the Air Force reserve and started in the Army Air Corps. He ONLY worked as a hobby, and loved going to work. He did not need to work, he wanted a fun hobby that happens to be a business.

I did it almost 3 years ago...now I do only what I love and not what I have to. Congrats!

Congratulations

I retired in March of this year at 56. I don't need to work (good company pension) plus I socked alot of dough in retirement funds that I only use if I need to.
So far I'm not bored. I poke around the house looking for something to fix.
If it ever snows I'll probably do some snowboarding.
I'd like to go to France/Britain next summer. My g/f can't retire for another 8 years so I may do some road trips on my own.

Is fast approaching for me.

Good for you ! I love a happy ending, with a long epilogue.

Keep us posted on your adventures.

Congratulations!!!
Me too!
36+ years at the same rather large company, started at the ripe old age of 18... turned 55 this fall.

It's a roller coaster of emotions, mostly very VERY happy to not need to get up at 4 am anymore and deal with the stresses of my position.

We have been pretty frugal, my wife and I will both get pensions, we owe nothing and have invested continuously (Love compound interest and diversified investments!).

I plan to do lots of projects inside and outside the home, spend time clearing out the 30 years of stuff I've hung onto thinking I might need it some day (turns out I only needed a small percentage).
We will also do lots of day trips, overnighters and some international travel.
I'm easily entertained and we really don't need much to be happy.
Here in the Pacific Northwest we can be on the ocean, desert, rain forest or in the mountains within 5 hours... so many amazing places to explore and re-visit. (I am seriously addicted to the North Cascades).

I also plan to do some volunteering, habitat for the humanities and a North Cascade based institute that focuses on environmental learning for all ages appeals to me deeply.

I agree completely that it's not at all retiring from life, rather using what time I have left to do what I love, spoil my wife as much as possible and give some time and effort to organizations that do good work for others.

Oh yes, I'm also going to drive the bejesus out of my 72 911 Targa while I can still get in and out of it cuz it's so damn fun!

Holy smokes, Skip - congratulations! I didn't realize you had retired. I'm kind of in the same boat - started in 1980 at the same rather large company, began investing immediately, and just turned 55 this fall. Kids are long since up and gone, their college paid for, and no other debts. My wife and I are thinking maybe another year or two at the most.

Everybody's different, and some good advice offered in this thread. I was in corporate IT,planning on exiting at 50 and planned for it. When my dept was outsourced in the fall of '08, I opted for early retirement at 48 rather than continuing on with one of the largest (HPQ)....seven years later no regrets whatsoever and never looked back. Good luck!

Thanks for all the advice😀 First day is done and over, great feeling, At the lake with my wife having a great time 😀

Whoo hoo! congrats on your retirement! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/clap.gif

I'm not as smart as Skip or Jeff, but I am addicted to the North Cascades, wilderness and park. I'm looking forward to retirement in about six years. At a recent 40-year HS class reunion, folks expressed concern about....."You're an active guy. Won't you be bored?"

Pretty funny. I predict I will NEVER run out of things to do. In retirement, I will have time for more stuff!