[fintstone]

It is a tough call. I was much stronger/more fit and active (as I went through a serious exercise/diet phase then) in my 50s and would have been able to put the time to good use but would have struggled to afford the house and lifestyle I could afford after another 5-10 years of work. By waiting, money will never be an issue...but many of my friends and family that I would have liked to spend time with have passed and my wife has slowed down a lot...which restricts what we do somewhat. On the other hand, people that I know that are in their mid 60s and 70s that have little money really are hit hard. Those with money seem to have a pretty good life albeit slow (and a bit boring for my taste) for many. Being young and broke is tough but being old and broke is brutal as there are so many things you cannot do for yourself that you once did...and going back to work is usually not a good option. While you can't necessarily buy health and happiness, you can buy a lot of fun/toys/travel. The longer one is retired, the more money they need. It seems to me that the early 60s is a good compromise for folks with the financial ability to do so...unless health issues dictate sooner.