Question For Currently Retired Members

[SwampDonkey]

I'm seeing whispers of a bill in Canada to protect private sector pensions, finally. Currently, only government pensions are protected, after all they have everyone's taxes to hedge with. This has happened continuously, and poor fund managers continue to get bonuses. ;)

[Ricker]

Money certainly is a necessary evil needed to live ones life. That said, when the big man comes and taps you on the shoulder and says it is time to come with me it won't matter how much money you have left to spend you're going with him.  I pretty much retired at 49, I still make some bucks here or there when the opportunity comes up.  Live a little more frugal then the old days but I like it that way, good trade off.

For me an unexpected bonus has been time spent with older folks.  My parents are still alive and I had half dozen plus real friends that were 60+ years old when I stopped working.  If I had kept working to 62-65 they will likely all be gone when I had the time to do things with them. I know that cause a couple are gone already. Some things you can't do later.

[NE Woodburner]

Update:
I have set a plan. I have identified a person to hire as a replacement and I think he will work out great. I will work full time through the end of 2023 and focus on training my replacement. That will get me to 59-1/2. After that I will work part time, probably 3 days per week, for another year. I may fully retire at that point or continue part time for a while longer if it's working out well. I have a unique situation where my company will allow me to work any schedule I want, including as little as a day or two per week if I want to.

I figure working part time for a year or more will allow me to ease into retirement and probably allow me to leave my 401k untouched until I fully retire. I may find it is a nice balance to working and having more free time to do things I don't have time to do now. I (mostly) like my job but just want more time to explore other interests and have some time for a few visits to my kids who live out of state.

Thanks again for all of the helpful comments and feedback from my original post.

[gspren]

At the end of next month I'll be retired for 11 years  8) I've now hired the 13 year old Amish neighbor boy to help me be retired or at least do the weed eating.

[WV Sawmiller]

Woodburner,

   I like the sound of your plan because it allows you to test the waters without turning loose of the life ring. Having options is always great. Keep us posted. 

[maple flats]

I retired (sold my business) at age 51, 3 weeks later I got bored and started driving school bus. I never would have thought I'd have gone that route, but I actually enjoyed it. Then 5 yrs later I started making maple syrup (2003), about 80 taps the first year, up to 1320 taps 5 yrs later. Then in Jan 2004 I got my Peterson sawmill (ordered in Oct 2004). For about 1-12 yrs I did some custom sawing, mostly during summer break from bus driving. After that most of m sawing was just for my projects or for friends. 
Finally I retired from bus driving 4 months before my 70th birthday. 
Don't worry too much about money, enough will come in. Just live within your means.