I retired at 50. I was an Engineer for the BNSF railroad for 33 yrs, I started when I was 17. I was able to retire early because of my wife's very successful career. She was tired of me being gone so much and wanted me home, we were very lucky to be able to do that. She gave me the gift of 10 extra years of retirement, how can you possibly thank someone enough for that !!
We have a spot at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia that we are now starting to build our next house. It's a golf course community in Georgia's lake country area, half way between Atlanta and Augusta. We should be making the move in less then a year from now. Leaving the Dallas/Ft.Worth area is starting to sound better all the time, people are moving here in droves and it's getting way too congested for my tastes, I doubt I'll miss it at all.
One warning to all of you that are about to retire, make sure you stay busy !!!!!!!!!
I like to cook, play golf, fish, and of course, listen to music everyday. I do a little volunteer work too. My point is, it is very easy to get bored if you don't have enough stuff to occupy your time.
And if you like to drink, be careful there too, it's way too easy to overdue it. I won't have a cocktail before 5.
One thing I've learned in the last 7 years, is that if you don't have any hobbies to keep you busy, and if you really like to work, DON'T RETIRE. I've seen those types waste away and die.
But for me, it's been wonderful, and the nicest thing my sweet wife has ever given me, except for herself :heart: