I can retire now, but every year I work will make it that much sweeter.
I'm 51 and I hope to last another 6 years (inherited disability will keep me from full time at some point.) In 2 or 3 yrs my retirement savings will make enough to grow the savings and to live off of. I'm lucky to have been contributing as much as is matched to savings since 18. I'm also lucky to be 15 yr vested in a fixed pension fund. I have profit sharing where I work that made 38% last year, that will make more than my paycheck does every year in 3 or 4 yrs. When you retire they make you pull that money out over a 5 yr period.
My father in law thought that one million in savings would be enough, but that was then. I think, to live comfortably and be able to do what you want, you need closer to 2 or 3 million. I'm working on my 2nd million, about to start my third. I gave up on the first and I'm about to give up on the 2nd.
I'm semi-retired now. I work from home mostly. I try to get into the office every week to make sure all my projects are on track. I can work wherever I have electricity and phone service. Mrs. Chilly drives me to jobsites for surveys and to check up on them.
When I do officially retire I'll still have the option of taking on as much design / engineering work as I want. I bumbled into a great career where I've never had to look for a job or fill out a resume. I've been blessed that way ( I feel it makes up for the loss of my sensory nervous system in some ways.)
My biggest retirement concern is having enough $'s in there to support Mrs. Chilly when I kick it. Pain and injury take a toll in years from your life, and her people tend to get past their octogenarian decade still running strong. So if it's five yrs or twenty five without me I still want her to be buying our grandkids cowboy boots.
I wouldn't trade my problems with anyone - they have always had blessings attached anyway, and I kinda like those. And my life gas been great, regardless.
Chilly
