I am hoping to leave at 52. By leaving at 52 instead of 50, I will get an extra 100K. If I stay to 55 then I get another 200K. I already have high blood pressure from stress and really don't feel like shooting the dice for a mere 200K more. I have never been much for worshipping money and my personal feelings are life cant be bought. So I will not stay until 55. I cant collect the 100k until 57 though so I want to be well into my cruising when that kitty comes into my hands, it will be fun money (or a new damn motor
). My father is my inspiration for my entire life. He told me to live life to its fullest and not work until the grave. Its a beautiful world out there and I refuse to miss it.
While I can't say that I'd consider an exta 200k "mere":lol:, I do hear you loud and clear.
I don't post much anymore, but FWIW, and if you'll allow me to segway off for a moment, I promise to return shortly, I have
ALWAYS had high stress jobs. Law enforcement, military, and even in the gig's I run now, there are timelines, deadlines, and potentially
HUGE ramifications if you screw things up, up to an including jail time, major lawsuits and death. Get my drift?
Add to that the stress of finances, trying to collect from deadbeat clients, a family, 2 kids, a grandkid and 2 flippin' animals who seem to think the vet's office is their 2nd home, it can get pretty rough at times.
I am sure you know the drill.
While my BP wasn't high enough to go on meds, I was getting dangerously close. At the age of 56, I was 252# at 5'8". Just about as wide as I was tall.
At that point I decided to take back my life!!
Changed the diet, started regular exercise (crossfit/TRX/and old school weightlifting).
I don't run much anymore, thanks to an injury I incurred while with Uncle Sam's Confused Group, but I can bike and row like a fiend.
The bottom line was, I started to make time for ME!
I dumped things, and people that were negative to that goal, lost 52# and ended up in better shape than I was at 36, a full time LEO and military reservist!
So here's what I'm saying.
While you make some very valid points, and you have to live life while you can, don't throw away the baby with the bath water either.
The extra two (2) years doesn't have to be a game changer.
Do what you have to do to reduce stress, go find yourself a boat, start working on it and cruising when you can. Maybe live aboard for short periods if work allows? Get used to it and the community, and when you hit that next two years, take that "
MERE 200k" and head for that "One Particular Harbor (thanks Jimmy), wherever that may be, and don't look back!
I've got several years on you at 58, and only wish I'd started thinking this way when I was 50. Hindsight is as they say, always 50/50, but you can bet that we're already looking for that boat, big/small, old or not so old, pristine or a fixer up. Just doesn't matter. It'll be ours! No payments other than the normal crap, and my peace of mind. My escape.
So as promised, back to the thread, and your comments.
As others have said, it can be whatever you make it.
If you have an undying need to keep up with the Joneses, then by all means, it's going to get expensive quick.
If on the other hand, your bills are paid, you're comfortable with what fits you, your family, your budget and your lifestyle, and don't give a fat wharf rats backside about what anyone else thinks, then you'll be fine.
Go out and have some fun!
OD