Patrick, speaking of retirement and my own experience, I retired in June of 2012 and never looked back. We took a long weekend driving up to Hayward, Wisconsin and while Cathy went shopping I visited the Moccasin Bar which is a tourist attraction in Hayward.
I was the only person sitting at the bar drinking a Mt Dew when two "Old Timers" in their late 80's walked in and sat several stools away from me. They both ordered Brandy Manhattans, with olives. I listened to the guys talk and they were on a mission to get some steaks and refreshments for their cabin and their friends who were fishing. It sounded like there were six of them and they all retired form the same company within weeks of each other. This was an annual outing for them and they will spend a week in the woods enjoying themselves and fishing.
I learn that they were best friends for at least 50 years and if still working they couldn't all leave work together for their annual outings. Certain changes at work made their decision to retire a reality and now they pick a weekend in May and all meet for a week at the cabin. Weekly they had card games at each other's homes.
One guy said that retiring early was the best decision he ever made in his life.
I started talking to them and they were really happy fellows and enjoyed retirement even if their incomes were lower, but they had more fun together and not having the stress of the their jobs.
The more I listened to them the more I wanted to retire.
It was May 15th and right there and then I decided to retire. I told the two guys of my decision to retire after listening to them talk and how happy they seemed to be with life and they brought me a Brandy Manhattan to celebrate. The bar tender hearing my news brought the three of us a round of drinks. June 15th was my target date to retire.
I drove home and knew I was making the right decision.
When I went back to work, I announced to the GM when he came into my office that I was planning to retire in the near future, but I didn't give him a date. I think he thought I was kidding until two weeks later I gave him my written "Letter of Resignation" effective on Friday, June 15th. It took six months to find my replacement and he lasted only three years due to the stress of the job.
I had saved over four weeks of vacation and some personal days that would finance the start of my retirement.
That next Saturday, we left for a week at the cabin and no more 3:00 AM or telephone calls on Christmas Eve for me.
Patrick, you'll know when the time is right to retire. I had planned as much as six months in advance of the start of retirement to know exactly how much my living expenses would be right down to the cost for oil changes for our three vehicles. I was ready.
Retirement is great!
Greg