OMG, when I was 53, we could have been twins! I, too, do not have a four-year degree. I had about the same amount of money then and also had way too much cash, as you do. I've also worn those job situation shoes and damn, they're hard on your health.
My thoughts:
For now, STOP paying extra on your mortgage. Full, hard STOP. Remind yourself that every time rates hike, you're getting free money. I'd even consider recasting it to 30, but only if the rate is comparable to what you have now, which I doubt.
Next, start thinking about what you do have. Make a list. Here are some random-ish thoughts to get your thinking started:
- Mad job skills. You are excellent at what you do, right?
- You appear to have great frugality skills. This is important, especially to small business owners. People who are paid a decent wage and are financially solvent tend not to be embezzlers, which is a very real threat for this type of business. Your integrity is a valuable asset.
- It's damned expensive to get good people in the Bay Area because it's so double damned expensive to live here. You are already here. Huge advantage.
- Feel free to ignore the LCOLA Greek Chorus for now. Home is an important and valuable place. It may be a great solution in the future, but you don't have to accept that "solution" unless/until you are ready to, if ever.
- You've made good fiscal choices, and your overhead is relatively low. You won't have to work a lot longer to reach your FIRE goals.
- With so much experience and specialized knowledge, you have the equivalent of a PhD, sister. Smart companies WILL pay you handsomely for this. The money they will save by buying your skill set vs. hiring a college greenhorn is not at all insignificant.
- Independent Insurance Agencies are probably going to recognize this faster than mega-corps, so cast your net in that direction.*
- Aim for a job that pays as much or more than your current job. $70k seems like a lot to you, but for someone in the Bay Area with your experience, it is not, I assure you.
- Create or even pay for, but do a lot of google-fu first, a resume that focuses on your skills and experience. Don't even mention college. At our age, no one good cares*. YOU care, and I get that completely, but you really need to let go of that particular useless shackle so you can soar.
- If you find a job with only similar pay, ask for an extra week's vacation from the start. Say you have a big trip planned in X months and you'll need extra time off for that planned event. Or ask for both.
- They never want you more than before they have you, so remember that and negotiate your ass off.
- Since insurance agencies are everywhere, start looking as close to home as possible. If nothing excellent turns up within walking distance, widen your search very selectively. Only seek jobs readily accessible by public transit, preferably <30 minutes door-to-door. Quality of life is vastly more important than a few more dollars with a long commute attached.
- +1 to creating a Linked In account, but only if your current jackass of a boss can't find it. I'm not sure how LI works in that regard.
- Your negotiating power is stronger if you still have a job, it's true. But not if you destroy your health in the meantime.
- You can last a long time on your savings if you need to. Easier to save more later than to regain your health once lost. You have my permission to quit this jackass now if you need to. However, if you re-cast your mortgage before you quit, your money will last a lot longer, making it even easier to take a sabbatical by, say April 1, job or no job. (Not an April Fool's joke.) Call your lender today and at least ask the question. If it doesn't work (you could still accelerate payments later), work out a new bare-bones budget with just your current required payment, not extra.
- The only caveat to the above is healthcare. Don't do anything without securing new coverage of some sort. Protect your health and your nest egg.
In summary, I cannot emphasize enough how little a degree matters with your experience. Feel free to PM me if you need a little more cheering on.
* Two asterisks for the same anecdote. I sold Men's Clothing at Nordstrom for years. (I was working on other goals that required a flexible schedule. The money was okay, but not great. I also owned a Bay Area condo that was "affordable".) The key to success at Nordstrom is developing a great book of personal clientele, and I was pretty damn good at that. Once, in conversation with a regular customer who was an executive with a (sing-song jingle) major insurance company, he stated that if I had a four-year degree, he'd hire me in a NY minute. I gently replied that I'd never even consider working for a company that cared more about that piece of paper than the skills and strengths of the person they were hiring. He got it instantly. He remained a good customer, but thankfully never brought up the job subject again. Eventually, after achieving the desired life goals, I went back to outside sales so I could ratchet up my FIRE savings. I finally got there and you will, too.