Hi,
I'm 45, married, husband w defined benefit pension, $1.5M NW, no mortgage. I just quit a (poorly paid, "half-time") job to focus on starting up a new project in part because I was pretty sure I could, fairly shortly, earn as much that way as I was in the job. Then yesterday I ran all our personal finance numbers and realized - I actually can take ER.
The thing is, I don't want to be retired. I'm fairly young, I love what I do, I am pretty good at it (despite last job which is a long story) and I am excited for a new adventure.
The other thing is that I am in the non-profit field. I find myself thinking that now, I should work for free... but I don't want to. I would rather earn more money and give it away than give away my time. I feel guilty about that, but when I look at everyone else in my field making good money, I don't know why I wouldn't aim for that also.
Discovering that earning money is now optional has seriously messed with my head. How do I think about work going forward? Is it ok to work and get paid even though I don't have to?