So I've had the early retirement dream in mind for some time now, given I've always known since I started my law enforcement job that I could "retire" in 20 years with a pension (actually, about 21.5 years, for reasons I don't need to get into), but like many thinking of ER, I had doubts about the feasibility of doing so, and kinda figured I'd end up going until age 57 when I'd be mandatorily retired (i.e., "one more year syndrome" even way before I got there!). But connecting with this site and others and learning about Safe Withdrawal Rates and Income Replacement Rate (based on expenses, not income!) and hearing from those thriving in ER made me start crunching the numbers, using all manner of calculator, including the FIRECalc calculator popularized here on MMM, has made me realize that I can indeed leave this job in 5 years (though I'm very much inclined to go another year or so more, i.e., Jan. 1, 2020, the year of my 55th birthday, so I can have immediate access to my tax-deferred retirement account if I want).
Here's the thing -- I'm the kind of guy who, as the Marshall Tucker Band sang, "likes to get away, likes to start dreamin' about tomorrow today." When I have upcoming vacations/trips, the 3 weeks prior, my productivity slides noticeably! All I can think about is the upcoming trip. And so now, with just 5-6 years to go, I find myself in the same boat w/r/t retirement! But it's far too early for that! I owe it to my employer, who after all is the reason I'll have the ability to ER in the first place, to put forth my best effort. But damn, I get obssessed with thinking about the day I walk out that door, and the life that lies ahead, and it's a constant drag on my productivity.
For those of you who've already ER'ed, did this happen to you? How did you cope with or manage it? For those approaching ER, do you have the same problem? How are you dealing with it? For sure, it falls in the category of #firstworldproblems, but it's something I've got to deal with nonetheless!