Did you know about FIRE before you found MMM?

[Tris Prior]

I did not. My father was forced into early retirement when he was probably in his mid-50s and I was in high school. It was a "take this excellent package with great healthcare and good pension, or move to State We Didn't Want to Live In, or get fired" decision. As I was still in school, and my mom was taking care of my grandma, no one wanted to uproot to a new state.

The thing is, he HATED it. He had loved his job. His job was his life; I didn't see much of him growing up because he was either at work, or in his basement office working at home. He fell into depression. His up to that point functional alcoholism turned into VERY nonfunctional alcoholism. And things just went south from there.

Until I found MMM, I always thought early retirement was punishment - something that was done TO a person against their will because, I dunno, companies want a younger workforce or less healthcare costs or whatever other bottom-line benefits they think they'll get by pushing people out. Reading this forum has made me see that it can be a choice - a great choice - and I wish I had learned that before my 40s.

[talltexan]

You see, I think my parents are in a version of what you describe at ages 67 and 71. My mom (the 71-yo) especially cannot envision a life without work, which disappoints me because her work includes what could only be described as a hellacious commute. Apart from the driving mileage, they are fairly mustachian, with a modest house, relatively few opulent expenses, and enough savings that they could totally retire if they wanted to based on finances. I worry they will wait so long that their retirement will simply be traveling between doctors' offices.