I am only 51 but seriously want to retire! I have been working in health care since I was 19. Just tired of work. I want to play. And play before I get too old to enjoy. Tired of healthcare politics, cut backs, hierarchy in hospitals, etc. Planning to see a financial planner soon and look at what is possible between me and my SO (soon to be "wife"--another topic!). So since I have a variable schedule now, I am off during the week when it's my weekend to work. So today I am bit bored. Why? Well I need to clean the house and I don't' want to. So I procrastinate. I think if I was "retired" I would have plenty of things to do, not just house chores but then I could plan activities and with people off during the week. I am pretty sure I"ll go part-time or retire before my SO, even if I am younger. But every now and then I think how important it is to have a semi-schedule and activities to keep one busy and active. I'm not sure work is what I need to give me a long life.
So if I didn't feel guilty that I SHOULD be cleaning house or doing something productive on my day off, I would probabablly not be "bored" or procrastinating or wasting time surfing on the computer!
As for volunteer work, I am not sure about that either. I have a friend who retired and she now works as a volunteer at our hospital. Sure she rounds with the play cart and give toys, etc to the kids. But I think if I quit the hospital I would not volunteer there. I have another couple of RN friends who now do a volunteer program specifically for nurses who have retired. They do some of the hands on care, shaving, ambulating, feeding of patients. Things nurses no longer have time to do. Although worthwhile, I too, feel like that is free-labor. And volunteering at an animal shelter is way to dangerous for me!!

K