I know I'm a little late to the party here, but I have a few thoughts to contribute as the queen of career change.

Many of you are familiar with my story. I started out with a BA in Sociology, spent 7.5 years in retail management and then quit because I was dissatisfied. I ended up back in school (in my early 30's) to take some math-related courses (since I'd applied for my MBA years earlier and was wait-listed for 'no proven math abilities"). Somehow, one class let to another and before I knew it, I was thinking about an engineering degree instead. I had to take so many back classes that I ended up with a BS and an MS in 5 years. I started my career as an electrical engineer before I'd defended my thesis. Oh, and I got straight A's in math, so those other schools missed out!

As an engineer, I've worked for three companies, doing essentially variations on the same job. While it was challenging enough for me, I never found it truly fulfilling at all. I began to flounder. This was about a year and a half ago. I loved my current company, where I currently lived...but I was pretty much never going to be the star-pupil engineer that I was capable of being because I just wasn't that interested in the job. I seriously considered vet school at that point. I was investigating the remedial classwork that I'd need in order to get in and was trying to figure out the finances when my current role got created at my company. I'm now the College Program Manager and I get to use both my technical background AND my business background to create a college program for our company (the company I love!) and have a huge impact. The timing couldn't have been better and I am 150% happier now. I am on campuses and interacting with students, professors, post-docs and the like all the time. Do NOT let age deter you. In fact, since I do all the recruiting for recent grads for my company, I can tell you that a candidate with life experience AND a relevant degree is significantly more in demand that the young person with just the degree. And this is in an extremely high tech, cutting-edge industry.

In addition to all of the above, we bought and fell in love with small farming and animal husbandry aobut 5 years ago. I spent my whole life ignoring the idea of 'retirement' because I had no idea what I would do with myself. I couldn't even imagine not working, not being career-driven, etc. Until I found what I loved...which is this farming. So my husband and I have taken some pretty drastic steps lately to change our lives and plans and retire in 10 years so that we can farm again. For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to retirement!

What is funny is that I might mention our plans to do the farming thing after we retire to people, but I never mention that the goal is to do it in 10 years. I just let people think we are crazy enough to want to do this at 65. ;-) You are right that retiring younger is often viewed as decadent or privileged and it's sometimes a bit uncomfortable. I get that. But you've worked hard to get to where you are now, so don't let others rain on your parade!

So what is my point? Let's see.
1) do not let age deter you from furthering your education or choosing a new career.
2) making a career change is challenging but certainly in my case, completely worth it.
3) do what you love.