Quote Originally Posted by Pax View Post
Kind of an opposite view. I decided not to go back to school, I'm 53.

My job is very dead end, I don't hate it but it certainly isn't where I thought I'd end up. The job is basically mindless but it pays well, I have excellent benefits, and am up to almost five weeks of vacation. If I was looking at having to stay here until age 65 I'd lose my mind, but I can go at 58 so I'll stick it out.
My story exactly before I retired. I called it having "golden handcuffs" because I was so close to full retirement - looking at five years of drudgery and then 30+ years of being retired and fairly comfortable financially - it just didn't make sense to throw 25 years away.

So I retired about six years ago and do not regret my decision to stick it out. I've already stuck my toe into many different things like personal training, being a Spin instructor and now a professional dog trainer. I'm also considering returning to the University - I can go for $25/semester since I hung in for full retirement. I have everything I need and my wants are modest - lucky there again.