Yet another article that suggests working for money is the default desire of all human beings. That if we've retired early we must either be dissatisfied with our jobs or can't find the right one and if we could, we'd eagerly go back to the rat race and work until some government actuary decides we are of the right age or we die.
I liked my job at times. I had a great time. The last few years things went south, but for about ten years prior I worked with great people, had a great boss and was really fired up about what I was doing. Even so, I would have retired in a second if I could have. I may have had a plush, comfy, enjoyable prison cell, but it was a prison cell none the less.
As for retiring early being selfish, nobody cares. You're not Atlas and your not holding up the world. Nobody will miss you and life will go on. I especially like the idea that planning for early retirement is just a device to motivate this guy to be more effective in his job because if he hasn't reached his potential, he'll keep working. He can have fun sacrificing his short life on the alter of guilt and altruism.
I'm going to selfishly go out, sit on my porch and smoke a cigar, maybe take a swim.