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04-06-2013, 07:39 AM
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#21
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: North Scottsdale
Posts: 1,545
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51 here. Timing was perfect for me.
__________________
FIRE'D in July 2009 at 51...Never look back!
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04-06-2013, 07:40 AM
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#22
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
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47.... at least for now. Was planning to go to about 50, but plans can change... 
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
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04-06-2013, 07:53 AM
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#23
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Miraflores,Peru
Posts: 1,992
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1 month shy of 34. Never planned it, but 26 years later it's all worked out.
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04-06-2013, 07:55 AM
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#24
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,788
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Thanks for this thread, No One Gets It, and for posting those earlier polls, MichaelB. I am hungry for retirement, and yet, yesterday, I had a spell of uncertainty and got into the "one more year" type thinking. I was thinking that 53 is just too early to retire somehow -- not because I couldn't afford it, but because it's just ... irresponsible (?) somehow. You're "supposed" to work until you're 65, right? Or at least 59? Aren't I being reckless or lax or irresponsible somehow, by bowing out so early? Shouldn't I stick around longer, like everyone else? And I'm going to walk away from a job at my "peak earning capacity"? Isn't that foolhardy?
But these polls and this thread make it clear that my target of 53 is about average. Granted, this is an early retirement forum, but at least I feel less like an oddball -- or an oddball with plenty of company, anyhow.
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04-06-2013, 08:37 AM
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#25
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Cavalier
Posts: 2,317
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The day after my 60th birthday.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." Pogo Possum (Walt Kelly)
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04-06-2013, 09:00 AM
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#26
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,302
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Curious as to when you retired? 57
Was it a good decision or should you have waited? Good decision because we were comfortably FI. However, sabbatical and then an encore career were just as viable if not more than conventional retirement. After almost 2 years I haven't been tempted to pursue an encore career, but I won't rule out working again at something I truly enjoy (not in my old industry).
Or should you have done it sooner? Nope.
But when someone else retired would have no bearing on my decision, especially at this forum of select early retirees. YMMV
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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04-06-2013, 09:14 AM
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#27
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 944
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I got free at 49 - I will be 57 this summer. These last 7+ years have been great!
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Freed at 49. You only live once - live it
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04-06-2013, 10:10 AM
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#28
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,695
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Curious as to when you retired?
I was 45, back in late 2008. I turn 50 in a few weeks.
Was it a good decision or should you have waited?
It was a good decision. The pieces fell into place rapidly in the 12-18 months prior to my retiring.
Or should you have done it sooner?
I could have done it earlier in the year (2008) but the pieces had not yet fallen into place and I wanted to have a certain cushion to assure me that the plan would work. ERing in late 2008 during the big market downturn was a huge benefit for my ER plan.
__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.
"I want my money working for me instead of me working for my money!"
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04-06-2013, 10:21 AM
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#29
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 98
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by comicbookgujy
WHAT  I thought the "D" stood for dependable |
My guess was "dedicated"
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04-06-2013, 10:23 AM
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#30
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 3,518
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We were 48 (me) and 45(DW) when we first pulled the plug in '08.
It was the right time for us since we were prepared & had many years of historical data to back our spending plan
The downturn in 08/09 scared us enough that we worked for a while in 2010 to allow the portfolio to recover. We celebrated thanksgiving '10 by walking away again & haven't looked back so far.
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04-06-2013, 10:40 AM
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#31
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,969
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Curious as to when you retired?
38
Was it a good decision or should you have waited?
Good decision. All the angles had been figured
Or should you have done it sooner?
Would have liked to have done it sooner if it had been feasible
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04-06-2013, 11:41 AM
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#32
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,934
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoOneGetsIt
Curious as to when you retired?
Was it a good decision or should you have waited?
Or should you have done it sooner?
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Age 46. Had my fill of dastardly people, and eventually realized they are at every company.
Work environment blew up just as I was hitting my magic number. Ciao!
It was one of the very best decisions of my life. It still gives me a little thrill of joy every day.
My only regret is that I didn't escape sooner, but I got a late start and couldn't afford it till 46. Never had "one more year" syndrome. That's a strange concept to me, since we are very mortal.
__________________
And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know.
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04-06-2013, 11:43 AM
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#33
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
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Curious as to when you retired? 36
Was it a good decision or should you have waited? Three years later, I think this was a good decision.
Or should you have done it sooner? No, it was early enough! 
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04-06-2013, 11:48 AM
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#34
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,587
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Curious as to when you retired? at age 50. Organization downsizing and offered early retirement pension. Spent several evenings pouring over spreadsheets to see if I could retire with 1 & 3 year old. Pulled the plug. Also had decent investments.
Was it a good decision or should you have waited? Priceless to spend time with sons as they grew. And I do a three month gig each year in work culture doing tax returns.
Or should you have done it sooner?Nope, not without pension.
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04-06-2013, 12:33 PM
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#35
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 50
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My last day at megacorp was my on 52nd birthday… seven years ago… today!  DH was surprised how quickly and easily I adjusted. He originally planned to follow a few months later but changed his mind. He finally decided the time was right for him to leave megacorp, and retired the first of this year! Now it is me who is surprised how quickly he has adjusted. His only regret is that he did not retire a couple years ago. We are very blessed.
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04-06-2013, 01:01 PM
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#36
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,655
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Only if you care what unspecified Other People think. Their opinions are utterly beyond your control.
Amethyst
Quote:
Originally Posted by ER Eddie
I was thinking that 53 is just too early to retire somehow -- ...Aren't I being reckless or lax or irresponsible somehow, by bowing out so early?
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__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
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04-06-2013, 01:37 PM
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#37
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
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Curious as to when you retired?
Retired 1989 age 53.
Was it a good decision or should you have waited?
Cancer scare, just as I was about to take on big debt to grow my young business. Could't bear to leave DW with large debt on a new business. A chancy start. Turned out OK... still here...
Or should you have done it sooner?
Probably should have been later, but we squeezed through, took a chance, and turned frugal, and "lucky".
A wonderful 23 - 24 years.
Best part about retiring at an early age, is the safety net in being able to retrench, if it doesn't work out.
__________________
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
--Dalai Lama XIV
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04-06-2013, 01:38 PM
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#38
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
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I was 44, so far t seems like a good decision but I'm only a week into it!
I've been FI for quite some time, bit now seemed right for a bunch of reasons.
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04-06-2013, 02:31 PM
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#39
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
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In 14 more work days --@55
Not a moment too soon. Would have done it earlier if I could have.
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04-06-2013, 02:32 PM
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#40
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Nowhere, 43N Latitude, NY
Posts: 9,037
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Curious as to when you retired? 48. I consider it a "sabbatical from chasing a paycheck" that has lasted 6 years and 5 days. April 1st was my FIRE anniversary. 
Was it a good decision or should you have waited? Excellent decision. I looked 10 years younger within a few months (quoting my physician).
Or should you have done it sooner? Not a possibility.
__________________
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney
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