Yeah, I have coworkers like that, too -- not ones that would be jealous, but ones with bills and responsibilities that keep them tethered to the job. One is about 65, planning to work at least another 8 years, at work she doesn't particularly like. The other is almost 75, planning to work another 5 years at least, and again, at a job he doesn't particularly like. Both of them still have a lot of debt, primarily mortgage.
It's unfortunate, but I suppose they chose what was important to them, just like I did. They probably would not have been satisfied with my lifestyle, and I wouldn't have been comfortable with theirs. I'm glad I made different choices and have the freedom to not work, if I don't want to.
By the way, I like your avatar. It's a good reminder that all my hemming and hawing, my calculating and recalculating, my pro'ing and conning, doesn't matter all that much in the end. The destiny of the universe is probably not going to hinge on whether I retire at 57 or 58.
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