Poll: Why retire early?

[Purron]

Why did you, or do you want to, retire early? Multiple selections permitted.

 

[flyfishnevada]

I think you forgot "Why Not?" and "Because I Could".

 

[Orchidflower]

Only reason I retired earlier than I wanted is that I had to quit to take care of my mother who had dementia (at 86 she was allowed). Otherwise, I'd kept working till I fell over at my desk; however, now that I haven't worked since '03 and am finding so many interesting things to do...well, not so sure I want to start another business like I kept saying I would. Maybe I should have picked a city with less to do in..

 

[HFWR]

Numbers 1, 2, 7, and 9. Also, refer to my sig.

 

[Rustic23]

Other, but Why Not most likely closer to it. Or 'just because I could'.

 

[Animorph]

Other. I loved my job, but just wasn't performing as well as I used to. Time to stop, not to mention a timely layoff.

 

[Moemg]

I was just ready to retire . I had been FI for a few years but delayed retirement finally I just made the decision and gave notice . It's been a good decision .

 

[W2R]

I think you forgot "Why Not?" and "Because I Could".

I checked all except #3 and #5. I checked "Other", meaning "Because I Could", and "Because I am ready for the next step in life and this is it."

 

[Purron]

I checked all except #3 and #5. I checked "Other", meaning "Because I Could", and "Because I am ready for the next step in life and this is it."

I'm thinking "because I could" should have been an option! This applies to DH and I for sure. However, I don't believe most of us would have chosen early retirement if the numbers didn't make any sense. If you can't retire because you need the money, health insurance or whatever, it's not really a choice.

I worked with lots of people who were ready from a financial/security standpoint but didn't go there. We're a different group from the "norm" and it's fascinating to know what inspired us to take this path.

Many of us were first drawn to this forum to figure out this very question. Thanks for the interesting responses everyone

 

[travelover]

I was definitely escaping from a hostile work environment.

However, if I had know how much fun goofing off is, that would have been a motivator, too.

 

[powerplay]

I selected several of the choices, but "because I could" would be my main reason. The second most important reason is that I always planned to retire at 55 through my entire 30 year federal career.

 

[scrabbler1]

For me it was mainly the awful commute although I had been getting down at the work at my job to some degree.

 

[Alan]

We had some good examples in our families who had retired early and were having a blast - looked like something we really wanted to do.

 

[Midpack]

1. Liked (past tense) my job and the money, but enough is enough. Fortunately I never reached 'I hate my job,' more the tug of reaching FI and then some.
2. Would still like to work, and will if I find a job I just want to do for the satisfaction alone - hopefully less responsibility, see #4.
3. Would like to move south some (shoveled enough snow),
4. And quiet, tranquil & reflective have more meaning now than when I was much younger.
   • Didn't check better health because I'm already active, but it would be a second tier goal.

 

[mickeyd]

Other.

I lost my job in 2002, searched for a new job and soon realized that no one was going to hire a guy in his late 50's for any kind of decent paying job in my field, so I reassessed my financial situation and realized that we had already accumulated a pretty nice chunk of investment money, a paid up mortgage, in addition to 3 pensions and SS.

After the dust settled, I embraced ER and now realize that a loafer is much more than a shoe.

 

[Khan]

1, 6, 9

W*rk (& the folks involved) was physically making me sick)

 

[WhoDaresWins]

Not yet retired (at the latest class of 2014) but I picked number nine as the main motivating factor. I plan to spend Jan. - March in FL when I am retired to escape the cold and snow. I do like the summers and fall in western PA. I close second would be the time to improve/maintain my health on my schedule via regular exercise in the morning hours.

 

[FIREd]

First and foremost, for health reasons. Boredom at work was a close second.

 

[Moemg]

...well, not so sure I want to start another business like I kept saying I would. Maybe I should have picked a city with less to do in..

It is funny how things turn out . I never planned on starting a business and here I am with a successful (hobby ) business .

 

[scrabbler1]

Just to clarify my previous post....

Because I had been working P/T for 7 years before I ERed, I had already been enjoying to some degree many of the benefits from not working. Working even two days a week had become a nuisance to the stuff (volunteer work and hobbies) I had been doing in those 7 years, so I needed to get rid of the nuisance. However, it was the commute which was the overriding reason for leaving my job.

 

[Budman]

I had a great job and was compensated well, but I was just tired of working. I chose 1,2,9, with a big emphasis on 9...I love my quiet, tranquil, reflective life now! Suites me just fine.

 

[easysurfer]

I picked #1 as my orignal FIRE year was 2011. But I say #2 is what I like the most of FIRE'ing.

 

[Retire Soon]

I retired early because I could afford it. I absolutely loved my career, but felt that travel would be more enjoyable especially while I was in good health. I did not think I could accurately predict how long my good health would last.

 

[Nodak]

One word: Freedom

 

[Rambler]

I checked all except #3 and #5. I checked "Other", meaning "Because I Could", and "Because I am ready for the next step in life and this is it."

I also checked all but 3 and 5. I'm not so sure I want to start over in a different role, but that may change after time to decompress. Also, have no family or friends with health issues that I would need to care for.

R