I am worry wart by nature. I went from F/T work to R/E to Semi E/R in 2008 at age 51, and worked PT for the next 7 years for many reasons, insecurity being one of them. The organization I worked for decided it wanted to take two P/T positions and make one F/T position. I did not want to go back to work F/T. I became E/R at age 58 this past August.
It was easy, circumstances made the decision for me. Since then I don't watch the market everyday, I don't listen to the talking heads on CNBC and elsewhere. I have a plan, I am diversified in my investments and my annual spending without work is about 3.2% of my portfolio as it was August.
Oddly enough I am not nervous, I don't like it but what can I do, the decision is made and I have had a great 4+ months of ER. I like it! Now technically I still work a little P/T, not much, I got hired as a guide by a motorcycle tour company. I did one 2 week tour with them in Sept, and hope to do two tours this year. Paid travel. I thoroughly enjoyed my time off in the Fall hunting. I thought I would be bored by now at this time of year living in New England. I thought I would do a little on demand courier driving. I haven't done that, I like E/R.
On NYD I caught up with an old friend I had not seen in awhile. I found out his wife is near death, she is in her early 50's, breast cancer matastisized throughout her body.
As I head towards my 59th birthday in April I realize it's only a few short years and it won't be an early retirement anymore. I intend to enjoy this time. I earned it. The market is going to go down and the market will go up. I believe very much I will be fine and I fully embrace the idea that my time right now while I have my health is too important to spend it worrying about stuff that is completely out of my control.
Age, and the wisdom that came with it combined with the death of loved ones and friends has sent my inner worry wart packing.