I can't help you with the numbers or the Medicaid issue or anything like that. I will say a few words about the fulfillment issue.
I retired at the end of 2012, having been regional CEO of a global mega. My region's revenues were on the order of $4 billion, with my main country (where I lived) producing half of that. I took over that country when it had a profit margin of a little over 2%, and grew it to over 7% during my 11 year tenure at the helm. I traveled 50-75% of the time. I did a great job for megacorp and they rewarded me well, both monetarily and in public kudos and recognition. However, after peaking my profits at that level, Mega still wanted more, and this in an environment where 3% is considered good, and 5% is considered fantastic...something that megacorp globally has still yet to achieve although they've been touting that goal for over 20 years. Anyway, the industry really is nickel and dime profits, nothing like an Apple or a Google. But the pressure to deliver higher and higher margins, which were really beginning to be unreasonable, really ate into me. I already had my FIRE plan, goals, reasons, and parachute in place, so out I jumped.
As another poster stated, it took a long time to detox. I my case, I'd say closer to two, maybe even three years. I've had several opportunities to jump back into the fray. One was to become CEO and to IPO the company. I'm well to do now, but this opportunity could have made me filthy rich. I almost took it, but this company wanted me to come on board before my non compete had expired, even offered to pay the penalty for me. But my scruples would not allow me to break my commitment, even just a month. So I passed. Other opportunities came along after that, but I've just not been able to motivate myself enough to get over the physical trembling I get from just thinking about going back.
Now as I close out my 4th year or retirement, having just turned 55, I'm beginning to struggle with the fulfillment issue. This is more of a problem for me in the winter than during warmer more pleasant weather. We've traveled a fair bit. We've bought a second home in Nevada (in N Cal now) where we expect to eventually move because of the political and tax situation in Cali. We spend a few days a week there. We travel to where the kids are several times per year. Yet, I often get the feeling "is this all there is?" Add to that a recent development in my wife's health (seizures) that require for now that someone be with her 24/7, until the docs have her stabilized on anti seizure meds (they can't find a definitive reason for the seizures). So now, while we can still travel, and do not put life on hold, I can't go back to work even if I wanted. We run and exercise together daily, got healthier, lost 45 pounds, made a lot of improvements around the house, bought an RV and have spent a good chunk of time on the road in it, got into guns as a hobby and spend a lot of time reading about and tinkering with them, volunteer at the church, but still I question myself. Is this all there is? I'm guessing that this is mostly a phase that I'm going thru, and I'm guessing that many early retirees go thru it. I think you will also go thru it when you hang your hat.
For me, this has meant toying with the idea of going back to the grind, what I used to do, it has also meant that I toy with the idea getting a part time job in a gun shop or maybe a sporting goods store...not for the money, but for the interaction and the interest. It has meant spending time training for my other hobby of running 5k races and half marathons, which in turn has brought minor injury from time to time, which in turn affects the fulfillment question. As fears as getting a job, whether full on megacorp big shot, or even a part time thing satisfying my hobby and quest for interaction, the thought of being tied down to something bothers me even more than any feelings of lack of fulfillment have, so far anyway.
When you retire, you have a lot more time on your hands. Are you ready to fill that time? Do you have enough things to do? If not, are you happy to just relax? Some people are...some are not. If you have the list of things to fill your time, is your money bucket full enough to allow you to do them all? Would you be interested, or able, to keep a few accounts and work them part time, not just for the money, but to keep a hand in the game? What does your DW think about all of this? How do your thoughts mesh with hers?
My mom always says, "getting old is not for sissies." I would add to that, "retiring early isn't either...in more ways than one."
Hope these thoughts have helped, but I suppose they just add more to the confusion.
Looking like a nice a highly probable $20K-$30K+ revenue stream (structured settlement) carrying me right up to early social security
