JustCurious said:
Therefore, my question is, do any of you who are retired regret that you saved too much when you were younger?
Heck no. I started my savings career in 1982, when things had been getting worse since 1966 and everyone knew they'd never get better. I was pretty sure that I'd be saving "not enough" until 2022 and hoping that Social Security would keep me from being homeless...
JustCurious said:
Do you look back and wish you would have spent a bit more to enjoy your youth, or your kids' youth?
Yes and no. I missed out on a lot of life experiences by doing things my way, although I still achieved my teen fantasy of living in a beach house with two gorgeous women. But by taking on a fast-moving high-pressure job I missed a lot of technological & cultural shifts that I now regard somewhat maudlin wistfully and wish I'd been able to spend more time on.
Our kid was a somewhat fussy baby and work provided a welcome escape from a 24/7 job. (You parents of fussy babies know whereof I speak, and the rest of you will never understand.) But as she grew older I began to resent the work/family conflicts and that was a big push to ER. So kids are perhaps an important part of ER.
JustCurious said:
Do you now realize that you oversaved and you have more than you need, and you should have spent a bit more when you were younger?
Well, sure, in 20/20 hindsight. But that parabolic slope didn't really start taking off until a couple years ago and could easily have failed to transition from boost to flight. Even today it's still possible to be wiped out by disability or long-term care expenses. So on one hand we overshot the mark, but on the other hand we were lucky to end up
on a moving target, let alone in the bullseye.
Non sequitur said:
The answer to that is simple...
They simply do NOT raise their children.
IMO that answer is not only simplistic but guilt-mongering.
Most working parents spend way too much of their waking hours either working or parenting, and not enough on life's other essentials-- like sleeping and having a life. Very few working parents give up and abandon their children to contractors (or to self-employment). Most are motivated to find a better work-life balance, especially when they can use the tools provided by this board. Again if you really want to be motivated to work hard for ER, then start raising a family...
3 Yrs to Go said:
All's well that ends well. As I become increasingly giddy about my future, I find I have little reason to lament my past.
What he said!