From one doc to another -congrats! I too have been planting the seeds around that I am getting out sooner rather than later and I don't see the age thing affecting the response. Most docs just do not have a plan to retire. They will be doing it as long as they are allowed. I think there are a few main reasons:
1) their entire identity is doctor. It is not what they do, it is who they are. these are often the older ones, but not exclusively. the old "retired" ones who despite no longer able to do it still come in to the hospital for Grand Rounds- for the free donuts and coffee, and because they don't know what else to do with themselves.
2)they are over extended- multiple kids, private schools, fancy cars, expensive hobbies, +/- medical school debts. they have saved some for the college educations for one but not all their kids. But that is partly because they feel much like the #1's above. So they never planned to save to allow them to stop.
3) they love it.. Love what they do and these are not necessarily the same as the #1's above..many of whom hate it or don't care for it much anymore but cannot see themselves not doing it.
I am none of these... --and when I think of things to do next I prefer to envision NOTHING to do with the world of Medicine. It is a shame because a lot of time and education has been invested in doing this so I can be pretty darn good at it .. but call me burnt out, or lost in the wrong world, but I cannot relate to the #1's,2's, or 3's above.
I cannot wait to stop doing it (for many reasons).
