By the time I was about 45, I had a plan to retire from my j*b by 50. It was a good j*b, and with a small paid off home in a low cost of living area. But my BS bucket was overflowing, my stress level was rising. When I did the math, assuming no further market crashes between then and my planned exit date, if I kept maxing out my 401K, two Roth IRAs and my HSA, it looked doable provided DW's new foray into studying for ministry panned out.
Well, shortly after her first full time ministry gig, six weeks after we moved to the middle of nowhere in 2013, I was laid off at 47. It turns out to be one the best things that ever happened to me. Because after the shock wore off and I included the six months' severance I was getting, I ran the numbers again and felt peace. Even then FIRECalc was all but showing 100%, with continued access to affordable health insurance really being the only possible snag. Fortunately that has all worked out. My better half is enjoying her new second career as a pastor, which is bringing us moderate income and health insurance, I'm taking SEPP using Rule 72t from an IRA until I turn 59.5, and with all that we are pretty secure. She tells me I am so much more mellow and relaxed than I used to be. And it took the angst of the OMY Syndrome decision away from me.
Every so often I hear from a former colleague on LinkedIn who says they were sorry I was laid off. I enjoy telling them it was one of the very best things that has ever happened to me.