I think anything before 50 is considered early retirement, maybe anything before 55. I have friends and family members on various ends of the scale.
Good fiends of mine retired in their early 30's and moved to a beautiful Island. While they were in town last week, shared they were "retiring from retirement" and going back to work. They are not taking on traditional work, but more along the lines of a new business adventure.
I also have a grandpa who still works in his 80's. Granted, he has significantly scaled back over the past few years, but he owns his own business and works when he wants to because he truly enjoys it. DH has an 85 year old colleague who works full time (and even traveled internationally with him in August!) and had no plans to retire. He is in remarkable shape and even teaches elderly defensive driving classes at his local AARP chapter.
IMO, while I am actively saving for retirement, I am focusing more on having the secure financial independence that would allow me to be in a position to retire. Whether or not I actually would stop working is another conversation. I would love to be in a position where i could make that decision without regards to my finances - whether I continue working (what would probably be a flexible job with lots of time off to travel) or whether I stop working would be because I am passionate about something that stimulates my mind and I would want to do it because I truly enjoy it.
You articulated this much more eloquently than I did. I want financial independence and the choice to work or not. But I won't be working because I am bored--just because my career is enjoyable to me.
I think anything before 50 is considered early retirement, maybe anything before 55. I have friends and family members on various ends of the scale.
Good fiends of mine retired in their early 30's and moved to a beautiful Island. While they were in town last week, shared they were "retiring from retirement" and going back to work. They are not taking on traditional work, but more along the lines of a new business adventure.
I also have a grandpa who still works in his 80's. Granted, he has significantly scaled back over the past few years, but he owns his own business and works when he wants to because he truly enjoys it. DH has an 85 year old colleague who works full time (and even traveled internationally with him in August!) and had no plans to retire. He is in remarkable shape and even teaches elderly defensive driving classes at his local AARP chapter.
IMO, while I am actively saving for retirement, I am focusing more on having the secure financial independence that would allow me to be in a position to retire. Whether or not I actually would stop working is another conversation. I would love to be in a position where i could make that decision without regards to my finances - whether I continue working (what would probably be a flexible job with lots of time off to travel) or whether I stop working would be because I am passionate about something that stimulates my mind and I would want to do it because I truly enjoy it.
You articulated this much more eloquently than I did. I want financial independence and the choice to work or not. But I won't be working because I am bored--just because my career is enjoyable to me.
This is my position. Right now, I really like working. And I love making money, meeting new people, the occasional travel, and also being needed and well-regarded for my talent/expertise. I would love to find better balance between work and family/travel, but overall, I am pretty certain I would feel unfulfilled if I were to leave it all behind. I may feel differently in 5 or 10 years and want the financial security that will enable me to take or leave jobs if needed. To me, that is the ultimate luxury--the confidence of knowing you don't have to work.