Travel is a big part of that. In the 3+ years since retiring, we did a 5-week tour of SE Asia, a 2-week tour of China, a tour through the Panama Canal, and a cruise around the Mediterranean. We’re now planning a 5-week driving tour around the Eastern US, which will include both of our 30-year HS reunions and FinCon in Orlando (where I’ll be speaking).

I sometimes wonder if my wife and I retired too soon, so it’s very reassuring that your only regret is that you didn’t do it much earlier!

Painting – Awesome!!! So glad there was a happy ending to this story! :)

This is my situation exactly! Good stuff!

After finances, the biggest issue in my experience is keeping the mind engaged. My stepfather, a professor of pulmonary medicine, retired early for health reasons. He wasn’t mentally prepared. Going from teaching residents in a clinical environment to a somewhat forced retirement caused him to fall into a pretty serious depression. He finally came out of that and found another passion – painting. He and mom built a studio for him in their house. She had to pry him out of it after awhile. He wasn’t ready to retire and hadn’t prepared mentally for it. The early years were tough.

My most offered piece of advice to clients wanting to retire, either early or normally, is to have a plan for how you will spend your time. Too many people’s identity and worth are tied to their jobs.
Gotta think about that well before retirement. The consequences of not doing so can be significant.

For point 7, would it help if people first reduced their working hours by a day or two every week? Instead of working 40 or 60 hours a week for 20 or more years and suddenly getting to 0 is hard. But getting from 40 to 30 is doable and in a year you can become comfortable going to 0. In the meantime using that extra day to get into clubs or nurturing hobbies may help getting there.

Same…. it’s worth the risk ;)

Otherwise, good points, and many I hadn’t thought about. I’m still aiming for FIRE, though. :)