Good points, UCGal, and I wish you all of the best with your plans. Retirement for most people today is nothing like their parent’s retirement was. Most I know are busier than ever, and don’t really consider themselves “retired,” because they now have the time and the money to pursue other, and, in some cases, more lucrative interests. (We’ve actually done very well investing in films since I “semi-retired” from aviation.)
Some choose to keep it simple, others are still going full tilt, but the bottom line is that they are in a financial position to make a choice.
As far as social status goes, IMO, being a “retired” engineer, lawyer, doctor, pilot–fill in the blank–millionaire–as most will have to be in order to retire, is much more impressive than someone who HAS to work till they drop.
Many people choose to retire at various ages, others never want to, and most in this Country will never be able to afford to, so, IMO, there really is no “right” or “wrong,” it’s simply a personal choice.
