71. Retired at 55 and haven't regretted it for a single second.
Dropped out of UC Berkeley in time to enlist in the Army. Trained in electronics in the Army. Worked for over 30 years for a major electronics manufacturer, starting as a technician before I even knew what a technician was. Highest level reached was as an engineering manager.
It sounds like you’ve had a fine life, and I wish you the best in the rest of your retirement.
However, life was different when you were 17 than it is for today’s 17-year-olds.
My 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter both applied for summer jobs as Lowe’s Hardware during a job fair at the community college they both attended. He was called the same day, and she never heard from them. The difference was that Lowe’s liability insurer would let a 21-year-old drive a forklift, but not a 19-year-old.
She ended up joining the Marine Corps. Hoo-ah, Lcpl. Elen!