What's so great about retirement? I don't even like the word.
It's not so much the "retirement" itself; it's the freedom and the stockpiled money so I don't HAVE to work and can choose to spend my hours as I see fit, that appeals to me. (Mainly traveling the globe in the winter months and working in my garden the rest of the year.)
And I was raised that way. Grandpa retired at 55. Dad at 53. I can't swing 53, so I'm aiming for 55. If I screw up, or some tragedy befalls me, then I can still retire like most folk at 62-65.
And I'm not counting on SS money, either. That's not factored into my plans. It'll be gravy if this tail-end Boomer gets any of it. :)
**What's so great about retirement? I don't even like the word.**
My husband is like you. He will never retire; he loves his work. HOwever, he could if wants to at age 60. It's all planned out. But he'll probably leave his kids rich knowing him and die in the office a happy guy.