Same boat. I reached the number earlier than anticipated.Kenkat wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:14 pmI will add that part of my issue is that I hit my number a little earlier than I was planning and so now my question becomes whether or not a couple of extra years of withdraws will matter. My conclusion is they will not, but it still leaves a little nagging doubt. More money is always better than less. What if I retire and my portfolio drops 20%? I’d be ok, but not as ok if it didn’t or if I had even more.
In addition to that, I had an idea of what age I would probably retire at and that’s still 18+ months out as well - and I’m not 100% on that either. I did pick a date and start a countdown clock at the advice of a now retired co-worker, but that date is only known to me. I think I started somewhere above 1150 days and now am below 600. He (my co-worker) said it would go fast and he’s been right.
At this point, I tell people I am either retiring in 5 years or tomorrow - it just depends on the day. Like you, a lot really does depend on how things go. Will I realize the commute just isn’t worth it anymore when I return to the office? How will I feel about it if it’s just 2-3 days a week? How about getting on a plane and traveling again for work? Not something I do a lot (2-3x year) but it’s tiring at my age - but also I have to admit it breaks up the routine and there is a bit of it I do look forward to as well. Will the job go smoothly or will something happen to make it a living h....well, you get what I mean.
The nice thing is I feel I have options and I am pretty much in control of my own fate work-wise. That’s a really great feeling.
So here is something else to agonize over. By walking away “early”, I’m leaving money on the table. But it’s not money that I need.
But that is money that I could use to help aging parents, or spend on kids weddings, or contribute to charity. So am I being selfish by walking away? I don’t think I am. But maybe there will come a day when I wish I had an extra $100K to help out a family member? I may not ever need that. But leaving now means I will never be able to do it, even if I wanted too.