Retired at 39!

by TODD
(AURORA ILLINOIS)

My story is one of good fortune, hard work and also tough luck.

My father and I owned a very successful HVAC company in the suburbs of Chicago for 24 years which we started out of our garage for $1000 dollars in 1984.

We grew the company to be a well respected and extremely profitable firm. One of the lead HVAC construction companies in the area and a major player in the industy.

At 36 I was diagnosed with M.S.,a sometimes debilitating disease. At 39 my disease threatened my ability to work my usual 12 hr days 6 days a week down to 1 or 2 days a week about 6 hours a day.

As luck would have it, we where offered a large buy out and accepted the offer. Funny how things worked out at the worst time of my life!

Through new drug management and stress free lifestyle my M.S. is well managed now and I am living a very comfortable and full life being retired!

Wendy Retired at 39 - Disabled - and yet you can say "I am living a very comfortable and full life being retired!" wow! I wish other retirees, much older, could find joy in the very act of everyday living like you!

I hope your post encourages other disability retirements that there is life after work ends (though many are not financially set as you are.. you were able to sell off a company, they were forced to quit work, unexpectedly, many times with little in savings or pension).

Anyways, love hearing your story and, yes, it is funny out life works out.. I think God was looking over your shoulder!