A little overwhelmed 9 months into semi-early retirement: to work or not to work, that is the question.
Reading other's stories is helping me, so figured I'd contribute.
"Retired" at 60 after a heart attack, stent, and actually healthier than before- regular cardio exercise is no longer an option. Worked a high pressure, constant travel, stressful job for too long, and never returned after the event.
My plan was to retire early anyway, so this just made it simple to pull the plug. Then came the identity crisis, feeling stupid I did not play the exit better financially...... most of the stages other people here wrote about so well.
Now I'm in a five year window until SS and Medicare, and feel the expenses are draining away the 401k at too high a rate. This mostly due to difficulty switching from saving/ investing to spending. Continuing family responsibilities continue much of the pre-retirement cash flow out.
I'm torn between following my dreams or going back to work for medical insurance and a slower burn rate.
Current projections at current spending rate reduces my " run out of money" age from 90 to 75. Should I care? Throw caution to the wind, after too many years of being too cautious?
