I had planned to consider retiring early at 55 years old with the retirement plan from a computer company I worked for. The decision was to be, "Is work still fun or not"? I actually liked my job. Unseen was a decision by the company to focus on their core business and sell off activity not directly related to the new direction. Selective sale for parts of the company began.
There were several years of downsizing and deals for people near retirement that became reduced as time went on. When someone left, the work they did was just handed to another. Eventually, as a Staff employee, I was working 60 hours weekly without overtime pay or compensation time and often traveled one week monthly visiting other manufacturing plants related to downsizing or a customer problem somewhere. Finding out my business area was going to be sold and future buyouts greatly reduced I decided to accept a bridge to early retirement with continued health benefits and a lump sum. I was 48 years old.
I became self-employed doing Handyman work on houses. Had always invested my savings in the stock market. Changing jobs again, I worked a short time as big box store manager and then as Financial Analyst for another computer related company. Those companies began looking for a buyer, so decided to formally retire at 52 years old and move from an expensive populated area to a smaller town and then to rural acreage.
While there were some moments of pure panic along the way, overall, with good luck, everything worked out better than ever imagined. Now at 78, have enjoyed the years of extra freedom, with time for backcountry skiing, skijoring with my dogs, hiking, hobbies and trying to be a Farmer.
Randy
