Dreaming Of This Day For Thirty Some Years

Even as I was graduating from university and just getting into a career I was dreaming of what it would be like to be retired, no more job to go to at all, just play all day doing what I wanted all the time. I started investing right away, kept dumping as much into my retirement fund as I could manage then the dream became a reality. Was it easy? Hell no, I sacrificed a lot to get here. I watched friends and coworkers go on lavish vacations, buy expensive toys like boats and other recreational toys, live in over sized homes with a pool in the backyard while I lived in a twelve hundred square foot ranch on not even half an acre and drove used cars all the time, matter of fact the car in my garage is a 1995 Honda Accord with over 200K miles on it, had about 15k miles on it when I bought it. You want to know the most amazing part though? My retirement income is going to be slightly more than I was making when I left work. When I heard that I was sitting there asking myself why would I not retire right now, I am still very healthy and workout all the time, travel somewhere and see places or just load up my golf clubs and go hit buckets of balls until I am tired. I am a terrible golfer so I just do it for the walking and fresh air. I am just amazed at how it feels to be retired, never thought the day would come this early in my life but here I am, able to just do whatever comes to mind with no one to ask but myself.

Most of the friends that I have known for years asked me several times how in the hell I could afford to retire right now, told them been planning this for years and it took sacrifices everywhere to do it. What about your house payment? Do not have one I say, just taxes and insurance. What if you live into your nineties? No problem, will still be getting monthly payments and will pass it on to my children. No one said it was easy or cheap to get here but once you are there, you will look back smiling for sure.