I had planned to work until 70. But then a hurricane destroyed my home, work became a nightmare, 2 deaths in the family, and I realized life could be over with little or no warning. Plan B - retire at 66 (as soon as my wife qualified for Medicare). I made the decision 8 months in advance, but didn’t tell my boss until about 2 months beforehand.
We moved to a secure 55+ community where my father in law has lived for the last 22 years. He enjoys our company. I walk 5 miles a day. I play (a form of) golf twice a week, volunteer with meals on wheels, watch my wife play softball, paddle a kayak and dragon boat, garden and was elected Director/Treasurer for my 1200 home cooperative community. I’m as busy as I was when working. We spend a month in the NC mountains every summer. We spend a week with our grandkids at the beach every summer. We travel to see our kids and the things in Florida we never got around to seeing when work took up all my time. First post-retirement cruise coming up in March.