Retire at 60

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My goal is to retire at 60. This came about before I found the Choose FI podcast, and after listening to the podcast my goal didn't change, but my desire for this to happen has been strengthened.

Why retire at 60?

I have known several people who got diseases and died pretty soon after they retired, or while they were still working.

-Rick Prouse, died at 60 of liver cancer, while still employed/
-Rob Robinson.  I can't find his obituary online, but I believe he was 62, while still employed, and died of a heart attack.
-Jack Ballard, my amazing high school choir director, actually died at 81.  And he retired probably at 65.  The problem was that he suffered from Parkinsons and did not have a good quality of life for most of his retirement.

-My father-in-law died at the age of 75, and I think he worked until he was 73.  But he didn't have a lot of outside interests, and working gave him a purpose and something to do every day, so I can't say this falls into the point I'm trying to make.

OK, granted that list is pretty small.  And retiring early wouldn't have prevented their deaths or diseases.

But I feel that chances are high that people will get a disease, and possibly pass away soon after retirement, or before it has even happened.   

Retiring at 60 would increase the chances of enjoying retirement before I get a disease or pass away.

Here are my current interests that I would spend time on, in no particular order

  1. Working out, getting fit, maybe playing Pickleball
  2. Mastering French
  3. Mastering Jazz piano
  4. Singing
  5. Spending time with family
  6. Hiking / Driving to US destinations to hike


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