I was dreading having to work until 66 years and 2 months, my full retirement age. The last 10-12 years I had been working harder and longer with more stress than anytime in my life.
A year ago, at age 64 in a somewhat blatant act of age discrimination I was laid off. I took that as a sign from above. I got a healthy severance package, had a comfortable amount in investments that were immune to the latest market crash and my home was paid for.
My stress level has dropped by about 90%. I feel healthier and less fatigued all the time. I am eating more healthy and have no shortage of projects to keep me busy. Or I can be a slug for a day, watch TV and take a nap if i feel like it.
I am also much more aware of nature around me, the flora and fauna around my new home which is something that working in a stinking cubicle in a windowless office environment made me forget even existed.
I sure wish I could have retired at 50. I think the people who claim that they love their jobs must only make up < 1% of the population.
It is a necessary evil in most cases and the abuse than many workers have to endure in today's corporate environment is almost as bad as what workers has to endure at the beginning of the 20th century but in a different way.