Retire early or travel while we can?

If you can afford it, retire and travel the world. My unmarried older sister did it and loved every minute of it.

I stopped working when I was 59, because I felt I couldn't do it any longer due to health issues, I have angina and although I take meds for it ,I felt I wasn't as fit as I was, I loved my job but health came first so both my OH and I retired at the same time
.have not regretted it . I had a very good friend, from our teenage years, who worked a few years past retiring age so she would get a bigger pension and a year after she finally retired she became ill and died a few months later..so sad

I'll just add Orangebottom...go for it ..

I've got several friends with extremely well paid but stressful jobs, most are saving like mad so they can retire at 60. You can't take it with you and you never know what's round the corner healthwise. I continued to work five years past retirement age, I didn't need the money but I was worried that I might be bored and I rather liked my job. tbh I wish I'd retired earlier and travelled more.

Yep if you can afford to do it, do it. Life really is too short.

DH and I retired early and have loved every minute of it so far.
After working so hard I was nervous that the lack of focus and just not being busy might be a problem but it hasn't, not for one moment. No regrets and feel so very, very lucky.

Retirement has given us the opportunity to do all we ever wanted to do but didn't have time. We've travelled, got a darling of a dog with whom we've walked thousands of miles, taken up new hobbies and spent time on old ones, studied, volunteered, joined groups and clubs and have renovated three houses and grow our own veg on an allotment.

Go for it, life is too short and as said upthread you never know what’s around the corner - I speak from experience.

While you and you DH are still here.... go for it. Gasp that chance x

Do it!
I am 76 and very crocked up with health problems. You do not know what is around the corner. Carpe diem and all that jazz!

As long as you do your sums and will have enough income, why not.

I say go for it while you can as you never know what is round the corner health wise. If you do get bored on your return get a part time job if need be or volunteer.

Thank you to everyone who has responded - a resounding 'go for it' - am excited thinking about it. Work gives satisfaction, but never excites.

You won't regret it.
Pack in if you can afford to!
💃🏿🕺🏼💃🏿

Exciting!!!

I took early retirement (local authority), we then lived in Françe for four years, a magical time, then got a p/t job until Covid, now volunteer.

I retired at 60 and took a years contract as a volunteer in a community in South Africa (unpaid but similar job) it was a fantastic experience and allowed for further travel

Just do it. Lost two friends 54 & 59- you never know the minute. If you decide it’s not for you, you can always get another job.

There's no point saying, "if only", in 10 years down the line when it might be too late to go travelling.

Do it, if you are able to work out if you can live on less money, do it. If your workplace offers a course or anything take it. I regret not having travelled earlier in life, though have been to a few countries, so at least have seen some of the world. I have found a big difference health wise from my 50s to my 60s and realistically seem to be having a different issue each year. If you can afford it, retire but look at your budget and bills before making a decision. If you can pay your mortgage off, that's the main millstone from around your neck, removed!

We did this and never regretted it. We have seen all the places we wanted to see and have lovely memories. I would not want to do it in later life as you need stamina and good health. Just make sure you do your sums.

Yes, now got to focus on getting the sums right. Tempted to rent house out to earn income. But 20 something son an option to look after it.

You frequently hear and read that you need more money in retirement in order to keep yourself entertained.

We found the opposite. It quickly became apparent that whilst we were working we spent an awful lot on treating ourselves to things to compensate for the grind of working - a magazine and a coffee for the train, dinner out after a hard week, a weekend away to escape. It amounted to hundreds, if not thousands, a year.

After we retired all that stopped because we didn't need to spend to cheer ourselves up. Perhaps we're lucky that the retirement activities that keep us happy tend to be cheap/free - like a long walk, sea swimming, the allotment and camping.

If you can afford to then retire. And travel if you want. The saying nobody ever says when on their death bed, 'I wish I had worked longer'. True. enjoy!

Do it! We all say “you never know what’s round the corner” and we have found out to our cost just how true that is.

Completely out of the blue and not feeling poorly at all my husband had a massive stroke in Nov. Our lives changed completely in that moment.

Do what you want while you are well enough and can enjoy it.

I took early retirement and redundancy at 50. I paid off my mortgage and went to South America for a year. When I got back I sold my house in the south east and moved to west Wales. Then I was a volunteer teacher in Nepal for two years. Back in Wales I started a community bookshop and did an MA.
Now I'm 77 and have several health problems that mean I probably don't have much time left. I've never regretted my early retirement or the many things I've done since.