--If you think you have a PIA husband now...just wait until you are spending ALL your time with him... Use work as your escape.
--At our age,,there are no readily available jobs that provide decent benefits right out of the starting gate. Plan on paying through the nose for health insurance until you hit 65 and get Medicare. Then you will still pay,,,just not as much.
--I retired at 62. But there is a BIG catch... I am basically debt free and have a decent residual income outside of Social Security. And my health insurance is covered 100% by virtue of a former employment contract.
So I took my SS early because I did the math: if you feel you will pass before age 78, then you are money ahead to take it early. The vast majority of my family has passed in their mid 70's from a health issue that runs in the family. So I am enjoying what's left of my relatively good health while I still have it.
--I believe the BIGGEST key to a successful early retirement is entering said retirement with NO DEBT/LITTLE DEBT. I know way too many that are still working in their 70's because they moved to (wherever) and took on a new mortgage when they 'retired'. While hoping for a carefree retirement, they quickly found out that insurance, property taxes, car expenses and home repairs ate up most of their monthly income.
Just my 2 cents...
