Not really sure. I look forward to financial freedom, and reaching a point where I can quit working "because I have to" but I kinda hope to be able to work until the bitter end, if nothing else to get me out of the house and doing stuff. If I can find non-profit stuff to do that gives me meaning, and I have financial needs squared away, great. Otherwise I could see myself working at Walmart just for something to do.

Short of winning the lotto I really don't have to worry about that for another 25 years--if it comes sooner than that, then it's because of health problems. Trying to sock away now so that if the worst happens (forced retirement) then hopefully I'll get by.

My days are always full and I wonder how I ever had time to work. I have several hobbies and one being my old VW's and other is old radio restoring. Best one though is travel and camping with my wife and Granddaughter. everyday ends up being full. Today I have to finish mowing the front yard at one home and getting the propane tank filled on the camper and going to the grocery store to fill up the camper refrigerator and then heading to the campground and setting up the camper. Retirement is just really working for a new boss.

No stress!
I still love having a plan for the day. And I still love having a place to go especially in the winter.
I love puttering around the house and doing all of those little jobs(30-40 min) that we often pass up so that we can get the most important things done while still having to do them once we got home from work.
I do things differently now although it took me some 8 months to realize that I didn't have to RUSH.

I semi-retired at 51 and fully retired at 57. I knocked around for about 18 months and went into the car business. After another 18 months I took another part time legal position. Finally, I got back into politics and now will fully retire-again-in 2024.
Some people never learn...

Yes, for many they will be forced to retire earlier than they planned due to health issues. And for many health cost issues will delay retirement or break them in retirement. Long term care is the big retirement breaker I think.

Moving to someplace where I can breathe -- figuratively speaking. I want to do more writing and work on publishing my work and editing other people's. That, I hope, will supplement my income and at the same time keep my mind sharp. A few days, maybe even a week or two, of uninterrupted leisure is fine . . but months of it or years would be awfully dull.

That said, I want to arrange an afternoon nap every day!

Sounds pretty much like me. I worked to 66 1/2 because I had a great job. Now that I'm retired I'm really busy. I volunteer at a museum where I currently work on the reconstruction of a historical airplane, am an executive in a local club, take ball-room dance lessons, do household maintenance and renovations, do a lot of yard work, do auto maintenance, help out with the grand-kids from time to time, travel a bit (2 major trips in the past 12 months), entertain lots of visitors, get to actually read the paper, read a lot of books, and like that. I don't know how I had time to work.

What I don't have is time pressure. Most days I get up when I feel like it. And I can have a nap after lunch if I want.

I'm on track to retire at 55 because I've worked hard, saved & invested. I intend to volunteer part time to give back, while enjoying hobbies and taking occasional trips to see the world where I haven't been yet.

I don't look forward to to retirement. I've tried to enjoy life while I'm young.

Retirement for me is a loss of income while my body reaches a stage of disrepair.

My death has been having to work for the last 48 years. It's taken me away from the things I love (family, friends, hobbies, etc), but I had to pay the bills. For me retirement means the freedom to do as I please...so for me it means life!

Retirement means not working.

If you are working, you are not retired, despite any thoughts to the contrary.

Resigning from a high stress job, and downsizing to reduce stress is not retirement or even semi-retirement.

The Company I work for lets people adjust their work schedule. People that retire but still want to work a little are able to work a modified work schedule. The guy that works close to me only works 6 hrs a day. 6am-12:30pm. He likes it and has all afternoon to do what he wants. There are others that only work so many months a year. Or take extended vacations. I will probably still work a little when it comes time for me to retire.

I'm not really sure. I was deemed 100% disabled by the VA at 30 years old. I guess you could say a mortar round sent me flying into retirement. I still do light duty stuff for friends and family that doesn't tax my back.

I can retire today but I have a good paying , very low stress job.... so does my wife.

Maybe 5 more years and we'll retire.

Indeed. I know a guy who was forced to retire at 65 for health reasons. Due to his health issues he was unable to continue with his hobbies and also developed Parkinson's and dementia. He began to loose his mobility in his late 60's and became wheelchair bound at age 76. Weighing in over 230 lbs he requires 24/7 care and is consequently living in an assisted living center where is his wife visits him every day.