My wife (a public school teacher) and I (a government employee) both achieved financial independence and retired at the age of 52, or 15 years before Social Security’s full retirement age. Coming when we are still able-bodied and relatively healthy, that 15 years represents a lot of time to follow our curiosities.
For us, financial independence has meant no longer working full time, letting go of 98% of our belongings, and traveling the world full time for the last two years. (I’m writing this from Fethiye, Türkiye as we are about to embark on a 220-mile hike along the Lycian Way.)
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