Retirement Decision

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The bad: much int’l travel! Super busy all the time. Weekend work is essential. Navigating large and complex organization is wearing me down more than ever.

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I'm 15 years away from retiring, but I'd advocate mitigating the problem. I did plenty of international travel and had zero problem with it. I also worked with people that it crushed.

The difference was that I controlled it, the other people just did what they thought they were told (We need you Tuesday morning in Tokyo. They would fly out Monday afternoon, and I would fly out the Thursday before so I could adjust, drink some beers, unpack, etc.) I always padded the trip on both ends so I was never flying in a suit to a meeting right off the plane in Rome, Tokyo, etc. I didn't ask for permission.

I essentially uninstalled the instant messenger from my phone and laptop, because nobody knew what time zone I was in anyway (we used a separate conference call app, it wasn't like Teams.) I could do four days worth of work in three hours at the hotel 12 time zones away, because nobody was up my rear end.

If you've got a 2 year clock, stop giving a shite about "optional" look good sort of tasks and duties. You need a volunteer to plan the speaker schedule at PronCon 2026? Sorry, look elsewhere. If you've got a good boss, he'll help you understand which denials will become career limiting (all 730 days you have left) and which ones are DEI like BS you can safely ignore. Or delegate. Find an understudy that's ten years younger and "mentor" them into the bullshite that taxes you.

Use work to get your parents out while they are ambulatory (unless you're going to Africa, lol.) Get them a ten day tour in the middle of your two week trip to Benelux, and make your weekend about them, etc.

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Navigating large and complex organization

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I worked for a corp with 400k, I get you. I learned early on to ask more direct questions, "Who is the decision maker? Is it John Q who you told me to schedule the meeting with, or someone else." In the beginning, I'd root around the org structure and try and figure things out, which failed, because I never knew culturally how the org was really working until I spent a week or two there.

I retired early 5 years ago. Best decision I ever made. I had a high paying corporate job, but no longer had any job satisfaction. I had enough saved to retire so I did.

We moved from our urban home to a lake home in a small town closer to family and friends. I don't miss work at all. We have great neighbors and more new friends, and basically do whatever we want.

So go for it if you are able to retire from a financial standpoint and socially you are not tied to a work life.

What lake did you decide on?

If you decide to hang it up what are you going to do about medical ?

Just pay high premium / high deductible out of pocket ?

I am interested in quitting my corporate gig in early 50s but medical expenses is the big unknown

Retire and tell them you’re open to consulting. Is that an option?

My tenure w/existing company ensures I keep same coverage at same price in retirement as an active employee.

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Artificial Ignorance

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Assuming your actual and projected spend is less than or equal to your yearly withdrawal from assets that can last you for 30-40 years, I would have a frank conversation with your boss about it.

You may surprised at how amicable it might be to work part time and/or consult. Lots of companies willing to give incentives for tribal knowledge transfer and you will likely qualify.

Congrats, GFY

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Retired at an earlier age than you because I could. Enjoyed a year of retirement and boredom began setting in. Went back to work for a year. Then went back into retirement for another year. Boredom began to rise up again so I went back to work. It’s nice to have the option and flexibility to work if I want to or don’t.
Make that decision and go for it!

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That's the conundrum for anyone retiring early that can afford to financially. You have to determine (or you will definitely figure it out after you retire) whether or not your sense of accomplishment at work and/or social interactions at work perhaps outweigh your social interactions and well being while you're retired.

Some people think they will be happy with all of their free time and to do what they want, not answering to anyone, only to find out they become bored over time and/or need the social interaction at work or sense of purpose and accomplishment they have at work.

For me personally, we are really lucky to be around friends and family and do our hobbies and meet with people we know around town frequently. We fish and go boating with other folks who are retired and meet with friends frequently, so that makes a big difference in our social interactions making retirement more fun.
My work was like prison in comparison, so it was a no brainer to retire early.

So you have to figure that out for yourself. Where do you think you will be happier.

You prioritized a response to a “weird bot”.

Your chakras are clearly in balance. Nice.

Time....your most precious commodity

Retired at 58

Semi-retired at this moment - pretty much at my own pace