Sutton, thank you much for the encouraging missive. You left out one other extrabudgetary disaster - the '22 bear market. Getting through that without feeling pressure to go back to work part time is an accomplishment.

I am committed to starting to retire, 4 1/2 years early, this year - like you, no one will miss my professional identity. Although, the last year or so has been the most enjoyable/tolerable out of the last 9 years. So, I want to.

Can I, responsibly, is the question. Unlike a lot of #humblebraggers online, I don't have $2, $5 or $10M and a paid off house and a 13 years future RMD tax worry. But I calculate that we have "enough" - in combination with the increasingly rare corporate pension from 27 years of service to 1 company and 2 SSs - to cover our expenses and afford a couple of good trips a year (not Rayvt level ;-). DD is beyond post-graduate work. The Monte Carlos say 95%+ or "you'll be ok even with significantly below historical average returns".

My awesomely detailed plan is "take the 6 good weather months off, do something to cover ACA health insurance expense in the winters until Medicare, and figure out what would be fun to do."

FC