@amprev
Have just read some more of the comments here. It’s laughable to me that people assume that the benefits of being in paid work include being more interesting, sociable etc. What about being in paid work making you knackered and boring?
Having less time to ponder the world and what you can do to contribute to it other than generating wealth? I think boring people will be boring people whether they work or not. It certainly isn’t the case in my experience that people who work are more dynamic, interesting with amazing conversation. Just as it isn’t the case that people who don’t are always amazing homemakers. So many stereotypes on this thread and a lot of bitterness!
I agree with this wholeheartedly. I have a cousin who took early retirement at 50, (she is now 58.) The amount of snarky, bitchy, catty remarks she got from people (most women usually between 10 years younger and 10 years older) is shocking.
Women who were a bit older than her, who saw a woman several years younger than them retiring before them, made for some really catty, vitriolic remarks. They were SO jealous.
'Well, are you just never going to work again then? Only 50, and you're done?' She said 'I have worked solidly for almost 35 years, yeah I am done. I was offered the opportunity to retire, so I did.'
Then there's the 'well you MUST get bored' brigade. She says 'no, never. I have netflix, my pets, my family, the beach 10 minutes walk away, the forest 20 minutes walk away, my hobbies, my friends, my trips away...'
Then there's the noseyfucker questions like 'how do you manage financially then, and where do you get your money from?'
And then there's the sneery 'I could never retire at 50, I just don't know how ANYone could do that..' type comments... She smiles sweetly and says 'fine love, you don't have to. It suits me though.' 
And my cousin has certainly not 'AGED' in the 8 years since she retired, and neither has anyone I know who retired earlier than 'normal.' (Like 50 to 55.) If anything she seems more vibrant, youthful, and full of energy, since the grindstone of 9 to 5 left her life. 'Early retirement ages people' is just part of the usual shit spouted by people who are bitter and jealous that THEY can't retire at 50 to 55.
I don't normally subscribe to this 'oh they must be jealous' line, (when anyone criticizes someone,) but it's so glaringly obvious that some on here - like in real life - are VERY jealous of people who can afford to not work/can afford to retire earlier ... Not all but some.
It's understandable, as many people hate heir job or at least don't like it much, and would be happy if they never had to work again, but the spiteful comments like 'retiring younger ages you' and 'what on earth do you do all day?' and 'where do you get your money from then?' just shows bitterness, jealousy, and resentment.
And it's NOT a good look.