Forced to Retire Early

[Ashcan Bill]

I went through a similar experience. Due to a hostile buyout I had to decide between accepting an early retirement offer and leaving a few years before I'd planned to, or holding on and see what happened. I took the offer and retired in my mid fifties. Best decision I ever made. Those that hung on ended up pretty unhappy. Me, on the other hand, I've had a stupid grin plastered on my mug ever since.

In the final analysis I lost the identity I had as a long term employee at a major corporation, and to a lesser degree the daily contact I had with folk I considered friends. But I gained total freedom to do whatever I want on a daily basis and the ability to get up whenever I feel like it rather than when I had to. Like I said, I've been grinning ever since. You end up with the choice to pursue hobbies and interests, or the opportunity to start a new job/career.