I envision "retiring" as soon as financially possible. Being in HR though and working with folks through possible retirement scenarios, I will say that there is a reason I put retiring in quotes. To me retiring isn't the stereotypical event that it once was. It is definitely a transition, but I view it as more of a "getting to do things, but of my choosing, and on my terms", which literally means just about anything. To me, retirement is freedom. If I want to get up and go play a round of golf......done. If I want to focus on a hobby of mine.....go for it. If I want to work somewhere or volunteer on a part time basis to stay active / busy......my call, my choice. Perhaps, I want to sit on the front porch and watch the world go by......I can do it.
I am sure that I will want to do the usual, travel, visit kids / grand kids, spend time with the spouse, etc.,but I don't see myself quitting work cold turkey.
Now to make all of this happen will require a lot of bread. But the bread gives you options, choices, freedom, to make all this happen. Ideally, I would like to retire and not "take a pay cut", which with planning, is doable.
I have seen a pretty wide spectrum of retirements (part of the profession). I have sat across the desk from folks that are in the ideal state (will not take a pay cut in retiring). I have also sat across the desk from folks that were forced to retire due to injury / illness, etc. I have sat with folks that waited too long, as well as folks that went too early. I have also seen the "worst case scenario", where folks retired, had not saved nearly enough, and started getting beat down by the "waves of life" (loss of job, major medical bills, consumer debt, car issues, you name it). This scares the heck out of me and serves as the reminder of why I try to sock as much away as I do. Having some financial security will help weather the storms of life. Without it, you can drown in a hurry.
Typical ant and the grasshopper scenario. In order to have more tomorrow, you have to do with less (sacrifice) today. That is definitely not easy, but the things in life worth having aren't easy, or every one else would do it. I guess it is part of the burden of freedom.