I have heard of these people whose lives are centered on their careers. That may be a wonderful thing or it may be a terrible thing. All I know is that it is a thing foreign to me. I sometimes enjoy my job, more in the past than now, but it has always been a means to an end. A way to pay for the things I really care about and want to do.

I will qualify for "full" retirement in 22 months per the rules I have worked under for the last 27 years. I hope that holds until then, but my company was recently bought by another company. Our work outlook looks very good, but nobody knows what changes they may make to benefits. If they make my expected retirement deal go away, I will likely bail out and find my way with whatever I do get out of them for the time I have put in. Either way I will need some supplementary income to keep the family going along, especially until I am old enough to draw SS and to withdraw my investments without penalty. But I hope not to need to show up every morning at a place I have to stay all day and do things that serve others' interests more than my own.

My hopes for retirement are to have more time and flexibility to pursue my passions, bicycling, music and my family. I want to get more involved in local bicycling advocacy, possibly in a part time professional role. I might do some part time work at a bike shop. I definitely plan to put some big miles on my bikes.