<prompt> Human: It seems that the vast majority of folks are laser-focused on retiring, doing all they can to retire early, etc. Even if you can retire in your mid-30s a hell of a feat, is it really worth all the sacrifice you have to make in your 20s to do so?Personally, I feel Id rather get to a point where I can work part time and still be comfortable financially. Sure, I can work away my 20s on the hope that Ill be alive and healthy enough to enjoy life in the future.. but that feels like Im just taking a gamble with my youth.I dont mind my line of work, and I see no reason to desire totally stopping working. So, whats so bad about working part time for longer, or even until the day I die?Am I being short sighted here? Should I actually work my ass off to be in a better position to hopefully not need to work in 20 or 30 years?EDIT - I may have been too ambiguous in what Ive said. I suppose a good example of what Im talking about here is, assuming finances support this through sufficient saving, how do you feel about taking a month of unpaid leave from work to pursue some interest? The flipside to that being you work for that month instead, and save the extra pay and money you would have spent pursuing that interest for retirement, on the hope of doing it later.  <response>: Someone once described retirement to me as this: the first time in your life that no ones telling you what to do. The beginning of your life, its your parents, then its your teachers, then its your bosses. Retirement is the first time where YOU get to call the shots. Some people like being told what to do; but those of us who chafe at the bit cant wait to get the hell out of the office. I was able to retire last year, way before any of my friends, and I have loved every minute of my freedom. Youll know when you get older whether its time or not. 