I honestly feel more like a kid again than during the middle sections of my life. Doing what one wants, on one's own terms, is the very definition of being free. Having a mindset of enjoying life's small details helps. Almost everything can take on an air of pleasure or enjoyment. For example, desserts!
I was able to kick off our retirement when 55 years old. We've chosen to have many different chapters of life by living abroad for five months a year, coinciding with winters in Vancouver. Currently, we're in Dubai, a city where we spent five years of my teaching career. It's been thoroughly interesting coming here to witness the changes in life after three decades.
Next, in about ten days, we will fly to Sri Lanka to visit Jay's sisters. We're expecting to stay three months on that tropical island again. In March, we'll most probably return through this city and add some time in Istanbul, Turkey on our way home.
All of this is possible only because we bought and own our time now.