We were motivated by health scares. We realized what Goofyhoofy had been saying was true. Namely, "your health will be fine until it isn't; and then it's too late".

That changed our psychology. We're still frugal, like when we were saving. 1poorlady has experienced more difficulty switching to a spending mode, but we are traveling more. Just got back from a long cruise that was the most expensive cruise we've taken (also the longest). She enjoyed it. I think she put more of her identity into work than I did, and she was working from her early teens (family businesses). So it has been harder for her.

But she wants to do stuff, and her cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call.

I am by nature somewhat lazy. I know this. It's only personal discipline that makes me get things done. Retiring was easy for me. I always looked forward to that day, though under better circumstance than medicals scares.

I would have loved being a travel photographer (or maybe NatGeo). But I am not THAT good. So I travel with my camera as a hobby. If I had been good (and lucky) that would have been my job instead.