[BartekG]

Start by considering why you want to retire - is there something you want to do that you can't do while working? If not then you condemn yourself to 10 years of hard work and living in poverty in order to be bored and live in poverty for the next 50 years. A good job can be a source of joy, achievements, self worth, contacts with people and money. I'm a programmer with a relatively low paying but stress-free job and I plan not to retire for as long as my health permits.

[tomatocracy]

I'd add to this as well - if it is something you can't do while working, is it also something you can't do while working say 6 or 9 months out of 12 or even 2 years out of 3? There are probably a lot more options than you think to structure a career in this way.

[tudelo]

Do you think most people could really do a 2 year on - 1 year off thing? To me that sounds great -- I can definitely save a year of expenses every 2 years... but I wonder what job prospects would be, or other adverse affects.