In my experience there is never quite a right time to retire, be it for financial reasons, health or work situation that always seem to conspire against your best laid plans and present you with series of choices/opportunities which may force your hand or take the decision for you.
If you start from the premise rarely do people have enough money to fund retirement fully. one may find that your lifestyle changes to meet any financial constraints but often also refocuses you on your 'real' priorities in life and therefore can be very rewarding and enriching retirement years.
I retired at 49, not from choice, did a few years contracting but basically been effectively retired without the benefit of a pension kicking in before retirement age. Whilst I miss the social intercourse and stimulus of the work environment, . and I may not have achieved everything I wanted to in the work environment, I wouldn't swop the last 18 years of retirement for the greater financial security of being part of the workforce until the normal retirement age. There are absolutely no guarantees in life, and often retirement teaches use the true value and making time for the simple things in life ie family, friends etc.
