An Early Working Retirement lets me enjoy the moments I'm in, instead of rushing through life to 'get to' Retirement

Lets face it.  There are no guarantees in life, except for maybe death and taxes.  Even the best laid plans dissolve in the case of illness or death.  No one plans for the worst of times, and I don't see the value in stressing out over my 'retirement planning' when I may not live long enough to save enough money to stop working.  Not to mention the boredom of traditional retirement.  

When I talk about work, I feel the need to put the word in italics because my job is so much in line with my passion, it really doesn't feel like work.  I work as a teacher, and it just about pays the bills.  I am an athlete who works out everyday and I still look forward to more competitions.  I am a father and a husband, and I work at being the best I can be.  And by being Early Working Retired, I am free to enjoy myself at

  

By declaring my Early Working Retirement, I free myself from the inevitable guilt that would arise from my inability to succeed financially because I am always living hand-to-mouth and can never save anything.  It allows me to truly enjoy every moment.