The net value of workng longer is equivalent to getting a 50-100% pay raise (depends upon salary, net worth, career progression, etc). Earning income, contributing to your retirement portfolio as well as average/typical growth, and not drawing down your retirement portfolio. SSI also goes up each year, health insurance is cheaper vs Medicaid/Medicare + Supplemental medical, etc, etc.

Talk is cheap when you're younger. Financially secure people typically get their by making long term, wise, financial decisions.

I loved the guy raging against AA 15+ years ago. In was like the movie 'Network' - "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." He took earlier retirement as a Captain...to go to a 'backup plan' at 50+ (55+?). In 3-4 years of school (at 50-55!) and OJT he'd be making $100,000. Lost income? It would take him a decade to try and match the same career earnings he walked away from...working 40 hrs a week. Whoa, go back to FO and fly minimum time. Hold the best trips and drop a bunch of them. Much easier than pharmacist school. Fast forward he retires. Two weeks later I'm having lunch with my best friend in DFW and a friend of his is there also. We sit togehter. Never met the guy before. He gets a phone call and excuses himself. Comes back "buddy just quit/retired. That was his wife. Two weeks into retirement and it's hitting home....'we're afraid we don't have enough money.' I tried to get him to calm down but he wouldn't listen."

The high drama individuals was my first thought when I heard about the Boeing 'whistleblower.' They get on their horse and every windmill is the enemy.