This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Mannix, a 56-year-old based in Tacoma, Washington. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
In 2022, after 30 years working for the city of Juneau, Alaska, I was eligible for a full retirement, which included health benefits and a pension for the rest of my life.
My wife and I moved to Tacoma, Washington, and it’s been lovely to have a career break after several stressful years in risk management. However, I’m in a unique position where I can afford not to work for a while, but I’m only in my early 50s. I feel like I’ve earned the opportunity to put my efforts into something that…
