Ah, retirement. What a wonderful thing. Sleep in as late as you want. And you never have to go to work again! If you are "of that age," you are now joining the ranks of the fastest-growing segment of the American population.

In 1990, there were just 123,000 Americans age 65 or older. Today, there are 3,000,000! It's estimated that in 2050, there will be 50 million Americans over the age of 65. Add to that the number of Americans that will be retiring before 65 and the ranks swell to 70 million -- over one fourth of the United States population today.

If retiring is so wonderful, why is it that I don't feel quite right about doing it? In fact, I feel a little guilty. That's a common question among potential retirees. Perhaps the biggest reason is the fact that retirement is so final.

As chiropractors, we place our licenses on inactive status or let them lapse, we sell our practices and stop attending continuing education classes. Within a few months, we're out of the loop. This means all of our financial calculations had better be correct. If we outlive the money we now have, finding more will be very difficult.

Then there's the American work ethic. All of our lives we've worked 40 hours a week, sometimes more. Normal, respectable people work! Now, if we retire, especially if we retire early, many of our friends and colleagues who are the same age as we are will continue to go to work every day. And since we're able-bodied, just like everyone else, somehow it just doesn't seem quite fair.

In addition, many chiropractors feel they have had a "special calling." They ask, "if I can retire early is it the reward for having a good retirement plan or am I just greedy? Did I lose my first love for the profession?"

The answer is, there's nothing wrong with retiring early, especially if you've done the math and other soft calculations and are sure that you are financially and psychologically ready for retirement. In truth, many of us can do more for our families, our community, and ourselves in retirement than we can working our 40 hours-a-week job.

It's time to quit worrying about what people think. After all, if you're of retirement age, you're certainly old enough to make your own decisions. It's time to stop doing what your parents want you to do! Doesn't it seem ironic that for years we dream of early retirement and it's even considered noble to have an early retirement goal, yet here we stand on the threshold of opportunity and we seem unwilling to grab the brass ring? I say, seize the day! It will give you the opportunity to do all the things you want while you're still young and able to enjoy them.

Now that you've given yourself permission to retire, you may still be looking for permission from a few other sources -- your profession, your family, your friends. As far as the chiropractic profession is concerned, it can probably survive without you! A standup comic once said, "Don't take yourself too seriously, just remember when everything is said and done, the number of people that attend your funeral will probably depend on the weather that day!"

Your spouse and family are a different story. You will want their approval for retirement as well as their input about it. You've heard all the stories of "the working man and stay-at-home wife." The man retires and is underfoot all day long. He's finally happy, but the wife is driven to distraction. Sharing your retirement dreams, goals, and challenges with your spouse and family early in the planning process will help meld ideas, create clearer visions, and produce less friction.

Why not take your spouse on a weekend retreat with the agreement that you'll spend quality time together talking about your future retirement plans? With time set aside for this open, candid discussion, you and your spouse will become more comfortable with the idea of retirement. Some of the questions will start to be answered, and you will begin to visualize the good life of retirement. Once you reach this point, your need for "permission to retire" will be met.