Why Retire Early? My Dream Answered Clearly
Years ago, after Dan and our dog Sammi left this world, I had a memorable dream. In the dream, both Dan and Sammi—our beloved Jindo dog of 15 years—were together. It was the only time I had ever dreamed of all three of us together once again.
I came home from work (I still occasionally dream that I am teaching), and there was Dan, smiling. We did not embrace or speak; we simply recognized each other with warmth. Then Sammi suddenly appeared, full of energy and joy, running freely just as she had in life. She even brought along a white dog companion, happily leading the way as she always had. She greeted both of us, clearly happy to see me. We were together again.
I woke up weeping.
The dream brought back memories of our retirement—long walks in the desert or the nearby mountains, Sammi chasing rabbits, and Dan and me traveling to Africa, Argentina, and Peru, and the three of us touring the country in our fifth wheel. At quiet evenings at home, she would lie by the fireplace while Dan and I read. Sammi would stare at Dan until we laughed, and he would ask, “What do you want?” In the office, while I worked on my books, journaled, posted on various financial forums, and wrote for my blog, she would quietly alert me with a soft bark if someone passed by the house.
I also remember how much joy Sammi brought to strangers at Starbucks. No matter how people felt, they would smile without a moment’s hesitation, ask about her breed, and often leave happier than when they arrived.
Before Dan died in 2015, we often said, “Today, the three of us are alive and healthy.” I was already a cancer survivor, and we experienced firsthand that life is short, no matter how healthy we are, with parents who lived in their 90s.
A year after Dan died, Sammi was gone too. I buried her ashes beside Dan under a fallen tree in a peaceful wilderness park.
This dream reminded me how grateful I am that I retired when I did. Because I stopped chasing more money, the three of us had seven wonderful years together—traveling, visiting family, and enjoying life. Those years became some of the most meaningful of my life.
That is what retirement means to me. Don’t wait too long. We never know how much time we—or the people we love—have left.
