Anyone still watching this? Chickadee: A family member did what you are thinking of doing and now loves her job. I am 55 and just finishing a post-bac certificate in a new field. Posted this in the education thread but would like to know, financially speaking, if anyone has taken early retirement (by choice, thus cutting way down on the monthly payout amount)and started a new career in a new field (where salaries are lower because you are a newbie)?