My father-in-law, Frank Noble, retired at the age of 55 after a successful career in forestry in Australia. He said that if given his time again, he'd still follow the same path and choose to retire early.
"There is an immediate need to talk it over with your spouse or partner. If you're a single individual, this decision is entirely yours to make, but no question, walking away from a solid income and retiring early is a family-based decision."