1) was lucky to be one of the last in defined benefit plan.

2) health insurance still paid as part of group plan - carries into retirement.

3) consult in my areas of expertice. Set hourly rate high enough to weed out minor tasks.

4) happy, you bet. At first, there are nagging concerns about financials-kids finishing school(which i chose to pay for, wedding, etc.) Even after going over it 50 times before pulling trigger. It works out. Dropping commuting costs, gas, dry cleaner, food, suits, etc from budget is a pretty large sum. Get more comfortable as the years have passed. Realize how lucky i am.

5) biggest challenge? You may laugh - after 36 years of getting up at 5am to start the day, my body clock remains on the early to rise schedule. I kinda thought i would revert to sleeping in until say 730 or 8am. Nope. Usually awake 530 to 6.

Unsolicited advice - stay both physically and mentally active. Listen to thst little voice inside your head that said for years..."when i have the time, im going to get into doing [this]."