I semi retired in 01, but I kept my business for supplemental income. I only work about 20 hrs a week certain months out of the year. Sometimes I have to work a bit more to get a job done. I had to work more last year because I paid everything off. Now I am trying to reinvent myself so I can stop doing excavation altogether and pass it on to the son. I have my third home for sale and that will generate the nest egg I will need to step away from it all. My second home I will continue to rent. That will pay the bills and the nest egg will stay in the market. I will most likely syphon off about 50k to play around with. (I like to flip things. No not pinball, other things.) I have been playing around with ETFs in the stock market and I haven't lost my shirt yet! Actually doing pretty well. I am up 10% so far this year already.