After thinking about it, I think you are right about it taking courage to retire. Most mariners who I know that retired did so because of medical reasons, injuries or they didn’t look for another job on water after be forced out or laid off. I only recall a handful of people who retired traditionally in good health & financially secure. I worked with several guys who sabotaged their retirements by going deeply into debt or had late-in-life babies while in their 50’s & 60’s. I guess some of us associate our profession with who we are so much willfully giving it up is out of the question?
I think it is a good idea to have a planned date to retire & a realistic financial plan to get there. If a person doesn’t have the courage (or sense) to retire when that date arrives at least they’ll have all their ducks in a row so they can retire any time they want afterwards.