Retired 8 years ago at 47. Sold house (which has now doubled in price but so what!). Bought lovely Ł100k boat in Mallorca and lived happily on army pension, no debts and a little bit in reserve.

6 Glorious years in Med. Spit up with wife. Split assets. Got new woman. Going to do it all over again next year when she retires - apart from, hopefully, the splitting up bit.

Lessons learned:

1. Buy the smallest boat you can live on, not the biggest you can afford. The cheaper the better. No gizmos, spend the money on fun.

2. Don't listen to the doom mongers (especially on ybw).

3. Divide everything you hear in bars by three.

4. Don't give a toss about health - Que sera sera.

5. Carry only 3rd party insurance.

6. It is not what your income is, it is how you spend it.

Finally, do it as soon as you can and don't look back. I am already running out of time and my six years seems like six months. Just be happy and glad that you have the balls to do it in the first place - many don't.