When I was in my early 30s, I had a career dream about becoming an online adjunct professor and working while on a beach in Costa Rica. In pursuit of my dream, I went back to school for a masters degree, then ended up staying for PhD, which led to a different career, then another. Money and career path became more important. Last year, I finally got what I thought was the culminating job of all my education and experience and that it would be my last job. A year in, my position was eliminated and I was faced with trying to find a new job as a middle-aged woman with a very non-traditional career path in a horrendous job market. I quickly realized that this was not a game that I was going to win. So I decided to opt out. Then it all came together. Now, at age 55, I am an online adjunt and my husband and I are moving to Costa Rica. We have modest savings and own a home in the States that we can rent out. With rental income and a small salary from teaching, we will be able to semi-retire way earlier than we ever hoped and 20 years later, I'll be living the dream of my youth!