Courtesy of Lisa Peroni
- Lisa Speroni, who worked in government for 32 years, was due 90% of her salary after retiring.
- She wanted out of the rat race before her planned retirement at 65, when she'd qualify for the cash.
- Speroni quit her job at 55 and moved to Italy, even though it meant a giant cut in retirement income.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Speroni. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I quit my government job in January 2022, two months after returning from a European vacation with my son, Ryan. I was about to turn 55.