I left HM Forces over 20 years ago and am now approaching the last few years of my commercial flying career.
I enjoyed my time in Auntie Betty's Flying Club immensely but am very glad I left when I did. Similarly, I have enjoyed working for 4 very different airlines around the world for the last 20+ years.
I got married quite late and my wife is not from UK so we shall be settling down on our little piece of SE Asian real estate in a few years time with nice views over the Andaman Sea and all day to do pretty much whatever we want to do - together or independently.
The point I would make is that, financially, it makes sense for me to struggle on past 60 to get a much bigger retirement pot with less time to spend it and therefore a much greater annual 'income' but our currency is not the $, it is time together. And provided we can pay our bills with a little left over each month we will be extremely happy.
I am looking at permanent retirement in a couple of years at age 55.