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Looks like some of the people interviewed in the article are unhappy with their job change, and some are satisfied.

The bottom line is it's a big risk to take, and such a choice may mean having a more fulfilling career but also having a lot less money in retirement. It would be interesting to see how many of the happy people in the article will still be happy when they are retired.

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... and how many of them died before retirement and never got the enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

... and how many of them find themselves with lots of money in retirement, but discover that they have missed their window to spend quality time with the people they love. Spouse has died, children have grown and moved away, etc.

So there are risks in the other direction as well.

My father retired "early" (at age 59) and was diagnosed with a brain tumor the same year and passed away. It's so true that "waiting to retire" is a huge risk if you're banking on indulging your hobbies then.

I think the lede is buried here, since it doesn't sound like any of them regretted their decision of seeking more meaningful work. The take-away seems to be that it may not happen right away with the first job you take and it may take some time to get adjusted (from a high-earning lifestyle).

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