Nursing for 34 years, working since 15, have always had to depend on myself. Am 63 and love nursing but is becoming physically and mentally exhausting. Applying for union pension and will have SS. Terrified, and it has taken months of agony to make this decision. I had to struggle with subconscious feeling I will die/starve in poverty if I am not working, I understand now it is coming from growing up poor. I know now I will be just fine. Time to enjoy life, travel, my grandkids. Our pension does not have any health insurance benefits, so will probably get something from ACA until Medicare. I was going to wait until I was medicare age but my grandkids are growing up so fast, I don't want to lose 2 more years.