not agree, retire is not a dream or impossible, it just based on your perception.

Assume you work smart/hard to get enouff money before 40 years old and you dont have any/less commitment.

example:
A retired 40 years old man at 2013 can live pretty well with the criteria below:
- No Son, No Wife , No contact to family (save alot money to spend on them)
- Have 3 cheap apartment that fully paid, 1 for own stay, 2nd & 3rd for rent out (rent out one can fetch 1k rental).
- with 2k of income every month the 40 years old man can have a pretty good life d (cook him self, if free lim teh with fren, stay home online and watch drama)

such a pretty life..