Can Anne, 63, afford to retire right now?

Anne is 63, recently retired from a long human-resources career, divorced, and getting by on a small inheritance while a quiet worry sits in the back of her mind: did she jump too soon? This piece tackles the question so many people face at this age, which is whether the numbers actually support stepping away from a steady paycheque. The thinking it works through is the kind a planner does before declaring someone safe to retire, looking at how spending lines up against savings, what government benefits will eventually add, and how the timing of starting CPP and OAS shapes the years ahead. It also touches the emotional side, the unease that lingers even when the math may be fine. It will resonate with single retirees living on one income, and with anyone who left work without first seeing a full plan and now wants reassurance that the ground is solid.