My plan was to teach 30 years here at EIU and then retire at 62 with a great pension, lots of savings, and travel the world. Instead, I am retiring in three weeks at the age of 55, taking a big penalty in my pension for retiring early, (hoping the state does not take away health care benefits for retired employees under the age of 65), and spent 40,000 to buy three more years of service from earlier teaching position. So I have some savings but not a great deal, and I am still dreaming about traveling the world, but not really as excited about the actual prospect of traveling. The state has decided in the last week to introduce legislation to do away with 3% annual cost of living increase for state retirees and change it to the rate of SS increases We all know how big they are