Hi Paul
Just read your thread and very interesting to see yours and other thoughts.
I'm sorry to hear of your father's passing, it does make you think about how much to work and I hope you also can remember the happy times you had rather than dwell on his illness.
I'm 52 and dithering at the moment. I have promised my main client three more years, but really there are days when I'd like to go tomorrow. I was approached to sell the business last year by one of my competitors or in theory I could probably just walk away and have a reasonable amount left £300k-ish????, though absolutely no real idea on tax situation.
Little in savings, really just 6 months living and around 25k mortgage left. Around 300k in private pension and apparently ( I had no idea until last week), that I never opted out of anything so luckily I get the full amount of £175.00 State pension at 67.
I do have an IFA and have done for around 20 years, his advice has been invaluable, I never, and still don't, wante the hassle of looking at investing money.
I think you've made your mind up, but are having an understandable wobble and need some people to just give you a bit of an internet push

. You may find after a few months that you find some part time work that you enjoy, that you would never have come across if you hadn't had the time to look.