I retired early and am financially comfortable despite divorce and market downturns. I want young people to know you can recover from misfortune.

Michael Starghill, Jr for BI

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bernita Clark, 82, who retired 18 years ago and has been financially comfortable since. Clark, who lives in Texas, said she never expected to retire at all until she reached her late 40s after years as a single mother. Through years of careful saving and long-term planning, she retired a few years before retirement age, though she took on part-time work in her 70s. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.