Yeah, I have this exact same opinion. I saved more than 50% of my take-home pay and retired when I was forty. I'm happier than ever, and can't figure out why my former colleagues didn't do the same and are still going to a cube every day.
Age comes faster than people expect. People say they will start saving later, turn around and they are already 35 (Or older) and later came sooner than they expected.
I'm 33 now and have been saving like you since I was 28, but I only had that realization of how fast time moves because until 27 I was trying to be a professional athlete. One day I woke up and realized it was too late for that dream and I didn't want the same thing to happen with retirement.
Good to see Americans wisening up to the necessity of saving.