Kinda my story, but at least I liked (not loved) my job, got to see a good bit of the world on the company's dime, and had a great wife holding down the fort at home.
Also, living well below our means helped a lot to get there early - although it didn't really feel like we were, having both grown up very lower middle class in the Parish and 9th Ward, respectively.
Too many people don't have choices but we were fortunate with income/health and we consistently made the right ones when it came to (saving and not spending) money.