I'm a numbers person, Ruby, so I ran my numbers. The SSA, bless 'em, makes this easy. I logged into their website (I established my account with them years ago, but if you haven't yet it isn't hard) and got the latest estimates about how much I make when I retire at different ages. Then I set up a simple spreadsheet. Each row is a month/year, each column is a date I retire. I enter the monthly payments into the appropriate rows to start (so if I retire in Nov 2019 at 62, that's $2000; if I wait until 67, it's $2500, so that number goes into the next column at the row for Nov 2024) [rounding numbers and dates for simplicity]. Then I put a formula to add the starting value to the cell just above, and copy that formula down the cells in the two columns. [This isn't a step-by-step demo; I'm assuming you — or a friend — knows how to set up a basic spreadsheet.]

So this tells me that by Oct 2024 I could start making $500 more each month if I'd waited... but I already have $120,000 from the SSA from starting 5 years earlier! It only takes me four years to make $120,000 at the higher rate, but by then, I've earned $216,000 from retiring at 62. In October 2044 I hit the "breakeven" point, where I've earned the same amount retiring at 62 as 67. At which point I'm about to turn 87 years old

I'll be dead at 87. Either died-dead, or I'll no longer to understand what's happening (I have signs of early-onset dementia, due to a TBI I suffered in 1982). But if I retire at 62, I have five years to enjoy living with my (already retired) wife while I'm still in good physical condition and (mostly) good mental condition.

Your mileage (and numbers) will vary, but you can point to numbers as to why you decided what you did.

[This also doesn't take into account inflation, or that SSA may not be able to pay out what it's promised starting in 2035.]

Hope that helps! Or at least doesn't confuse you!