Actually, I think working until 75 to get a livable retirement (and preserve Social Security) is inevitable.

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Keep in mind that when Social Security was first implemented, average life expectancy wasn't much greater than retirement age.  The average Social Security recipient only lived long enough for a few years of benefits.
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Today, we have quite a few people who can reasonably expect to live long enough to collect 10, 15, even 20 years of benefits.  That's a big difference.
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"Retirement at age 65" was so ingrained in our culture for so long that the resistance to raising it to 75 would be enormous.  We pushed it to 67 to qualify for full benefits, but even that was under some protest.  But the time for it is coming.  (The absurdly low retirement ages for public employees, 55 or 60, is something whose strain we're already feeling.  But that's another topic.)
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Of course, part of what is boosting life expectancies is modern health care.  The fact that these life expectancies depend on lots of health care in our older years means that another institution is likewise inevitable: universal health coverage.

Working in my later years doesn't really bother me.  I used to dream of retiring early.  Now I look forward to being active and productive in my 70s and beyond.
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The new trend will likely be what I have in mind: partial retirement.  Work part time, have more free time, yet still supplement the ol' bank account.

The length of time to be vested varies from employer to employer but generally it's 5-10 years.  My ex used to work for Shell and at that time 5 years was vested.  Where I work now it's 10 years.  I don't think that's an unreasonalbe length of time.

As for retiring early..I always knew I would work part time after the retirement age.  For one thing, like H4F, I'll want the extra yenom, and the other thing is that I would turn into a vegetative reclusive couch potato if I stopped working.  The few times I was off work for 6 months or so, I became more and more housebound.  Nope..I need the activity.

Posted by Drummel:

Good comments so far. You would be foolish to not max out the company contribution. Where I work it's 2 for 1 meaning I can max out my company's contribution with half of my contribution which is pretty good. Managing the 401k is a bit dicey though.  Right now my portfolio is toward the high risk side which I will change as I approach retirement age.

Funny joke about the undertaker, Nancy.

I started withdrawals at age 59 1/2, from my 401K, non-taxably.  Is it enough for me to live on?  Not by itself, but none of us are guaranteed to live to a ripe old age. I retired 5 years ago and have not regretted it.  I still keep busy with online investments and keeping an eye on a few rentals.  I work about 20 hours a week, but with a whole different attitude than when I worked for some cranky skinflint boss.  My advice to younger people is to save, and not just save and then spend it when it accumulates.  Put it where you can't get it.  Not just an IRA but some type of irrevocable trust.  I probably pissed away a couple of million.  Hang on to it.