Things happen. But what I often tell people is that I'd probably be sitting in front of a computer anyway. Might as well get paid for it.
If you start your career strong in your early to mid 20s and plan for it for then... yes.
Not all software engineers are paid ludicrous money though, and even in places that they are paid well the cost of living can be atrocious.
I think with software jobs paying what they do, retiring at 50 would be pretty easy.