afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2024—2026

He left at 54. Only afterward did he see the burnout.

u/breathedown initially celebrated the freedom bought by decades of work. Eighteen months in, the significance was clearer: slowing down revealed how depleted he had been. The new challenge was learning to choose a day’s activities without rebuilding the pressure that made leaving necessary.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2024 · Personal
Not established

The first post reports just under $1m invested and roughly $800k home value after departure; an exact departure balance is not established.

Source
Posts2
2024
Post 01

Freedom feels worth the years of effort

“So although we could have saved more and could have done better growing our nest egg, all that hard work and chaos ultimately got me this freedom, which is priceless.”

u/breathedownRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Left work at 54 while a spouse continued some paid work.
  • Kept side projects and possible income as options for the next stage.

How it felt

  • Was excited about the future soon after leaving. “I'm very excited about the future”
  • Valued the control over time that earlier effort had made possible. “all that hard work and chaos ultimately got me this freedom, which is priceless.”
RecoveryFreedomChange
u/breathedown (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Publication date at available precision. Retirement milestones follow the author’s own count; a missing milestone is not inferred.

Opening retirement reflection and financial position.

Editorial summaries with short, attributed quotations. The original contains the full story.

2026Year 1.5
Post 02

Recovery becomes visible in hindsight

“The freedom is so fulfilling.”

u/breathedownRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent more time walking, resting and choosing activities at their own pace.
  • Continued working on fitness habits; side hustles had not become a major income source.

How it felt

  • Could recognize earlier burnout more clearly after time away. “The freedom is so fulfilling.”
  • Found fulfillment in choosing the next activity without an employer’s timetable. “Pausing to choose what to do next doesn't get old.”
RecoverySlowing downRoutine
u/breathedown (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Publication date at available precision. Retirement milestones follow the author’s own count; a missing milestone is not inferred.

Follow-up reflections on burnout, walks, side income and fitness.

Editorial summaries with short, attributed quotations. The original contains the full story.

See how these posts compare with other people’s experiences.

Research

Last checked Sep 2026. The accounts are self-reported. This timeline follows selected accounts, including recollections where labeled; it is not a complete archive.

  • The first financial snapshot follows departure and is not treated as an exact starting balance. A spouse continued part-time work and the author explored side income.
  • This is a selection of reviewed updates, not a complete account history. No later life outcome is inferred from the absence of another indexed post.

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