afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2018—2020

He already had enough. It took a second job to recognize the choice.

A military pension made paid work optional, but he first followed the expected path into contracting. Financial coaching, a book and nonprofit work eventually offered a more satisfying use of his time.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2018 · Household
$700,000

Reported as just above $700,000, including home equity and education savings. Excludes military pension and medical benefits, which were central to the plan.

Source
Posts2
2018
Post 01Recalled in 2020

Testing another job

“a healthy combination of paid and volunteer work, all by choice rather than need.”

ESI Retiree 22Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He reduced contracting hours before leaving paid employment.
  • Chosen projects mixed compensated work and volunteering.

How it felt

  • Helping others felt more rewarding than the contractor role. “thoroughly enjoying the new projects”
  • Recognizing financial independence widened his options. “freedom to choose”
PurposeWorkFreedom
ESI Retiree 22 (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Earlier period recalled in the account published 2020-06-05; this is not a separately published contemporary update. The earlier year is approximate.

Retirement life / personal reflection; exact short excerpt: thoroughly enjoying the new projects

Retirement life / personal reflection; exact short excerpt: freedom to choose

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

2020Year 2
Post 02

Recognizing that enough was enough

“really enjoy”

ESI Retiree 22Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Exercise, nonprofit work and reading occupied much of the school day.
  • He had published his book and was speaking at conferences.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed the growing contribution. “really enjoy”
  • He regretted spending additional years in work he found unfulfilling. “unfulfilling work”
PurposeWorkFreedom
ESI Retiree 22 (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Dated first-person reflection; the observation date follows the interview month where stated, which can precede publication.

Retirement life / personal reflection; exact short excerpt: really enjoy

Retirement life / personal reflection; exact short excerpt: unfulfilling work

Retirement overview and reported duration.

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.

  • These are selected first-person accounts, not a complete life history. Later circumstances may differ.
  • Financial figures and household circumstances are self-reported and are not independently verified.
  • The first moment is a retrospective account of an earlier period, except where explicitly identified as a reproduced journal entry.
  • An exact age at final departure was not established; an age reported later is not substituted.

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