afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2019—2026

Leaving work was the easy part. The house kept sending bills.

u/hows_my_fi remains emphatic about leaving work at 45. The complications came elsewhere: a market slump, a partner’s unexpected job offer, a move and another roof. Across seven years, the relief survives repeated budget shocks. This is retirement with a full life and an uneven expense ledger, rather than a plan that runs untouched.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2019 · Personal
$1,500,000

Approximate amount from the author’s linked departure-post title; its asset boundaries are not established here.

Source
Posts3
2023Year 4
Post 01

Relief survives a falling portfolio

“I have been actively avoiding looking closely at my accounts”

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

Life at the time

  • Dealt with repairs, upgrades and spending above the usual budget.
  • Kept time for personal interests and regular family visits.

How it felt

  • Remained convinced that leaving work had improved his life. “FI/RE is still the best thing for my sanity”
  • Market declines still caused enough discomfort that he avoided inspecting accounts. “I have been actively avoiding looking closely at my accounts”
RecoveryMoneyFamily
u/hows_my_fi (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Update date at the available precision. Recollections, current circumstances and future plans are distinguished in the summary.

Financial section and closing reflection.

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

2025Year 6
Post 02

A partner’s opportunity moves the household

“My partner got an amazing job offer out of the blue but we had to relocate.”

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

Life at the time

  • Sold the home and relocated after his partner received a job offer. “we had to relocate”
  • Bought another home and sold investments to create a larger cash buffer. “I sold some stocks to make a bigger ‘buffer’”

How it felt

  • Retirement gave the household flexibility to follow a partner’s career.
  • Wanted less worry about day-to-day market moves.
PartnersHomeChange
u/hows_my_fi (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Update date at the available precision. Recollections, current circumstances and future plans are distinguished in the summary.

Relocation narrative and basic numbers.

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

2026Year 7
Post 03

A full calendar and another roof

“I'm usually so busy doing my own stuff I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”

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

Life at the time

  • Handled another roof replacement and ongoing work on the new home.
  • Stayed busy with personal activities while annual outgoings reached roughly $87,000.

How it felt

  • Had little desire to fit a regular job back into his days. “I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”
  • Hoped the next year would bring fewer expensive surprises. “Hopefully this year will be a little less expensive.”
HomeRoutineContentment
u/hows_my_fi (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Update date at the available precision. Recollections, current circumstances and future plans are distinguished in the summary.

Opening, house repairs and total expenses.

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

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.

  • Three later updates are selected from a departure post and seven linked annual installments.
  • Reported net worth in 2025 and 2026 explicitly excludes the home; the earlier starting amount has a less precise definition.
  • 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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