afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2012—2024

The search for useful days eventually became an overflowing calendar

Sam Dogen left banking in 2012 and gave writing a scheduled place in his new freedom. More than a decade later, parenting and social commitments kept him constantly occupied, illustrating how the challenge can shift from finding purpose to managing abundance.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2012 · Household
Not established

Departure balance not disclosed in the reviewed narrative sources.

Source
Posts2
2014
Post 01Recalled in 2025

Writing gave freedom a purpose

““Feeling useful” is probably the single most important attribute I've needed to experience during this time away.”

Sam Dogen / Financial SamuraiRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Used a morning production schedule to write before enjoying the rest of the day.
  • Experimented with a book, extended travel and an advertising business.

How it felt

  • Wanted to feel useful after leaving full-time work. “Feeling useful”
  • Found writing particularly satisfying and missed it after days away. “extremely satisfying”
PurposeParenthoodRoutine
Sam Dogen / Financial Samurai (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Source explicitly frames main narrative as March 2014; page later refreshed June 2025. Excludes later 2024 annotations and later parenthood/book additions.

Explicit March 2014 opening; You’ll eventually find what you really want to do

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

2024
Post 02

A busy household replaced boredom

“Now, 12 years after leaving work, I’m constantly busy with parenting, school functions, and social events.”

Sam Dogen / Financial SamuraiRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Parenting, school functions and social events now filled his calendar.
  • Continued writing a regular financial newsletter.

How it felt

  • No longer described retirement as boring. “constantly busy”
  • Sometimes felt overwhelmed by the amount going on. “overwhelming at times”
PurposeParenthoodRoutine
Sam Dogen / Financial Samurai (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Dated author publication describing current life

Don’t Fear Boredom in Retirement

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.

  • Only the cited dated experiences are verified; later developments are not inferred.
  • Selected public self-reports, not a complete archive or independent verification of finances.

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