afterFI/RE Life after FI/RE
People
Selected life timeline 2017—2024

She quit her career. Years later, she quit performing retirement.

Tanja Hester left work at 38, then filled her freedom with books, events and obligations. Learning to slow down took longer than leaving her career. By 2024, she had stepped away from social media and the pressure to remain visible, making room for art, study and a life that no longer needed an audience.

Finances
Net worth at retirement2017-12 · Household
Not established

The author does not disclose an exact dollar amount. No estimate has been inferred from charts.

Source
Posts4
2018Year 1
Post 01

Freedom still needs negotiation

“I’m a person who’s passionate about too many things and loves throwing myself into projects… and therefore my early retirement looks jam-packed with stuff.”

Tanja Hester · Our Next LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Adjusted to daily life with Mark after both left work.
  • Balanced creative projects and social commitments with time together.

How it felt

  • Found that spontaneous days meant different things to each partner. “More time together doesn’t make for instant harmony.”
  • Realized that extra time still did not make every appealing activity possible. “You still can’t do everything.”
PartnersRoutineChange
Tanja Hester · Our Next Life (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Period described in the article; publication date is stored separately.

Relationships, Life and Travel sections.

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

2019Year 2
Post 02

Protecting time has its own costs

“I refuse to accomplish anything in the morning, and instead insist on having a long, leisurely breakfast every single day (exceptions: a flight to catch, or a powder day).”

Tanja Hester · Our Next LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Finished book promotion and limited scheduled commitments.
  • Protected leisurely mornings while keeping creative and service ambitions.

How it felt

  • Valued empty time but felt frustrated when desired projects barely moved. “Protecting my retired time feels paramount, but that has trade-offs”
  • Was firm about keeping mornings free from pressure to accomplish things. “I refuse to accomplish anything in the morning”
BoundariesPurposeCreativitySlowing down
Tanja Hester · Our Next Life (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Period described in the article; publication date is stored separately.

Learning how to be retired for real; Lessons We Learned in Year Two.

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

2021
Post 03

The things that mattered narrowed

“I’ve learned to care a lot less about the approval of others, and I don’t think that’ll ever go back.”

Tanja Hester · Our Next LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Wrote another book and established a garden during pandemic isolation.
  • Went without planned travel and ordinary contact with friends and family.

How it felt

  • Became more focused on seeing loved ones than on going somewhere new. “I can’t wait until I can hug my dad.”
  • Felt less need for other people’s approval. “I’ve learned to care a lot less about the approval of others”
FamilyFriendsSimplicityChange
Tanja Hester · Our Next Life (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Period described in the article; publication date is stored separately.

Clearer Perspective on What’s Important; Clearer Perspective on What’s Worth Leaving Behind.

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

2024
Post 04

Life without an audience

“I think I’ve actually, finally achieved that “next life” I was seeking.”

Tanja Hester · Our Next LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Stopped regular blogging and social-media engagement.
  • Completed ten German courses and spent more time on art, gardening and study.

How it felt

  • No longer felt the same need to remain publicly available or relevant. “I barely respond to email.”
  • Felt closer to the life she had wanted, while missing some friends’ updates. “I think I’ve actually, finally achieved that ‘next life’ I was seeking.”
IdentityCreativityCuriosityBoundaries
Tanja Hester · Our Next Life (opens in a new tab)
Notes

Period described in the article; publication date is stored separately.

Opening; Stepping Away from My Online Life; The Result; Life Today.

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.

  • Selected reflections cover 2018–2024; intervening posts are not all indexed.
  • The June 2024 post describes stepping back from public updates. No later personal activity is inferred from that silence.
  • Starting wealth is deliberately undisclosed.

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