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Explore turning points, everyday joys and unexpected challenges after financial independence or retirement, with the date and original source for each account.

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91–100 of 541 posts

He could afford an ambitious bucket list. He learned to leave days empty.

Jul 2025

“I embrace that at some I will fail, but for me, its more important to try than to always succeed.”

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

Life at the time

  • Read, ran, grew fruit and learned new skills.
  • Kept a longer list of ambitions, many still ahead rather than completed.

How it felt

  • Felt able to attempt things without needing every attempt to succeed. “Failure is always an option”
  • Valued trying more than maintaining a perfect record of achievements. “its more important to try than to always succeed.”
CuriosityOutdoorsCreativity
u/jayybonelie
Read original postreddit.com

Financial safety opened into a brighter home and deeper friendships

Jun 2025

“I would say the prize has been peace and a truly calm state of mind.”

London A Long Time AgoRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Reading and new interests filled time after decompression.
  • She practiced drawing down a designated pool of money.

How it felt

  • She felt calmer and optimistic. “peace”
  • Financial safety reduced her interest in constant portfolio attention. “feel safe”
RecoveryHomeFriends
London A Long Time Ago
Read original postmonevator.com

A little golf-course work after project management

Jun 2025Interview snapshot · published 2025-08

“The worst part is losing friends and family to death, just part of getting older.”

ESI Millionaire 306Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After leaving project management, he worked about ten hours weekly at a golf course while his wife changed jobs following their move.

How it felt

  • He described both partners as more relaxed, while losses among friends and family tempered the new stage. “The worst part is losing friends and family to death”
WorkPartnersFriends
ESI Millionaire 306
Read original postesimoney.com

Pickleball brought friends. Open time still made motivation harder.

Jun 2025 · Year 2.75

“As someone who has never struggled with motivation, I now find it difficult at times to self-motivate.”

ESI Retiree 58Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Pickleball and winter stays in Costa Rica were regular activities.
  • A new grandson added another reason to protect family time.

How it felt

  • Freedom reduced stress but sometimes reduced motivation too. “difficult at times to self-motivate”
  • She reminded herself that downtime was acceptable. “downtime is acceptable”
FriendsRoutineTravel
ESI Retiree 58
Read original postesimoney.com

Less stress made room for more life. Choosing the right challenges took longer.

May 2025 · Year 1

“I am better rested and feel more calm.”

Amber R. FieldRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Workouts, part-time teaching, writing and relaxed afternoons shaped her days.
  • She deliberately arranged gym sessions, walks and coffees with friends.

How it felt

  • She felt calmer and had more energy for her children. “I am better rested”
  • She missed the automatic contact and shared problem-solving of work. “I miss having co-workers”
RecoveryFriendsFamily
Amber R. Field
Read original postamberrfield.com

The freedom was immediate; chosen structure came later

May 2025

“It’s been freeing.”

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

Life at the time

  • Caught up on household projects and spent more time with extended family.
  • Dealt with paperwork and reimbursements during the insurance transition.

How it felt

  • Felt detached from unfinished work almost immediately. “I’ve completely detached”
  • Found it freeing to spend within the planned budget instead of obsessing over portfolio size. “It’s been freeing.”
RoutineFamily
u/FiredUpForTheFuture
Read original postreddit.com

A prepared exit opens time for family, theatre and service

Apr 2025

“not hoping to have it tested so soon”

Manish Sabu · Retire@55Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He was staying in India after his January retirement.
  • He reviewed his portfolio and carried out tax-related trades during volatility.

How it felt

  • He had not expected the plan to be tested so quickly. “not hoping to have it tested so soon”
  • He reported feeling unconcerned about missing some future market upside. “I am not concerned at all”
FamilyCreativityPurpose
Manish Sabu · Retire@55
Read original postdiyretire55.wordpress.com

He escaped the night calls. Then had to give himself permission to relax.

Apr 2025 · Year 1

“I gave myself a year to be purposefully bored, allowing myself to indulge in my whims and fancies. (This blog is one of them).”

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

Life at the time

  • Had more family dinners, exercise and time to build a computer with a child.
  • Left space in the first year while rebuilding structure and identity.

How it felt

  • Deliberately allowed boredom instead of rushing into another packed calendar. “I gave myself a year to be purposefully bored”
  • Valued the time gained from leaving work. “I love the time.”
FamilyRecoveryIdentity
u/lifeistoughasfuck
Read original postreddit.com

They could afford freedom. Agreeing on what it meant was harder.

Mar 2025

“I am working on creating and enforcing healthier boundaries.”

Chris MamulaRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Pursued counseling and a couples retreat.
  • Worked on clearer expectations and healthier boundaries.

How it felt

  • Recognized that a better external situation would not automatically repair the relationship. “It Won’t Be Better When”
  • Was still working on separating his own well-being from his wife’s happiness. “I am working on creating and enforcing healthier boundaries.”
PartnersBoundariesIdentity
Chris Mamula
Read original postcaniretireyet.com

The fun jobs were fun—until the phone could ring.

Mar 2025 · Year 3

“I don't like having 'the phone call' hanging over my head and inevitably I have plans already when they ask because I'm not thinking "I need to keep Friday open in case they get busy".”

u/Visible_Structure483Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Kept a low-paid optional job alongside learning, travel and friendships.
  • Spent some time separately from a spouse who continued working.

How it felt

  • Disliked the possibility of being called in, even when the work itself had appeal. “I don't like having 'the phone call' hanging over my head”
  • Appreciated an expanding circle of friends. “My circle of friends is expanding”
WorkFreedomFriends
u/Visible_Structure483
Read original postreddit.com

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