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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 194 posts

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

2023 · Year 4

“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
Read original postreddit.com

The travel plan collapsed. A different home and a broader routine followed.

2023

“Every day is a school day, and I’m always up to learn something new.”

Leif DahleenRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent time on home projects, exercise, travel and outings with his sons.
  • Volunteered at vaccination clinics and built local connections.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed continuing to learn practical skills. “Every day is a school day”
  • Preferred a varied, active routine to idleness. “Idleness has never been a strong suit of mine.”
RoutineFamilyPurpose
Leif Dahleen
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

He planned more hikes. Retirement also made room for his mother.

2023 · Year 1

“I'm so glad I didn't do either of those.”

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

Life at the time

  • Handled a stepfather’s death and a mother’s move into assisted living.
  • Kept a routine of weekday gym visits, hiking and games.

How it felt

  • Was glad not to have stayed another year or taken contract work. “I'm so glad I didn't do either of those.”
  • Valued the availability to respond when family needed help. “work would have just distracted from the necessary stuff.”
FamilyRoutineOutdoors
u/tbrookus
Read original postreddit.com

He escaped burnout. A family and a farm rewrote the retirement he bought.

Oct 2022

“bit off more than I can chew”

Captain FIRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Used time after leaving flying to recover and care for his seriously ill mother.
  • Took on a growing collection of websites.

How it felt

  • Questioned the habit of equating financial progress with personal worth. “net wealth = self worth”
  • Felt that website commitments had grown beyond the workload he wanted. “bit off more than I can chew”
RecoveryFamilyBoundaries
Captain FI
Read original postcaptainfi.com

He quit the job. The laundry never ended.

Sep 2022 · Year 2.3

“Nothing about my retirement seems like a failure nor is there anything I regret.”

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

Life at the time

  • Parented a second child while repetitive household work filled the days.
  • Planned a remote automation contract and paid help with chores.

How it felt

  • Missed satisfying technical challenges while domestic tasks kept recurring. “But the laundry - it never stops.”
  • Did not see a return to work as evidence that retirement had failed. “Nothing about my retirement seems like a failure”
WorkParenthoodPurpose
u/enfier
Read original postreddit.com

He expected a new life. The reward was being an available father.

Sep 2022 · Year 1

“Now that I've had some experience of it, what strikes me about retirement is how normal it seems.”

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

Life at the time

  • Cooked, gardened, read and spent time swimming, walking and playing with a child.
  • Adapted to friends’ working hours and a spouse’s part-time job.

How it felt

  • Found retirement surprisingly normal rather than a permanent vacation high. “what strikes me about retirement is how normal it seems.”
  • Valued being available to a child without work competing for attention. “I can be there for him without any competing obligations.”
ParenthoodRoutineContentment
u/TheOrchardFI
Read original postreddit.com

It took a year to believe the vacation would not end.

Sep 2022 · Year 5

“I now understand that I lost valuable time “making sure” we were prepared.”

ESI Retiree 43Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Travel, exercise and a nearby circle of friends filled their weeks.
  • They made room for grandchildren and spontaneous RV trips.

How it felt

  • He valued being able to leave plans open. “we love retirement”
  • He regretted extra years spent making sure they were ready. “I lost valuable time”
RecoveryTravelFamily
ESI Retiree 43
Read original postesimoney.com

Financial independence gave their young family more ordinary adventures.

Sep 2022 · Year 3

“we’re able to create memories with people we love”

ESI Retiree 44Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Reading, exercise and property tasks mixed with family outdoor activities.
  • Weekday hikes and trips avoided weekend crowds.

How it felt

  • Availability helped strengthen family relationships. “present for family members”
  • He occasionally missed working with a team. “comradery and social aspects”
FamilyOutdoorsFreedom
ESI Retiree 44
Read original postesimoney.com

Full retirement follows a gradual reduction in work

Aug 2022Interview snapshot · published 2023-02

“I now have some hindsight…now retired, I can say I have a great relationship with my wife and grown kids.”

ESI Millionaire 350Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He moved from semi-retirement to full retirement in 2022, with golf, gym time, travel and volunteering among his intended activities.

How it felt

  • He valued the strong relationships with his wife and adult children that he had protected during his career. “I have a great relationship with my wife and grown kids.”
FamilyChangeRoutine
ESI Millionaire 350
Read original postesimoney.com

The deadlines disappeared quickly. The professional identity took longer.

Aug 2022 · Year 4

“It took a few years to be comfortable with saying that I am a retired person.”

ESI Retiree 41Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Walks, speaker-building and family visits filled a loose schedule.
  • A retirement association and old colleagues supplied some social contact.

How it felt

  • A retired identity had taken years to accept. “comfortable with saying”
  • The work itself was not missed, but shared accomplishments were. “sense of pride”
IdentityFamilyFriends
ESI Retiree 41
Read original postesimoney.com

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