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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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101–110 of 541 posts

He escaped Sunday-night dread. A decade later, even freedom needed downtime.

Mar 2025

“Some weeks we’re here at home in Raleigh relaxing and catching up with family and friends.”

Justin McCurry · Root of GoodRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Combined family travel, tax preparation and plans for more trips.
  • Alternated stretches at home with further adventures.

How it felt

  • Wanted to explore while travel remained enjoyable. “We can always rest when we’re ‘old’!”
  • Also valued time at home to rest and catch up with family and friends. “Some weeks we’re here at home in Raleigh relaxing and catching up with family and friends.”
TravelSlowing downRoutine
Justin McCurry · Root of Good
Read original postrootofgood.com

Family plans stop competing with work commitments

Feb 2025Interview snapshot · published 2025-04

“The past couple of years have been full of kid-related activities, and it’s been absolutely great to not have to be worried about conflicts between work and family plans.”

ESI Millionaire 443Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After leaving salaried work, the couple's days filled with their children's activities and physical activity.

How it felt

  • They valued freedom from scheduling conflicts, while keeping travel and a possible future work or volunteer role open. “not have to be worried about conflicts between work and family plans.”
FamilyFreedomChange
ESI Millionaire 443
Read original postesimoney.com

The layoff ended the waiting. Retirement became an experiment.

Jan 2025 · Year 0.5

“Ironically, I spent less time on one of my other passions once I had more free time (lost interest).”

u/anonymous_1983Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Completed the kitchen renovation and traveled extensively in Asia and elsewhere.
  • Cooked, baked and hiked, with a college teaching experiment planned next. “I will try my hand at teaching a course”

How it felt

  • Found that one old passion attracted less attention despite having more free time. “I spent less time on one of my other passions”
  • Hoped that interest might return once travel slowed.
TravelHomeCuriosity
u/anonymous_1983
Read original postreddit.com

The long commute gives way to summers with the children

Jan 2025Interview snapshot · published 2025-04

“I spend most of my time with my young kids.”

ESI Millionaire 442Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After leaving daily work in June 2023, he spent summers at a mountain home, played golf and coached his children's sports.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed the new balance while continuing to manage two industrial properties. “I spend most of my time with my young kids.”
FamilyHomeOutdoors
ESI Millionaire 442
Read original postesimoney.com

He enjoyed becoming less important. Moving away from friends was the harder change.

Jan 2025 · Year 2.75

“There is real peacefulness in being unimportant.”

ESI Retiree 56Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Exercise, home projects, live music and trips filled their Florida days.
  • Old friends visited while new local connections grew slowly.

How it felt

  • He found relief in no longer being professionally important. “real peacefulness in being unimportant”
  • Financial optimization still occupied more mental space than expected. “money remains a topic in my head”
ChangeFriendsIdentity
ESI Retiree 56
Read original postesimoney.com

He planned an ambitious first year. Even a favorite hobby could become too much.

Jan 2025 · Year 1

“I made it about 50% through my list, and then my enthusiasm burned out.”

ESI Retiree 57Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • By the January review, he had traveled for nearly half the year.
  • Walking increased, while an ambitious opera project paused halfway through.

How it felt

  • He was happy with the first year overall. “really happy”
  • The favorite art form had lost its appeal when pursued too intensively. “my enthusiasm burned out”
TravelCuriosityBoundaries
ESI Retiree 57
Read original postesimoney.com

He left the job. His own projects took over the calendar.

2025 · Year 5

“As stated in prior check-ins, making newer friends continues to be a struggle.”

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

Life at the time

  • Devoted much of the calendar to building a cabin.
  • Planned a six-week break; it had not yet been reported as completed.

How it felt

  • Recognized a familiar tendency to push a voluntary project too hard. “There is no reason I need to go so hard.”
  • Still found it difficult to build new friendships. “making newer friends continues to be a struggle.”
CreativitySlowing downFriends
u/FireBoundSoon
Read original postreddit.com

A year without work proved the exit was real.

2025

“It has been 2 weeks since my last day of work and I've really enjoyed the time off.”

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

Life at the time

  • Began a deliberate trial of life without work.
  • Kept cash accessible instead of immediately paying off the mortgage.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed the first two weeks away without a return date looming. “I've really enjoyed the time off.”
  • Wanted financial flexibility while testing whether the break could continue. “I simply don't want to tie up the money”
RecoveryFreedomChange
u/Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy
Read original postreddit.com

Creative freedom did not replace the feeling of making a difference

2025 · At departureRecalled in 2025

“I didn't love the nitty gritty of the day to day work and was happy to be done with it”

u/gkr974Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Left federal employment at a natural stopping point.
  • Continued enjoyable part-time university teaching alongside hobbies and friends.

How it felt

  • Was happy to leave the daily details of the old job. “happy to be done with it”
  • Expected more time for creative work, including a novel. “which I enjoy”
WorkPurpose
u/gkr974
Read original postreddit.com

Full days did not settle the identity question

2025Recalled in 2026

“I felt challenged and nourished physically despite the discomfort of pregnancy.”

u/sky-high-dragon-flyRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Organized toddler classes, playdates and parent groups.
  • Learned piano, exercised and read regularly during pregnancy.

How it felt

  • Felt physically nourished and free of job stress. “challenged and nourished physically”
  • Missed intellectual challenge and worried about being left behind professionally. “under-stimulated intellectually”
ParenthoodIdentity
u/sky-high-dragon-fly
Read original postreddit.com

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