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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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111–120 of 194 posts

The surgeon identity loosened as ordinary days gained room

Dec 2021

“I have ample time to do everything I want, but I do not get bored.”

PoF Post-FI 12Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Dog walks, exercise and home projects shaped ordinary days.
  • He could fly out to help elderly relatives.

How it felt

  • He appreciated his ample free time without boredom. “do not get bored”
  • He still missed the relationships and satisfaction of surgery. “prestige and satisfaction”
IdentityRoutineFamily
PoF Post-FI 12
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

When the plan worked, the spreadsheet became less interesting

Dec 2021Recalled in 2022

“Writing helps me organise my thoughts and it’s probably one of my favourite pastimes at the moment.”

Mrs. FlamingoRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Celebrated the first semi-retirement anniversary alongside the second child’s first birthday.
  • Published six articles and worked individually with readers.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed writing as a way to organize her thoughts. “Our focus has definitely shifted”
  • Felt family and health deserved more attention than monthly financial tracking. “one of my favourite pastimes”
FamilyFreedomBoundaries
Mrs. Flamingo
Read original postmoneyflamingo.com

Leaving the office made space for a daughter’s firsts

Nov 2021 · Year 0.25

“formatting my brain clean”

u/Witty-Strain104Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent a month with family in an ancestral village.
  • Resumed teaching and educational content without an employer’s timetable.

How it felt

  • Village life could be boring, yet felt mentally cleansing. “formatting my brain clean”
  • Enjoyed the chosen work enough that it rarely felt like work. “I love doing it”
ParenthoodFreedom
u/Witty-Strain104
Read original postreddit.com

Part-time travel helped a physician find his place at home

Sep 2021

“So far, I don’t miss work at all.”

PoF Post-FI 1Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • In Mexico, he taught and graded his teenagers’ classes.
  • Regular meetups with local and expat families built connections.

How it felt

  • He no longer missed work. “don’t miss work at all”
  • He preferred retirement after finding a place in family life. “prefer retired life”
ParenthoodIdentityTravel
PoF Post-FI 1
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

Full retirement starts with a backlog of responsibilities

Sep 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021

“Now that we are getting caught up it’s becoming less stressful.”

ESI Retiree 31Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After earlier teaching and programming work, full retirement brought family care, household repairs, exercise and reading.

How it felt

  • The first months felt more hectic than employment, but getting caught up reduced the stress. “it’s becoming less stressful.”
RoutineFamilyRecovery
ESI Retiree 31
Read original postesimoney.com

He left surgery for adventure. Grandchildren changed the destination.

Sep 2021

“All in all, I like my retired life better.”

Cory FawcettRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • His wife temporarily returned to work.
  • The assignment reduced their shared flexibility for family visits and travel.

How it felt

  • Missed the routine they had enjoyed when both were retired. “I like my retired life better.”
  • Also appreciated her enthusiasm for helping through the temporary role. “It’s fun to see her excited about helping out.”
PartnersFamily
Cory Fawcett
Read original postfinancialsuccessmd.com

Leaving the military leads straight into family care

Aug 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021-08

“I need to join a caregiver support group soon.”

ESI Millionaire 277Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After a long military career, he became a full-time caregiver for a parent, with daily life centered on those responsibilities.

How it felt

  • He recognized a need for better balance and support, and had not settled a longer-term retirement plan. “I need to join a caregiver support group soon.”
FamilyPurposeChange
ESI Millionaire 277
Read original postesimoney.com

Leaving at thirty-four brought room to explore—and discomfort with withdrawals

Jul 2021Recalled in 2021

“I enjoy the quiet it seems to give my mind.”

ESI Millionaire 53Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Running became a new hobby.
  • He used summer for family time and exploration.

How it felt

  • Running quieted his mind. “quiet”
  • Withdrawing money felt harder than expected. “harder than I expected”
IdentityMoneyParenthood
ESI Millionaire 53
Read original postesimoney.com

The worry about boredom gave way to crowded days of discovery

Jul 2021Recalled in 2021

“We want to take our time to find out what makes us happy!”

The Life JumpersRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Both quit their jobs and began a nomadic life.
  • They returned to their home countries in Europe.

How it felt

  • She wondered whether she would become bored. “I thought I would get bored”
  • They wanted room to discover what made them happy. “take our time”
CuriosityTravelFamily
The Life Jumpers
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

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