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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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131–140 of 177 posts

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

Dec 2019 · Year 2

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”

Teaching stayed; the career’s daily stress did not

Dec 2019

Life at the time

  • Continued as adjunct faculty and celebrated her birthday with family.
  • Used blogging relationships to develop writing and photography.

How it felt

  • Felt satisfied and energized by university teaching. “walking around campus brings me peace”
  • Appreciated freedom from the old job’s daily stress. “not spend my days dealing with stress”

Semi-retirement still includes a business

Nov 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

Life at the time

  • As a staffing-company co-owner, he worked to his own schedule and avoided the office commute when possible.

How it felt

  • He described an excellent work-life balance, while also acknowledging some struggle with being semi-retired. “I’m kind of semi-retired and I’m struggling with that a bit.”

Permission to enjoy retirement takes time

Jul 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

Life at the time

  • After leaving a second consulting career, he did some oil prospecting and served on a school-board finance committee while becoming more involved in church.

How it felt

  • It took nearly two years to feel comfortable, with guilt possibly connected to his wife still working. “It’s taken me the better part of two years to get really comfortable with retirement.”

Loving freedom and still feeling unsettled

Jun 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

Life at the time

  • She attended classes and theater, met friends and learned canasta, while her husband's work schedule limited longer trips.

How it felt

  • She loved not working but sometimes felt uncertain about purpose; talking through the transition had helped. “I do feel unsettled at times.”

She left her title behind. Time together mattered more as health changed.

Jun 2019 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Exercise, cooking, gardening and a book club filled ordinary days.
  • She made time for friendships and caring for her partner.

How it felt

  • His declining health was an unwelcome surprise. “biggest ‘bad’ surprise”
  • Being free to care for him felt especially valuable. “so happy”

An empty calendar felt directionless. Useful commitments gradually brought him back.

Jun 2019 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Local committees, triathlon training and beekeeping supplied variety.
  • Occasional consulting and ski instruction retained useful skills.

How it felt

  • Experimenting helped him find activities that fit. “things began to click”
  • He still spent more time alone than he wanted. “I’m still alone quite a bit.”

Part-time engineering is an experiment in letting go

Jun 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

Life at the time

  • He reduced engineering and consulting work, leaving time for family, exercise, travel and developing interests beyond his career.

How it felt

  • He valued control of his schedule but found it difficult to build new friendships and avoid defaulting to work. “My current semi-retirement is an experiment of sorts.”

Flying and service gave an unexpectedly early exit direction

May 2019

Life at the time

  • Runs, voluntary work and legislative meetings structured days.
  • Flying and short road trips supplied recreation.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed choosing his own schedule. “doing what I want”
  • The speed of passing retirement time surprised him. “time passes”

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