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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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151–160 of 541 posts

Six months off revealed a taste for short contracts

Jun 2024 · Year 0.5Recalled in 2024

Life at the time

  • Spent the first six months without paid work.
  • Devoted time to children, getting fitter and household projects.

How it felt

  • Work stress took about three months to ease. “Took about 3 months”
  • Eventually became bored enough to accept a small contract. “Got a bit bored”

They built a busy life in Nicaragua. Eighteen years later, another adventure beckoned.

May 2024 · Year 18

Life at the time

  • Pickleball and golf had become regular activities.
  • They were considering Mexico or Italy, without having completed a move.

How it felt

  • They enjoyed their life and expressed no regrets. “We have no regrets”
  • Leaving established friendships would make a new beginning harder. “start over again”

She loved being retired. She still needed a reason to use her brain.

May 2024 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Sold her car, moved to Japan and started a year of language school.
  • Set out to spend more freely on food and experiences.

How it felt

  • Saw school as an answer to missing social contact and intellectual challenge; the longer-term result was still open. “Moving to Japan and studying Japanese is my solution to both of them.”
  • Was deliberately practicing enjoyment of her money. “I'm trying to flex my spending muscle”

An open-ended break reveals a comfortable spending level

May 2024Interview snapshot · published 2024-09

Life at the time

  • A year into indefinite time away from work, the couple found themselves spending below their planned ceiling and enjoying an active lifestyle.

How it felt

  • He was more concerned about waiting too long to leave work than about having left too soon. “I’m more worried about waiting too long”

His focus shifted from the portfolio to people, learning and longer trips.

May 2024 · Year 4

Life at the time

  • Six service roles and a three-month Costa Rica stay widened his activities.
  • The couple also spent six weeks exploring Portugal.

How it felt

  • New experiences had displaced much of his former financial preoccupation. “living life has been fantastic”
  • He missed his parents and noticed the recovery time his sports required. “I miss them both dearly”

The urge to build another career gave way to family life

Apr 2024

Life at the time

  • Uses blocks of personal project time around the children’s routine.
  • Runs, swims, cooks and helps with household tasks.

How it felt

  • The urge to make money from new interests is finally easing. “not feel the monetary tug”
  • Feels grateful for family time and a stronger relationship with his spouse. “never been better”

A stunned last workday became five months of slow travel

Mar 2024 · At departureRecalled in 2025

Life at the time

  • Finished work after a negotiated three-month transition.
  • Celebrated with her husband, then sat quietly together.

How it felt

  • Felt stunned that they had finally achieved their plan. “We had done it.”
  • Savored a moment she says she will never forget. “just sat stunned”

A freer calendar did not instantly make spending easy

Mar 2024

Life at the time

  • Woke without an alarm, researched investments and cooked dinner.
  • Made lunch dates and golf outings while keeping afternoons flexible.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed autonomy and had no wish to return to traditional employment. “Boredom has not been a problem.”
  • Still found withdrawals painful and sometimes worried about money. “It hurts every time”

A lean Quebec life made room for writing

Mar 2024 · Year 2.83

Life at the time

  • Finished a science-fiction novel while continuing retirement in Quebec.
  • Discussed the lifestyle with journalists, local television and a radio host.

How it felt

  • Continued enjoying free time, relationships and personal interests. “continued to enjoy my retirement”
  • Found skeptical reactions amusing and wanted the example to help others. “I want to help my fellow travelers.”

The budget changed. So did the person living on it.

Mar 2024 · Year 2.5

Life at the time

  • Took ceramics and construction classes, played tennis and considered writing.
  • Revised the budget and kept study, work and moving as possibilities.

How it felt

  • Found ceramics especially rewarding for learning, making things and regular company. “Ceramics class was just the best.”
  • Had not settled what the rest of life should look like. “I'm still working out what I want to do with my life.”

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