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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.

Age
Wealth
Years
Posts
191–200 of 541 posts

When the plan worked, the spreadsheet became less interesting

Oct 2023

Life at the time

  • Reduced publishing and stopped trying to grow the blog.
  • Kept working while saving for family experiences rather than adding to the FI portfolio.

How it felt

  • Felt she had achieved the autonomy she wanted. “We Have Arrived”
  • Found beginner FI discussions less relevant to a satisfying everyday life. “a level of optionality that feels liberating”

She escaped the office. Then burned out planning the next trip.

Oct 2023 · Year 3

Life at the time

  • Planned fewer outings, slept longer when needed and made room for reading. “I planned less things to do and enjoyed a good book”
  • Still spent more than three months abroad, including Singapore and Australia.

How it felt

  • Recognized that an overfull schedule could exhaust her even without a job. “And that just won’t do in retirement!”
  • Valued quiet time alongside travel, rather than treating every possibility as an obligation.

He could go anywhere. Six years later, he wanted to stay home.

Sep 2023 · Year 5

Life at the time

  • Traveled in China and spent a month near Big Bend.
  • Considered more hobbies and commitments near home, including disc golf.

How it felt

  • Felt some aimlessness about what should come next. “I think I'm running out of ideas for things to do.”
  • Explicitly distinguished that uncertainty from boredom or stress. “I'm not bored or stressed”

A market crash threatened the journey; a seaside home later felt enough

Sep 2023

Life at the time

  • They lived in a modest home bought in2019.
  • Investment research and postponed activities occupied his days.

How it felt

  • He liked their seaside town immensely. “like it immensely”
  • He no longer felt a need to pass through airports. “never go into an airport again”

School runs anchored the first months while spending confidence grew

Sep 2023

Life at the time

  • He tracked the first salary-free year against their spending forecast.
  • He tried easing small self-imposed spending restrictions.

How it felt

  • He felt grateful, with uncertainty still returning at times. “pinch myself”
  • Distance from his former employer was softening negative feelings. “slowly fading”

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

Sep 2023 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Tried museums, travel with a child, audio courses, games and community gardening.
  • Continued adjusting the mix of learning, leisure, service and family.

How it felt

  • Did not regard a satisfying balance as something solved once and for all. “I expect it'll be a lifelong quest to get this balance just right.”
  • Appreciated having time to continue experimenting. “Luckily for me, I have all the time I need.”

Gardening replaces the paid day she could not let go

Sep 2023 · Year 5

Life at the time

  • Gardens and an allotment supplied much of the household’s fresh food.
  • She created a hospice kitchen garden and took occasional nursery work.

How it felt

  • She felt more financially secure after several unpredictable years. “I love my everyday”
  • She loved ordinary days and valued being available for family. “I think that’s enough.”

Computer science gives way to cooking and music

Sep 2023Interview snapshot · published 2024-03

Life at the time

  • After leaving government computer science, she earned a culinary arts degree, learned piano and harp, and began studying nutrition.

How it felt

  • She described gratitude for retirement and pleasure in pursuing her own interests. “Already retired and loving it…so grateful.”

Retirement became better when hobbies stopped being assignments

Sep 2023 · At departure

Life at the time

  • Spent his first weekdays at home, where he had already worked remotely.
  • Downloaded a game-development tool while considering writing and game-making hobbies.

How it felt

  • Feels mostly relaxed and happy, but unsure how settled those feelings are. “relaxed and happy about the change”
  • Is working out the balance between staying active and allowing rest. “letting myself relax and enjoy myself”

Community service continues after corporate work

Aug 2023Interview snapshot · published 2024-01

Life at the time

  • After retiring from corporate sales at 61, he continued serving on the local town council for a modest payment.

How it felt

  • He valued community involvement and wished he had adjusted his work-centered habits earlier. “get involved in their local community on some level”

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