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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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231–240 of 541 posts

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

2023 · Year 1.5

“Glad I leanFIREd, as I have grown a lot and realized a lot about myself.”

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

Life at the time

  • Took classes, cooked, played tennis and enjoyed unhurried days after leaving a burned-out career.
  • Faced market losses and a rejected job application while keeping a future return open.

How it felt

  • Described substantial personal growth during the time away. “I have grown a lot and realized a lot about myself.”
  • Had decided that continued accumulation was not worth staying in the old situation. “I wanted to keep piling up the cash, but it wasn't worth it.”
RecoveryCuriosityChange
u/peppers_
Read original postreddit.com

Adventure filled their early years. Writing and family made room for a quieter life.

2023 · Year 17

“No pressure, just the joy of creation.”

Robert & Robin CharltonRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Robert had written three science-fiction manuscripts and published a crossword.
  • They divided the year among their Colorado home, family visits and shorter trips.

How it felt

  • Creative work felt rewarding without financial pressure. “the joy of creation”
  • Frequent moves could make life feel divided and friendships harder to maintain. “Sometimes our lives feel segmented”
CreativityHomeFriends
Robert & Robin Charlton
Read original postretireearlylifestyle.com

He planned more hikes. Retirement also made room for his mother.

2023 · Year 1

“I'm so glad I didn't do either of those.”

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

Life at the time

  • Handled a stepfather’s death and a mother’s move into assisted living.
  • Kept a routine of weekday gym visits, hiking and games.

How it felt

  • Was glad not to have stayed another year or taken contract work. “I'm so glad I didn't do either of those.”
  • Valued the availability to respond when family needed help. “work would have just distracted from the necessary stuff.”
FamilyRoutineOutdoors
u/tbrookus
Read original postreddit.com

Selective assignments leave room for outdoor volunteering

Dec 2022Interview snapshot · published 2022

“The need to work has abated, and it’s amazing how quickly your thoughts are occupied by other matters.”

Post-FI Interviewee 022Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After retiring from his main role, the physician chose temporary assignments and mentoring, volunteered for an outdoor organization and traveled with his wife.

How it felt

  • He described a changed relationship with work when earning became optional. “The need to work has abated”
PurposeWorkTravel
Post-FI Interviewee 022
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

A health crisis changed the timetable for life on the road

Dec 2022

“We actually enjoy knuckling down and working for a few months here and there.”

Jed & KellyRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • The previous year combined five months working, one farm sitting and six travelling.
  • Kept two rental properties and continued reinvesting share dividends.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed working hard for a few months between trips. “We actually enjoy”
  • Wanted a lasting balance of paid work and exploration. “a balance that works for us”
TravelChangeFreedom
Jed & Kelly
Read original postmoneyflamingo.com

They left intense work for island time, then spent decades exploring.

Oct 2022 · Year 31

“We learned a lot, but that was sometimes difficult, confusing and unexpected to go through.”

Billy & Akaisha KaderliRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Their 2022 days in Chapala included markets, art and leisurely meals.
  • Travel and keeping in touch with far-flung friends remained central.

How it felt

  • They valued independence and a simpler daily life. “value our independence greatly”
  • They wished they had anticipated the original social pushback. “difficult, confusing and unexpected”
TravelSlowing downHome
Billy & Akaisha Kaderli
Read original postesimoney.com

They retired to travel the world. Then family life rewrote the plan.

Oct 2022 · Year 10

“By year 3, I didn’t think about it at all.”

Jeremy Jacobson · Go Curry CrackerRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Traveled less after the family grew.
  • Reported that many friendships formed through work had not stayed close.

How it felt

  • Did not see retirement as a guarantee of happiness. “Retirement doesn’t guarantee happiness”
  • Found that thoughts of work faded gradually, rather than disappearing on the last day. “By year 3, I didn’t think about it at all.”
RecoveryFriendsChange
Jeremy Jacobson · Go Curry Cracker
Read original postgocurrycracker.com

He escaped burnout. A family and a farm rewrote the retirement he bought.

Oct 2022

“bit off more than I can chew”

Captain FIRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Used time after leaving flying to recover and care for his seriously ill mother.
  • Took on a growing collection of websites.

How it felt

  • Questioned the habit of equating financial progress with personal worth. “net wealth = self worth”
  • Felt that website commitments had grown beyond the workload he wanted. “bit off more than I can chew”
RecoveryFamilyBoundaries
Captain FI
Read original postcaptainfi.com

Pickleball brought friends. Open time still made motivation harder.

Sep 2022Recalled in 2025

“I will continue to engage in the coaching for as long as it remains fulfilling.”

ESI Retiree 58Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Home projects and a pickleball class helped fill the transition.
  • A few coaching hours retained a useful part of her professional life.

How it felt

  • Adjustment was easier than she expected. “easier than I had anticipated”
  • Selective work remained fulfilling. “as long as it remains fulfilling”
FriendsRoutineTravel
ESI Retiree 58
Read original postesimoney.com

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

Sep 2022 · Year 2

“Well after all that, I have decided to give myself permission to slow down.”

A Purple LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent weeks in Thailand and Mexico, alongside visits to nine US states.
  • Began leaving recovery time between trips and revisiting familiar places.

How it felt

  • Her still-working partner helped put everyday inconveniences in perspective. “Tiny inconveniences are not real problems.”
  • Wanted permission to slow down even with more places available to visit. “I have decided to give myself permission to slow down.”
TravelSlowing downPartners
A Purple Life
Read original postapurplelife.com

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