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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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21–30 of 541 posts

An unexpected exit slowly became a retirement she chose

Jul 2026

“the freedom, the flexibility, the contentment”

Leanne / Cresting the HillRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Both spouses were retired, taking local trips outside school holidays.
  • Spent time walking, reading and seeing family; she visited her mother weekly.

How it felt

  • Felt content with freedom and flexibility rather than big plans. “contentment costs next to nothing”
  • Found earlier fears about the loss of wages and timetables had eased. “the freedom, the flexibility, the contentment”
HomeSlowing downPartners
Leanne / Cresting the Hill
Read original postcrestingthehill.com.au

Freedom became years of showing up for four children

Jul 2026 · Year 11.5

“Probably the best part”

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

Life at the time

  • Had volunteered over1,000hours at the children’s elementary school.
  • Shared outings, crafts and meals without missing school events.

How it felt

  • Considered raising the children retirement’s best part. “Probably the best part”
  • Felt grateful to have maximized time together before adulthood. “super grateful”
ParenthoodFamily
u/Zphr
Read original postreddit.com

She expected new ambitions. First came a welcome, quiet pause.

Jul 2026 · Year 2

“I love not setting an alarm and having full authority over my schedule.”

Elizabeth GeorgeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Writing, exercise, short trips and occasional consulting shaped her life.
  • Social groups and outings supplied some contact beyond home.

How it felt

  • She prized autonomy but missed the daily company of driven colleagues. “full authority over my schedule”
  • She resisted turning every new interest into another growth target. “arbitrary goals”
RecoveryFreedomCreativity
Elizabeth George
Read original postesimoney.com

He left London for family. Freedom soon needed boundaries of its own.

Jun 2026 · Year 3

“Right now, I'm lacking a bit on the fitness front, but the freedom and fulfillment are at an all-time high.”

u/Burner_123_123_123Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Married, pursued new ventures and continued traveling.
  • Began wanting a steadier home base as constant movement grew less appealing.

How it felt

  • Remained enthusiastic about the freedom and fulfillment of retirement. “the freedom and fulfillment are at an all-time high.”
  • Recognized that being under the same roof did not guarantee meaningful time together. “Spending time living under the same roof with someone doesn’t guarantee that time is quality time.”
FamilyTravel fatigueChange
u/Burner_123_123_123
Read original postreddit.com

Retirement gave him time. A diagnosis showed why that mattered.

Jun 2026 · Year 2.5

“I'm extremely grateful to be alive and cancer free but we are not taking anything for granted.”

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

Life at the time

  • Reported being cancer-free, with travel and family life regaining space.
  • Considered longer stays in Europe and Asia as children approached or entered college.

How it felt

  • Was looking forward without assuming that recovery guaranteed the future. “we are not taking anything for granted.”
  • Wanted to avoid indefinitely postponing meaningful experiences. “Tomorrow is not promised”
FamilyTravelChange
u/jgatcomb
Read original postreddit.com

Leaving work was the easy part. The house kept sending bills.

Jun 2026 · Year 7

“I'm usually so busy doing my own stuff I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”

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

Life at the time

  • Handled another roof replacement and ongoing work on the new home.
  • Stayed busy with personal activities while annual outgoings reached roughly $87,000.

How it felt

  • Had little desire to fit a regular job back into his days. “I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”
  • Hoped the next year would bring fewer expensive surprises. “Hopefully this year will be a little less expensive.”
HomeRoutineContentment
u/hows_my_fi
Read original postreddit.com

He could afford an ambitious bucket list. He learned to leave days empty.

Jun 2026 · Year 3

“Deleting social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc has freed up so much cognitive cycles and reduced my anxiety while increasing my satisfaction with life.”

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

Life at the time

  • Allowed more quiet, unplanned time alongside exercise.
  • Reduced social media use.

How it felt

  • Was becoming more comfortable slowing down without filling every hour. “Its okay to slow down and have lots of quiet unplanned time.”
  • Felt that leaving social platforms returned time and attention. “I feel like I regained my power and so much more time.”
Slowing downFreedomFamily
u/jayybonelie
Read original postreddit.com

Family and projects filled the hours. Years later, the pace still belonged to him.

Jun 2026

“I do feel guilty when I am not helping out at home.”

re-ynd · Retired at 37Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • His older daughter needed less time, leaving more room for personal interests.
  • Household tasks, exercise and short project sessions shared the day.

How it felt

  • He sometimes felt guilty when he was not helping at home. “I do feel guilty”
  • He accepted interruptions and valued slowing down over achieving more. “I don’t mind it at all”
FamilySlowing downRoutine
re-ynd · Retired at 37
Read original postretired.re-ynd.com

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

Jun 2026

“After 5 years of planning how to pop around the world every month and creating perfectly interlocking travel plans, I burned myself out.”

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

Life at the time

  • Renewed the apartment lease with her partner.
  • Expected travel to occupy about a quarter of 2026, leaving more time near family.

How it felt

  • Recognized burnout after years of arranging the next move. “I burned myself out.”
  • Planning trips had changed from a pleasure into an obligation; some trips made home seem more appealing. “travel planning went from something I would wake up early excited to do, to something I was obligated to do”
HomeTravel fatigueFamily
A Purple Life
Read original postapurplelife.com

A frightening first year gave way to contented home days

May 2026 · Year 1.33

“Mathematically, I know we can spend more, but we have everything we want right now.”

u/Widget248953Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Cooks from scratch with a spouse and walks the dog twice daily.
  • Tends berries and vegetables, trying to grow the garden from seed.

How it felt

  • Feels more comfortable with retirement. “more comfortable with it now”
  • Sees little reason to spend more when current life already feels satisfying. “we have everything we want”
EnoughHome
u/Widget248953
Read original postreddit.com

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