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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 55 posts

Unhurried mornings and creative afternoons

Nov 2023Interview snapshot · published 2024-04

Life at the time

  • Retirement days included coffee and reading, followed by home projects, woodworking, quilt-making, social contact and cycling.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed retirement and the absence of deadlines after years in always-on operations management. “I have truly enjoyed every day of retirement.”

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.”

FI/RE becomes parenthood and a small software business

2023Recalled in 2026

Life at the time

  • His second child arrived while relatives helped with childcare.
  • He released paid features for his Japanese-learning app and met his initial revenue target.

How it felt

  • Building something customers paid for brought satisfaction. “the joy of being a one-person company”
  • Higher family costs had made the original financial cushion feel less comfortable. “less comfortable”

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

2023 · Year 17

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”

She rested first. In the second year, a creative business found its place.

Aug 2022 · Year 1.5

Life at the time

  • A new hobby business occupied several hours of her routine.
  • Exercise, cooking and dog walks kept time together in the day.

How it felt

  • The project felt creative and enjoyable despite not yet earning money. “a great creative outlet”
  • Her husband found a different balance through consulting. “work could be optional”

Keeping art from becoming another job

Apr 2022Interview snapshot · published 2022-07

Life at the time

  • Newly retired from software development, he listed outdoor exercise, curiosity, art and travel among his retirement intentions.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed retirement's balance and wanted to resist turning a creative interest into another obligation. “I have to keep reminding myself not to turn it into a job.”

He left the job. His own projects took over the calendar.

2022 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Spent substantial time on home projects and an income-producing app.
  • Climbed, hiked, cycled and exercised outdoors.

How it felt

  • Found that making friends after a move required deliberately leaving the house. “I need to push myself to go out”
  • Continued to value the freedom to pursue outdoor activities. “I still love the freedom to climb, hike, snowshoe, bike”

A lean Quebec life made room for writing

Nov 2021 · Year 0.5

Life at the time

  • Learned French, exercised and caught up on games and books.
  • Experimented with plants, an aquarium, sourdough and writing.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed the city’s atmosphere and regained time. “find happiness in simplicity”
  • Found satisfaction in deliberately living below available means. “infinite time”

RV life lasts longer than the original itinerary

Oct 2021Interview snapshot · published 2022-03

Life at the time

  • The retired couple extended their RV travels during the pandemic; he read and played guitar while they considered overseas destinations.

How it felt

  • He described their travel-focused life enthusiastically, despite needing to revise the timing of the next move. “The RVing part of this plan was extended for another 9 months due to COVID.”

An agency career ends, and the activity list grows

Oct 2021 · Year 5Interview snapshot · published 2022-04

Life at the time

  • After retiring at 49, he filled days with cycling, golf, hiking, book clubs, photography, home improvements and socializing.

How it felt

  • He felt positive about early retirement and had little desire to increase wealth further. “I have no great desire or need to increase my wealth.”

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