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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 101 posts

Retirement became better when hobbies stopped being assignments

Sep 2024 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Spends much of his time on games, audiobooks and family, alongside occasional classes and projects.
  • Has become more sedentary while recovering from an Achilles injury.

How it felt

  • Is happier after dropping the pressure to make hobbies feel like jobs. “quickly sucked the joy out of them”
  • Notices greater patience with loved ones and little boredom. “I have so much more patience now”

Ordinary days became enough

Sep 2024 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Read for hours and cooked without batch-prep pressure.
  • Joined local FI meetups and occasional retiree pickleball games.

How it felt

  • Increasingly accepted leisurely days without a second career. “fully leaned in”
  • Felt healthier and happier, with no regret about leaving. “zero regrets”

A home built for family became the base for a surprisingly full calendar

Aug 2024Recalled in 2025

Life at the time

  • He played frequent golf and served on several boards.
  • Two knee replacements supported better mobility.

How it felt

  • He felt financially comfortable and fortunate. “busier than I ever thought”
  • The packed calendar surprised him. “wouldn’t change a thing”

From achievement lists to a life that stays in balance

Jul 2024 · Year 3.75

Life at the time

  • Balances family and friends with sports, music and learning.
  • Keeps room for meditation and time alone watching videos.

How it felt

  • Notices when one part of life crowds out another. “I feel it, reflect and adjust”
  • Sees enjoyment as something requiring conscious attention. “happiness and fun”

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

Jul 2024 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Made regular trips to support a mother in assisted living.
  • Continued gym visits, hiking, games and time with a spouse. “I'm continuing to hit the gym every weekday”

How it felt

  • Remained enthusiastic about retirement despite tiring caregiving trips. “Retirement is awesome and everyone should do it.”
  • Kept exercise as a recurring part of everyday life.

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”

Ordinary days became enough

Mar 2024 · Year 0.5

Life at the time

  • Lifted weights at home and cycled regularly.
  • Tried two or three new recipes weekly.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed lower stress and freedom from Sunday dread. “No more Sunday blues.”
  • Felt guilt about productivity and worried about unrealized creative interests. “a twinge of guilt”

He retired with $2.7m. Three years later, he wanted back in.

Feb 2024 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Made breakfast, walked children to school and fitted exercise and projects around family.
  • Spent more than expected while household net worth also increased.

How it felt

  • Felt busy but less rushed, with more room for the people and activities he valued. “It is nice to not be in a rush.”
  • Still wondered what the next challenge might be. “Feeling of what's next lingers”

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

Jan 2024

Life at the time

  • Moved back to India after leaving a career in London.
  • Spent more time with parents, friends, dance and exercise.

How it felt

  • Wanted health and relationships to receive more attention. “I'm prioritising Health and Relationships a lot more now.”
  • Valued exchanging time with colleagues for time with friends and family. “I swapped time with colleagues for time with my friends and family.”

The portfolio soared. Feeling free took much longer.

2024 · Year 3

Life at the time

  • Built a steadier morning routine while his partner continued working.
  • Spent time on friendships and personal projects.

How it felt

  • Still missed some professional status and technical conversation. “I sometimes miss the prestige and techie conversations”
  • Found that practical habits helped the household live with different schedules. “a decent morning routine”

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