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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 84 posts

Six months off revealed a taste for short contracts

Jun 2024 · Year 0.5Recalled in 2024

Life at the time

  • Spent the first six months without paid work.
  • Devoted time to children, getting fitter and household projects.

How it felt

  • Work stress took about three months to ease. “Took about 3 months”
  • Eventually became bored enough to accept a small contract. “Got a bit bored”

A move to Spain became a comfortable semi-retirement

2024 · Year 0.5Recalled in 2025

Life at the time

  • Moved abroad with spouse and children.
  • Spent the first six months without paid work.

How it felt

  • Remembered the period fondly. “fond memories”
  • Recognized career anxiety and an unsettled work-based identity. “mini identity crisis”

A travel sabbatical became a flexible working life

2024 · Year 1Recalled in 2026

Life at the time

  • Ended nine months of travel when a long-sought apartment became available.
  • Bought the small apartment without a mortgage and largely renovated it personally.

How it felt

  • Loved doing the renovation and felt proud of the result. “I also loved the process”
  • The small, bright home prompted a rethink of the larger properties once considered necessary. “Now I was thinking about what I actually needed.”

The projects remain, but the commitments are chosen

Nov 2023 · Year 5Interview snapshot · published 2024-04

Life at the time

  • Five years after his executive career, he maintained properties, learned mechanical skills, pursued music and sometimes used his expertise for paid projects.

How it felt

  • He valued control over his commitments and enjoyed being useful on his own terms. “It feels good to be wanted in this way”

A small contract bridge gave way to a lighter nomadic life

Jul 2023Recalled in 2023

Life at the time

  • The contract finished in March.
  • He spent four months traveling through Asia.

How it felt

  • Complete control of his days felt rewarding. “pretty darn awesome”
  • Having no main earned income felt unusual. “feels odd”

Slow travel felt right. A return to paid writing helped her value freedom again.

May 2023 · Year 4.75

Life at the time

  • In 2022 she tried a contract writing investment articles.
  • Revisions and performance expectations made the computer feel like work again.

How it felt

  • She was glad to reclaim control of her time. “Choosing freedom over money”
  • The experiment clarified that paid writing did not fit her interests well enough. “I’m just not that into it”

A third language after a third career

May 2023Interview snapshot · published 2023-08

Life at the time

  • Following careers in the military, industry and teaching, he fully retired and learned another language with his wife.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed control of his time and immersion in language learning, while keeping the possibility of adult teaching open. “I also still feel compelled to teach”

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”

A layoff became a travel business—and time to help his parents.

2023 · Year 4

Life at the time

  • Travel clients, volunteer boards and trips filled his calendar.
  • He could spend weeks helping his mother recover from surgery.

How it felt

  • He liked the freedom to accept opportunities. “do whatever I want”
  • He looked forward to his wife’s planned retirement, which had not yet happened. “my wife is still working”

Selective assignments leave room for outdoor volunteering

Dec 2022Interview snapshot · published 2022

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”

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