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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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291–300 of 541 posts

When the plan worked, the spreadsheet became less interesting

Dec 2021Recalled in 2022

Life at the time

  • Celebrated the first semi-retirement anniversary alongside the second child’s first birthday.
  • Published six articles and worked individually with readers.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed writing as a way to organize her thoughts. “Our focus has definitely shifted”
  • Felt family and health deserved more attention than monthly financial tracking. “one of my favourite pastimes”

Leaving the office made space for a daughter’s firsts

Nov 2021 · Year 0.25

Life at the time

  • Spent a month with family in an ancestral village.
  • Resumed teaching and educational content without an employer’s timetable.

How it felt

  • Village life could be boring, yet felt mentally cleansing. “formatting my brain clean”
  • Enjoyed the chosen work enough that it rarely felt like work. “I love doing it”

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”

Enjoyable work remains part of life after FI

Nov 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021

Life at the time

  • The physician and entrepreneur continued clinical and business work. After intense pandemic workloads, part-time work and travel returned to the schedule.

How it felt

  • Growing the company remained enjoyable enough that retirement was a future possibility rather than an immediate wish. “I am having too much fun growing the company to consider retirement.”

Redundancy gave way to a life she enjoyed more than expected

Nov 2021

Life at the time

  • Rode her e-bike and volunteered as a support rider for community trike outings.
  • Joined two book clubs, kept blogging and helped with grandchildren when possible.

How it felt

  • Felt happy with her present life and rarely bored. “I’m happy with where I’m at now.”
  • Still recognized the painful feeling of not being enough that redundancy had triggered. “that awful time”

Travel with friends gave way to a smaller home and local ties

Nov 2021

Life at the time

  • She moved from a large suburban house into a condo.
  • Community events and visiting her mother occupied her time.

How it felt

  • She was excited to help coordinate a music festival. “totally excited”
  • She missed career problem-solving but welcomed freedom from its stress. “glad that I have moved on”

She could fund a free life. Parenthood still demanded almost everything.

Nov 2021

Life at the time

  • Kept everyday spending restrained despite a larger portfolio.
  • Preferred directing extra money toward friends and experiences.

How it felt

  • Still enjoyed optimizing expenses. “Optimizing is Fun for me”
  • Saw little appeal in accumulating possessions instead of supporting relationships. “I’d rather spend it on friends.”

Reducing hours while allowing time to recharge

Oct 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021

Life at the time

  • This financially independent physician was handing over responsibilities and reducing work hours, alongside cooking, games, woodworking and exercise.

How it felt

  • He still enjoyed work and gave himself permission to rest; full retirement remained ahead. “I give myself permission to be non-productive for a while.”

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

Oct 2021 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Explored nearby nature and spent time with family after the pandemic canceled international travel.
  • Took almost a year to start sleeping well and waking rested.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed the open time without missing the job or feeling bored. “I haven’t had one SECOND of thinking ‘I’m bored.’”
  • Felt calmer and more curious as energy returned. “I have my curiosity and love of life back.”

Outdoor freedom brings a winter hobby question

Oct 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021

Life at the time

  • A recently retired physician spent time cycling, golfing and hiking. Pandemic restrictions limited travel and volunteering, while the couple negotiated different appetites for trips.

How it felt

  • He did not miss work but was still learning how to fill the colder months. “I need a hobby for the indoors.”

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