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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.

Age
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371–380 of 542 posts

He had built an organization. Leaving gave him time to look after himself.

Jul 2020Recalled in 2021

“I don’t miss work at all.”

ESI Retiree 32Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He stepped down from running the nonprofit he had founded.
  • Limited consulting maintained a connection without the former workload.

How it felt

  • More time to himself felt like a gift. “an incredible blessing”
  • He did not miss the pressure of leading the organization. “I don’t miss work at all”
RecoveryPurposeFriends
ESI Retiree 32
Read original postesimoney.com

Six quiet months came first. Then a long trail—and a grandchild—changed the pace.

Jul 2020Recalled in 2023

“I can’t do this for the rest of my life.”

ESI Retiree 42Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Television, games, reading and long sleeps filled six months.
  • An approaching Appalachian Trail hike prompted regular training.

How it felt

  • Rest felt good after intense demands. “the time off felt good”
  • He eventually wanted activities that felt more fulfilling. “not accomplishing anything fulfilling”
RecoveryFamilyHome
ESI Retiree 42
Read original postesimoney.com

Part-time travel helped a physician find his place at home

Jul 2020Recalled in 2021

“I started to feel anxious and felt the need to start searching for my next career”

PoF Post-FI 1Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • The family began a year of RV travel across the US.
  • He mixed locum work with prolonged breaks and household tasks.

How it felt

  • He welcomed time to relax. “time to relax”
  • He felt out of place in the family routine. “felt awkward”
ParenthoodIdentityTravel
PoF Post-FI 1
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

He protected the weekends—and discovered he wanted to protect the weekdays too.

Jun 2020 · Year 0.5

“After only 3 months of freedom I was hooked on it.”

ESI Retiree 23Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He kept chores on weekdays so weekends remained special.
  • Consulting, coaching and teaching plans met the disruption of COVID-19.

How it felt

  • Even appealing assignments competed with his new freedom. “I was hooked on it”
  • He missed colleagues occasionally but felt no regret about leaving. “never had any second thoughts”
FreedomBoundariesRoutine
ESI Retiree 23
Read original postesimoney.com

He already had enough. It took a second job to recognize the choice.

Jun 2020 · Year 2

“really enjoy”

ESI Retiree 22Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Exercise, nonprofit work and reading occupied much of the school day.
  • He had published his book and was speaking at conferences.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed the growing contribution. “really enjoy”
  • He regretted spending additional years in work he found unfulfilling. “unfulfilling work”
PurposeWorkFreedom
ESI Retiree 22
Read original postesimoney.com

A smaller home requires room for each other

Jun 2020Interview snapshot · published 2020-08

“We also can drive each other crazy at times”

ESI Retiree 25Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • The couple moved from a house into a fifth-wheel trailer and managed belongings carefully in the smaller space.

How it felt

  • She liked having her husband around after retirement, but constant proximity sometimes required separate errands or outdoor tasks. “We also can drive each other crazy at times”
HomeSimplicityPartners
ESI Retiree 25
Read original postesimoney.com

Two different transitions led to a shared slower pace

May 2020

“our pace of life is much slower and more relaxed now”

ESI Retiree 21Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Gym sessions and household projects filled weekdays.
  • They stayed in different southern rentals each winter.

How it felt

  • Both valued fewer outside commitments. “much slower”
  • She missed workplace socializing more than he did. “more relaxed”
PartnersSlowing downRoutine
ESI Retiree 21
Read original postesimoney.com

A pandemic interrupts the first retirement itinerary

May 2020Interview snapshot · published 2020-06

“We are both enjoying the leisure time to work out more, do some hiking, volunteer work and projects around the house.”

ESI Millionaire 191Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After both retired in November, the couple enjoyed exercise, hiking, volunteering and home projects while travel was on hold.

How it felt

  • They were taking retirement as it came, with future travel and Census work still described as plans. “we are just taking it as it comes.”
ChangeOutdoorsRoutine
ESI Millionaire 191
Read original postesimoney.com

He left the office, but a screen could still consume the day.

May 2020 · Year 0.67

“We both enjoy our own activities but we are very good together as well.”

ESI Retiree 24Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Markets, side-business tasks and exercise filled much of the day.
  • Tuesday outings and evening time with his wife were regular commitments.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed their mixture of separate and shared interests. “very good together”
  • He noticed how easily computer time expanded. “on the computer way too much”
RoutinePartnersFreedom
ESI Retiree 24
Read original postesimoney.com

A flooded first home did not undo the appeal of quiet retirement

May 2020Recalled in 2020

“This was not only expensive but soul crushing as well, my brand new apartment was wrecked.”

u/jasta85Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Finished major repairs to a duplex purchased in January.
  • Canceled the move after flooding and arranged cleanup and a second renovation.

How it felt

  • Found the destruction of the newly finished apartment crushing. “soul crushing”
  • Felt the repaired place had lost some of its new-home appeal. “lost a lot of the ‘brand new’ feeling”
HomeSimplicity
u/jasta85
Read original postreddit.com

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