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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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31–40 of 105 posts

His focus shifted from the portfolio to people, learning and longer trips.

May 2024 · Year 4

“My mother passed away 20 years earlier and I miss them both dearly.”

SoccerRulesRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Six service roles and a three-month Costa Rica stay widened his activities.
  • The couple also spent six weeks exploring Portugal.

How it felt

  • New experiences had displaced much of his former financial preoccupation. “living life has been fantastic”
  • He missed his parents and noticed the recovery time his sports required. “I miss them both dearly”
PurposeTravelFriends
SoccerRules
Read original postesimoney.com

The budget changed. So did the person living on it.

Mar 2024 · Year 2.5

“FIRE has given me the peace of mind that I can do whatever I want, and not stress too much about affording a living.”

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

Life at the time

  • Took ceramics and construction classes, played tennis and considered writing.
  • Revised the budget and kept study, work and moving as possibilities.

How it felt

  • Found ceramics especially rewarding for learning, making things and regular company. “Ceramics class was just the best.”
  • Had not settled what the rest of life should look like. “I'm still working out what I want to do with my life.”
CreativityFriendsMoney
u/peppers_
Read original postreddit.com

Seven years without a job. A full life built around friends and bread.

Feb 2024 · Year 5

“Everything is going great, still totally happy, never bored.”

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

Life at the time

  • Kept regular time with friends five years after leaving work.
  • Considered living nearer friends and visiting aging parents more often.

How it felt

  • Reported sustained happiness without boredom. “Everything is going great, still totally happy, never bored.”
  • Ordinary contact with friends remained a reliable part of the week. “Still hanging out with friends on a weekly basis”
FriendsFamilyContentment
u/Oracle_of_FI/RE
Read original postreddit.com

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

Jan 2024

“In a way, I swapped time with colleagues for time with my friends and family.”

u/Burner_123_123_123Read original post (opens in a new tab)

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.”
FamilyFriendsRoutine
u/Burner_123_123_123
Read original postreddit.com

The quieter town offered freedom, but too little company.

Jan 2024Recalled in 2025

“I don’t miss the job, I miss the people.”

ESI Retiree 59Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • A house renovation occupied much of the first eight months.
  • The move replaced familiar places and work contacts with a new community.

How it felt

  • The adjustment was tough. “Tough.”
  • Losing everyday connections mattered more than losing the job. “I miss the people”
HomeFriendsMoney
ESI Retiree 59
Read original postesimoney.com

The portfolio soared. Feeling free took much longer.

2024 · Year 3

“My partner is still working, and while there is some understandable jealousy to my relaxing in bed or other hobbies while they have to work, they're extremely happy for me and our relationship.”

u/FIFO-for-LIFORead original post (opens in a new tab)

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”
PartnersRoutineFriends
u/FIFO-for-LIFO
Read original postreddit.com

He bought a one-way escape. A home base made it easier to stay.

2024

“It does get lonely at times, but I knew that was the price of admission when I embarked on this solo journey..”

u/OneLife-No-Do-OversRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Left work and began slow travel, with more room for rest and ordinary outings.
  • Was still building a life in a different country four months after departure.

How it felt

  • Sometimes found solo travel lonely. “It does get lonely at times”
  • Continued worrying about money and the future despite the financial cushion. “I still worry about money and my future.”
TravelFriendsMoney
u/OneLife-No-Do-Overs
Read original postreddit.com

Travel brought joy. Being available for a sick friend made the freedom matter differently.

Jun 2023 · Year 0.92

“I actually stopped telling strangers I’m retired because I don’t want to hear it.”

ESI Retiree 52Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Friends, travel and new activities kept evenings busy.
  • They took on practical support for a seriously ill friend.

How it felt

  • Being present in that final stage felt especially precious. “immense quality time”
  • Unsolicited judgments about early retirement became tiresome. “I don’t want to hear it”
RecoveryFriendsPurpose
ESI Retiree 52
Read original postesimoney.com

She loved being retired. She still needed a reason to use her brain.

May 2023 · Year 1

“After a year of fun and relaxation, I’m starting to feel an itch to challenge my brain again.”

u/jellybean83087Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Sold her house, traveled across the country and spent eight months in Seattle.
  • Learned winter sports and built healthier routines.

How it felt

  • Felt happier and less stressed, but missed regular company and challenging problems. “I'm starting to feel an itch to challenge my brain again.”
  • Enjoyed everyday freedoms such as waking without an alarm. “sleeping without setting an alarm”
RecoveryFriendsPurpose
u/jellybean83087
Read original postreddit.com

Monday became welcome. Learning helped keep the rest of the week interesting.

May 2023 · Year 1

“too much to do”

ESI Retiree 46Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • College classes and tour-guide training joined exercise and gardening.
  • Lunches with retired friends and regular calls maintained connection.

How it felt

  • He was rarely bored. “too much to do”
  • Keeping enough intellectual challenge remained a question for the future. “intellectually challenged”
CuriosityFriendsPartners
ESI Retiree 46
Read original postesimoney.com

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