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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
Wealth
Years
Posts
31–40 of 45 posts

FI/RE becomes parenthood and a small software business

2021Recalled in 2026

Life at the time

  • He and his wife spent long nights gaming in Seattle.
  • Occasional attempts at independent development produced little.

How it felt

  • Leisure felt relaxing but directionless. “chill, but also aimless”
  • He wondered whether life had been more fulfilling before FI/RE. “happier and more fulfilling”

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

Jul 2020Recalled in 2021

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”

Leaving the executive role made room for parenting, but not an empty day.

Mar 2020 · Year 0.75

Life at the time

  • School runs, baby care and bedtime stories anchored family life.
  • Part-time consulting and a developing coaching project supplied challenges.

How it felt

  • He valued the slower mornings. “a lot less rushing”
  • Parenting was demanding, and he described happiness as broadly unchanged. “generally the same”

Family time arrived quickly; a new sense of purpose took longer

May 2019

Life at the time

  • Mike began a deliberate health routine.
  • Running with friends and writing replaced some aimless browsing.

How it felt

  • He felt better after redirecting his attention from money. “feels great”
  • Reconnecting with others made the change rewarding. “enjoying the process”

Freedom did not transform him overnight. Parenting made it real.

Mar 2019

Life at the time

  • Prepared meals, helped with schoolwork and volunteered while Mindy worked.
  • Built much of his routine around the children’s day.

How it felt

  • Sometimes found family life frustrating enough to imagine being back at the office. “On some days, I wish I was at work”
  • Also felt he had worked too long; gratitude and irritation coexisted. “I also worked too long.”

Leaving the executive role made room for parenting, but not an empty day.

2019Recalled in 2020

Life at the time

  • Unstructured time initially replaced a demanding executive schedule.
  • Exercise and small projects began to rebuild a routine.

How it felt

  • The first relief gave way to feeling unproductive. “a big relief”
  • Recent career setbacks had shaken his confidence. “falling into a rut”

Family time arrived quickly; a new sense of purpose took longer

Sep 2018

Life at the time

  • Phia spent more time parenting, cooking and writing.
  • The family traveled and walked to everyday activities.

How it felt

  • She valued the slower family life. “a little aimless”
  • She still wanted an absorbing role beyond home. “pretty amazing”

Leaving engineering made room for parenting. Blogging kept a working rhythm in his days.

Jul 2018 · Year 6

Life at the time

  • Blogging still took twenty to thirty hours a week.
  • Family travel could move at a slower pace than former vacations.

How it felt

  • The site provided engagement and helped prevent boredom. “Blogging keeps me busy”
  • He expected retirement to change as his son became more independent. “Life changes. Retirement will too.”

They retired to travel the world. Then family life rewrote the plan.

Jan 2018 · Year 5

Life at the time

  • Tried school in Taipei after their son wanted more contact with other children.
  • Changed the initial school arrangement and began fitting travel around a classroom calendar.

How it felt

  • Valued responding to their child’s preferences. “Listening to your kids is a wonderful thing.”
  • Had not settled where the family would live or travel next. “Future destinations: unknown.”

Parental leave opened into a family-centered retirement

Mar 2017

Life at the time

  • Most days centered on caring for his one-year-old.
  • Photography and chess fit around family responsibilities.

How it felt

  • He felt healthier and enjoyed unhurried family mornings. “immensely better”
  • He missed some workplace friendships. “good friends”

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