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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
441–450 of 541 posts

He won his freedom—and ran out of goals.

2019 · Year 3

Life at the time

  • Declined more opportunities to protect personal projects.
  • Organized time with extended family and checked financial spreadsheets less often.

How it felt

  • Found saying no an important part of making freedom satisfying. “this third year was marked by saying no to most things”
  • Was shifting attention away from further financial growth. “more growth is not going to make me happier.”

Adventure filled their early years. Writing and family made room for a quieter life.

2019 · Year 12

Life at the time

  • Overseas trips had shortened to six or seven weeks to make room for family.
  • They built productive activities and downtime into days without a work schedule.

How it felt

  • They described less stress and more enjoyment. “Less stress, more fun”
  • Choosing their own path felt worthwhile, without regret about leaving traditional jobs. “We have absolutely no regrets”

They imagined months away. Home, friends and flexible work changed the plan.

2019 · Year 7

Life at the time

  • Steve combined part-time consulting with trips of a few weeks.
  • They had replaced the condo with a house near friends and beach activities.

How it felt

  • Long trips had made them miss home. “we missed home too much”
  • The flexible work arrangement suited them when its boundaries were respected. “establishing boundaries”

Chosen work gave freedom a purpose. Divorce changed the family around it.

Dec 2018

Life at the time

  • Went through a divorce and reorganized family life.
  • Lived nearby and continued spending time together as a family.

How it felt

  • Described a difficult year despite financial resources. “It has been a hard year.”
  • Valued maintaining family contact within the changed arrangement. “we all still spend plenty of time together”

They could afford freedom. Agreeing on what it meant was harder.

Dec 2018 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Left his job and moved across the country, rebuilding routines and relationships.
  • Said yes to social opportunities, sometimes at the expense of time as a couple.

How it felt

  • Still felt too busy a year after leaving work. “A year after leaving my job, I still feel too busy.”
  • He and his wife had different needs for freedom and security, with no settled shared routine yet. “We’re not there yet.”

The rental business brings freedom, but fewer office friends

Dec 2018Interview snapshot · published 2019-04

Life at the time

  • After selling a business, he managed rental-property managers and made room for extended travel and time with his wife and daughter.

How it felt

  • He considered himself retired while still working on investments, and missed the everyday social contact of an office. “I miss the social aspect of having an office”

He escaped Sunday-night dread. A decade later, even freedom needed downtime.

Dec 2018

Life at the time

  • Prepared for the oldest child to enter high school.
  • Planned extended travel for 2019 and anticipated later driving and college expenses.

How it felt

  • Found family life full enough to wonder how full-time work had fitted into it. “wondering how we ever had time for full time jobs”
  • Was aware of the next stage of parenting approaching. “college is just around the corner.”

She quit her career. Years later, she quit performing retirement.

Dec 2018 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Adjusted to daily life with Mark after both left work.
  • Balanced creative projects and social commitments with time together.

How it felt

  • Found that spontaneous days meant different things to each partner. “More time together doesn’t make for instant harmony.”
  • Realized that extra time still did not make every appealing activity possible. “You still can’t do everything.”

A video hobby becomes a smaller working week

Nov 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

Life at the time

  • After leaving corporate employment, he ran a video-services business for roughly twenty to twenty-five hours weekly and traveled with his wife.

How it felt

  • He preferred slowing down and enjoying their existing life over maximizing earnings. “I suppose working 20 to 25 hours a week, I’m already semi-retired.”

A dance-floor adventure and a quieter relationship with blogging

Oct 2018

Life at the time

  • They had paused regular blogging.
  • Nearly two years based in one location left fewer new stories.

How it felt

  • Posting had begun to feel obligatory. “feel pressured”
  • Lori lacked inspiration to keep writing. “didn't feel inspired”

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