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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
41–50 of 55 posts

He could choose his projects. Their shared adventures were still on hold.

Apr 2019 · Year 0.75

Life at the time

  • Writing, pro bono consulting and household tasks shaped his days.
  • Travel and an overseas move remained plans for after his wife stopped working.

How it felt

  • Creative interests were returning. “I feel like I’m in limbo”
  • He felt guilty about adventures she could not share. “a part of me feels guilty”

A quiet home life made room for creativity and care

Jan 2019

Life at the time

  • Left room between social outings and appointments.
  • Read, sewed and worked on her blog, with weekday movies around her husband’s job.

How it felt

  • Felt relaxed and secure at home. “My home is my sanctuary.”
  • Valued seeing friends without sacrificing the solitude she needed. “on my terms”

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”

Writing helps give an involuntary retirement shape

Aug 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

Life at the time

  • After leaving accounting because of disability, The Retirement Spot author read, wrote, sang karaoke and visited grandchildren while his wife continued working.

How it felt

  • He found the balance uneven and started blogging in part to keep himself occupied. “That is one reason I started my blog.”

A part-time library and a new circle of colleagues

Jun 2018

Life at the time

  • Read long books he had put off while working.
  • Wrote a personal blog and an annual A–Z gratitude post.

How it felt

  • Regarded other bloggers as a new circle of colleagues. “my new colleagues”
  • Felt grateful for their writing, perspectives, and inspiration. “I am very grateful”

A dance-floor adventure and a quieter relationship with blogging

Jun 2018

Life at the time

  • Lori entered a cruise dance competition and rehearsed with a professional.
  • Randy and new friends cheered from the audience.

How it felt

  • She was nervous about the final. “nervous butterflies”
  • The performance ended with happiness and relief. “relief and happiness”

He could choose his projects. Their shared adventures were still on hold.

May 2018Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • Familiarity with working at home eased the transition.
  • He sought small projects without requiring payment.

How it felt

  • Ending the search for another job felt freeing. “I was actually done”
  • Earlier gaps between jobs had made solitude familiar. “The really freeing thing”

Leaving was celebration enough. A slower life still needed friends.

Mar 2018Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • Sleep, walks and clearing out work clothes marked the first months.
  • She replaced workplace calendars with personal tools.

How it felt

  • Simply stopping work felt rewarding enough. “enough reward and celebration”
  • The reflex to check work email took time to break. “breaking the habit”

He won his freedom—and ran out of goals.

2018 · Year 2

Life at the time

  • Spent time exercising, cooking, traveling and being with his wife.
  • An existing business tool still brought in more than the household spent. “money is still coming in”

How it felt

  • Reported lower stress and gratitude for control over time. “The decreased stress from the first year has also carried over into the second year”
  • Found that appealing commitments could still crowd out meaningful personal projects.

Teaching stayed; the career’s daily stress did not

Oct 2017

Life at the time

  • Taught university classes, prepared material at home and wrote books and blog posts.
  • Exercised daily and fitted water-sport weekends around her husband’s work.

How it felt

  • Loved the January and summer breaks. “I sure love my Januarys”
  • Felt teaching remained a sustainable passion, despite being only partly retired. “a passion I can sustain”

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