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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.

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41–50 of 65 posts

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

Sep 2021 · Year 1

“Mostly it feels like a huge relief to not have such stress.”

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

Life at the time

  • Walking, golf and cooking occupied much of his week.
  • He deliberately arranged family calls and activities with friends.

How it felt

  • Mentoring remained satisfying at a smaller scale. “very satisfying”
  • He guarded a relaxed calendar and looked forward to his wife joining him. “a huge relief”
RecoveryPurposeFriends
ESI Retiree 32
Read original postesimoney.com

A less demanding job changes the feeling of Monday

Aug 2021Interview snapshot · published 2021-09

“I no longer dread the oncoming Monday mornings but maybe I am still in the honeymoon phase of this new job.”

ESI Millionaire 279Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After negotiating an exit from a stressful technology-management role, he took a less demanding job that he regarded as semi-retirement.

How it felt

  • He reported improved sleep and less dread, while acknowledging that the new role was still in its early months. “my stress is very reasonable”
RecoveryWorkChange
ESI Millionaire 279
Read original postesimoney.com

She rested first. In the second year, a creative business found its place.

Feb 2021Recalled in 2023

“An enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders.”

ESI Retiree 40Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Walks, books, naps and golf lessons filled her first weeks.
  • Her husband unexpectedly left his job soon afterward.

How it felt

  • She felt elated and relieved of accumulated stress. “I was elated”
  • They could decompress together. “An enormous weight was lifted”
RecoveryCreativityPartners
ESI Retiree 40
Read original postesimoney.com

Small pleasures made the first weeks rich. Years later, home still competed with adventure.

Jan 2021

“I can feel my stress levels slowly unravelling at the very thought.”

Frogdancer JonesRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Gardened, read and quilted during the early weeks of retirement.
  • Looked forward to overseas travel while enjoying familiar activities at home.

How it felt

  • Did not experience inexpensive hobbies as deprivation. “Having frugal things to do isn’t a deprivation.”
  • Could feel work-related stress easing gradually. “I can feel my stress levels slowly unravelling”
SimplicityRecoverySlowing down
Frogdancer Jones
Read original postburningdesireforfire.com

Retirement began with relief. Belonging took more effort.

2021 · Year 1

“For about twenty years, we'd traveled cross-country at Thanksgiving AND Christmas, and it was lovely to celebrate at home in a simple way, just us, even though we missed seeing family and friends in person.”

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

Life at the time

  • Moved into a slower routine of cooking, yoga, skiing and reading.
  • Spent the first retirement holidays at home instead of traveling between celebrations.

How it felt

  • Finally had room to recover from the pressure of working life. “It was a relief to finally decompress and relax.”
  • Money was taking up much less of their daily attention. “it has mostly ceased to matter very much!”
RecoveryHomeCuriosity
u/a_marie_z
Read original postreddit.com

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

He got fifty hours back. The pressure to use them followed him home.

Dec 2019 · Year 1

“I couldn’t sleep and I was stressing.”

Jim / Route to RetireRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Moved to Panama and reorganized family life.
  • Began tackling projects one at a time instead of trying to complete the whole list.

How it felt

  • Pressure to accomplish everything had affected sleep and created stress. “I couldn’t sleep and I was stressing.”
  • Recognized that the deferred ambitions were not all immediately due. “I didn’t need to get everything done at once.”
RoutineRecovery
Jim / Route to Retire
Read original postroutetoretire.com

A second retirement begins with fewer simultaneous changes

Aug 2019

“That extra buffer feels really good as I wrestle with purpose”

RIT · Retirement Investing TodayRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He left a short experiment back in his former industry.
  • The household was back in England after the Cyprus move.

How it felt

  • The return revealed how much both he and the job had changed. “my own needs had changed”
  • A financial buffer reassured him as he reconsidered purpose and relationships. “That extra buffer feels really good”
RecoveryChangeWork
RIT · Retirement Investing Today
Read original postretirementinvestingtoday.com

He slept through the first adjustment. Later, even Sunday evenings felt free.

Jul 2019 · Year 4

“no demands on my time”

ESI Retiree 17Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Family dinners, workshop projects and occasional delivery work filled his days.
  • His wife crafted and made things for their granddaughters.

How it felt

  • They enjoyed choosing how to spend their time. “no demands on my time”
  • Both still missed some school colleagues. “miss some of our coworkers”
RecoveryFamilyFreedom
ESI Retiree 17
Read original postesimoney.com

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