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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
41–45 of 45 posts

Parental leave opened into a family-centered retirement

2016Recalled in 2017

Life at the time

  • Parental leave helped him leave his office career.
  • The family spent substantial time in Europe for his wife’s projects.

How it felt

  • Their daughter’s birth made the decision easier. “wasn’t really a difficult decision”
  • He welcomed avoiding awkward explanations about leaving work. “reasonable excuse”

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

Dec 2015

Life at the time

  • Staying home replaced long daycare days for his son.
  • Blogging and managing a duplex continued alongside his wife’s employment.

How it felt

  • More time with his child was a central benefit. “that was me”
  • The household arrangement was working for them at this stage. “Right now it’s working out pretty well”

A stay-at-home father finds a public voice

Nov 2015

Life at the time

  • Cared for young children and fitted his own afternoon nap around theirs.
  • Built Financially Alert as an online business and community.

How it felt

  • Loved being home after leaving office demands. “I loved it”
  • Still wanted a challenge and connection beyond the initial freedom. “there was still something missing”

The search for useful days eventually became an overflowing calendar

Mar 2014Recalled in 2025

Life at the time

  • Used a morning production schedule to write before enjoying the rest of the day.
  • Experimented with a book, extended travel and an advertising business.

How it felt

  • Wanted to feel useful after leaving full-time work. “Feeling useful”
  • Found writing particularly satisfying and missed it after days away. “extremely satisfying”

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