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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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41–49 of 49 posts

A video hobby becomes a smaller working week

Nov 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

“I could work more and make more money, but at this season of our lives, we’d rather slow down and enjoy what we have now.”

ESI Millionaire 102Read original post (opens in a new tab)

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.”
WorkSlowing downEnough
ESI Millionaire 102
Read original postesimoney.com

Slow breakfasts replace the rush to work

Apr 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

“I hated Mondays, now I love them.”

ESI Millionaire 55Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After both retired in 2017, the couple spent more time exercising, sharing breakfast, meeting neighbors and renovating their home.

How it felt

  • They welcomed the slower pace, while finding the loss of routine disorienting. “the lack of structure and routine is a little disorienting”
RoutineSlowing downFriends
ESI Millionaire 55
Read original postesimoney.com

The empty calendar felt strange. The gym supplied friends and a beginning.

2017Recalled in 2019

“After only a few months it seemed like ancient history.”

ESI Retiree 16Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Sleeping later replaced their hectic work schedules.
  • Joining a gym gave mornings a starting point and introduced new people.

How it felt

  • Abundant free time initially felt disjointed. “somewhat disjointed”
  • The old business receded faster than he expected. “ancient history”
RoutineFriendsSlowing down
ESI Retiree 16
Read original postesimoney.com

A short job helped him leave. Learning to enjoy idleness took years.

2017Recalled in 2022

“ease into full retirement”

ESI Retiree 35Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • A lunch with an industry friend led to a half-time role.
  • Six months of work gave him space to plan retirement.

How it felt

  • Helping felt rewarding in a way his old job had not. “very rewarding”
  • The extra pay eased the financial transition. “ease into full retirement”
Slowing downWorkBoundaries
ESI Retiree 35
Read original postesimoney.com

He learned to stop being busy. Then life overturned the plan.

Nov 2015

“Instead of maintaining the same pace of life, I’m slowing down — living more by doing less.”

Living a FIRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Kept running, music and family time in the week.
  • Left more room for unplanned activities, including a spontaneous dinner.

How it felt

  • Found value in a less crowded calendar. “living more by doing less.”
  • Questioned the need to prove personal worth through constant busyness. “Screw fake-busy-status.”
RecoverySlowing down
Living a FI
Read original postlivingafi.com

He caught up on sleep. Decades later, he was still learning to leave blank days.

Jun 2002Recalled in 2023

“our concerns faded away”

Doug NordmanRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Parenting and home repairs shaped the first months after the Navy.
  • Daily naps and exercise on his own terms replaced chronic fatigue.

How it felt

  • A market downturn prompted difficult conversations with his spouse. “our concerns faded away”
  • Pension income and cash reserves helped their worries ease. “our new normal”
Slowing downFamilyBoundaries
Doug Nordman
Read original postesimoney.com

They left intense work for island time, then spent decades exploring.

Jan 1991Recalled in 2022

“releasing all that pent-up intensity and learning to slow down, getting on island time.”

Billy & Akaisha KaderliRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • They spent the first months on Caribbean islands.
  • A radical change of surroundings replaced long workweeks.

How it felt

  • They had to release accumulated intensity. “learning to slow down”
  • Family resistance made the choice emotionally harder for Akaisha. “wasn’t easy for her”
TravelSlowing downHome
Billy & Akaisha Kaderli
Read original postesimoney.com

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