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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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491–500 of 541 posts

Leaving oil work led to outdoors and a lighter kind of work

2017Recalled in 2020

Life at the time

  • He left his oil-industry career in spring.
  • Two years of saved cash funded the initial transition.

How it felt

  • Recent family deaths made leaving feel straightforward. “decision an easy one”
  • He accepted that lean periods might call for paid work. “just enough”

They built a busy life in Nicaragua. Eighteen years later, another adventure beckoned.

2017 · Year 112017 interview shared again in 2024

Life at the time

  • An art studio, an expat newsletter and a farm filled their time.
  • They kept busy while choosing work they enjoyed.

How it felt

  • The new life felt joyful. “Our lives are joyful”
  • The people around them gave them a reason to stay. “the people are what keep us here”

An empty calendar felt directionless. Useful commitments gradually brought him back.

2017Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • Household chores expanded to fill the day.
  • Food-bank volunteering did not provide the engagement he expected.

How it felt

  • He felt directionless during the first eighteen months. “rudderless ship”
  • Having a working spouse added self-imposed pressure to be useful. “Felt guilty”

She left her title behind. Time together mattered more as health changed.

2017Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • She joined her already-retired partner after leaving healthcare work.
  • Early alarms and commuting stopped.

How it felt

  • Her professional title quickly lost its hold. “happy to be a retiree”
  • She felt ready for the change on her own terms. “there was no adjustment”

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

2017Recalled in 2019

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”

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

2017Recalled in 2022

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”

He became the homemaker. When she retired, they had to divide life again.

2017Recalled in 2022

Life at the time

  • He tried another short-lived job after leaving his main career.
  • Cooking, household care and exercise later gave him a workable schedule.

How it felt

  • At first, an open calendar raised questions about identity. “who am I”
  • The second departure felt easier with routines already in place. “the first few months were easier”

A busy move eased the exit. Then they had to protect some quiet time.

2017Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • A house renovation and move from New England filled the transition.
  • His wife joined him after finishing the school year.

How it felt

  • Leaving a long career was briefly emotional. “our hands more than full”
  • The building project kept him engaged in what came next. “that was temporary”

A cardiac emergency changed the timetable. Freedom stayed deliberately flexible.

2017Recalled in 2019

Life at the time

  • After the corporate exit, he moved directly into a different job.
  • The couple postponed firm volunteering commitments when they fully retired.

How it felt

  • The health emergency prompted them to reconsider their timetable. “re-thinking an earlier retirement date”
  • They were still learning to use unscheduled time. “unscheduled free time”

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