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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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51–60 of 62 posts

Travel and sport held their appeal as family needs continued

Dec 2019

“We worry about family members who are in need and try to help, but there is a limit as to how much we can or are willing to do.”

ESI Millionaire 175Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Travel occupied roughly seventy nights that year.
  • Baseball and golf continued alongside his wife’s music.

How it felt

  • He felt secure about maintaining their lifestyle. “we will be fine”
  • He still worried about relatives who needed help. “worry about family members”
TravelFamilyOutdoors
ESI Millionaire 175
Read original postesimoney.com

Financial independence gave their young family more ordinary adventures.

2019Recalled in 2023

“I loved the feeling of freedom and using my time how I choose.”

ESI Retiree 44Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • His wife left paid work as their property income supported independence.
  • They continued choosing projects for themselves.

How it felt

  • Her departure revealed stress she had not fully noticed. “latent stress”
  • He valued being able to choose how time was used. “feeling of freedom”
FamilyOutdoorsFreedom
ESI Retiree 44
Read original postesimoney.com

Farm work replaces the weekly business flight

Sep 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

“Having retired in early 2018 and building out our small farm, I have not had to look very hard for things to do.”

ESI Millionaire 88Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After retiring in early 2018, he devoted time to building out a small farm and repairing its irrigation.

How it felt

  • He had grown to dislike frequent business travel and now enjoyed the physical work, despite sore muscles. “the physical work I now get to enjoy”
OutdoorsRoutineFreedom
ESI Millionaire 88
Read original postesimoney.com

Consulting and outdoor hobbies after the executive job

May 2018 · Year 3Interview snapshot · published 2018

“fun side gigs, active outdoor hobbies, travel, family and a lot of volunteer work.”

ESI Millionaire 64Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After retiring from a chemical-company career, he combined technical consulting with shared activities including tennis, hiking, running, skiing and fishing.

How it felt

  • He described the side gigs as enjoyable and valued an active life with his wife. “We had and still have many shared active hobbies”
WorkOutdoorsPartners
ESI Millionaire 64
Read original postesimoney.com

Freedom did not transform him overnight. Parenting made it real.

Apr 2018 · Year 1

“While I’m much better adjusted now than I was one year ago, I’m still finding my way…”

Carl JensenRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent his first retirement year finding new uses for the available time.
  • Made progress in running and strength training.

How it felt

  • Did not feel transformed simply because his job had ended. “I felt the exact same.”
  • Was still working out the shape of the next stage. “I’m still finding my way”
IdentityOutdoors
Carl Jensen
Read original post1500days.com

An involuntary exit opened an active life; a grandchild changed the map

Jan 2018

“We are what we’ve always aspired to be and got there early through what turned out to be the gift of involuntary retirement.”

ESI Millionaire 50Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Charity flights and yoga occupied retirement.
  • He earned a commercial pilot’s licence and declined two jobs.

How it felt

  • The urge to return to work faded after several months. “gift of involuntary retirement”
  • Helping passengers made his contributions feel tangible. “smiles on faces”
OutdoorsFamilyHome
ESI Millionaire 50
Read original postesimoney.com

Gardening replaces the paid day she could not let go

2018Recalled in 2023

“struggled with turning down money”

FIREthe9to5Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • She worked one day each week for a friend’s company.
  • Rental income and the small job covered living costs without investment withdrawals.

How it felt

  • Even a single working day brought the old Sunday dread. “Sunday night feeling”
  • Declining extra income felt difficult despite financial independence. “struggled with turning down money”
FamilyOutdoorsEnough
FI/REthe9to5
Read original postfirethe9to5com.wordpress.com

Redundancy gave way to a life she enjoyed more than expected

Feb 2017

“more than I thought possible”

Deb / Deb’s WorldRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Visited Melbourne, saw a film and unexpectedly met blogging friends.
  • Read quietly in a historic home’s garden amid the busy city.

How it felt

  • Enjoyed forced retirement more than she had expected. “more than I thought possible”
  • Felt relaxed after the previous year’s difficult transition. “happy, relaxed”
ChangeFriendsOutdoors
Deb / Deb’s World
Read original postdebs-world.com

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

2017Recalled in 2020

“I pulled the trigger early on FIRE and getting by on just enough”

Chris · Mindful ExplorerRead original post (opens in a new tab)

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”
OutdoorsSimplicityWork
Chris · Mindful Explorer
Read original posttawcan.com

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