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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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61–70 of 84 posts

Part-time engineering is an experiment in letting go

Jun 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

Life at the time

  • He reduced engineering and consulting work, leaving time for family, exercise, travel and developing interests beyond his career.

How it felt

  • He valued control of his schedule but found it difficult to build new friendships and avoid defaulting to work. “My current semi-retirement is an experiment of sorts.”

He could go anywhere. Six years later, he wanted to stay home.

May 2019 · Year 1

Life at the time

  • Volunteered as an English teacher in Bangkok and returned home after about ten months.
  • Accepted a small remote role from a former employer.

How it felt

  • Looked back positively on the travel, volunteering and people he met. “Regret nothing, would do it all over again.”
  • The paid role still felt manageable because it had stayed limited. “it hasn't grown into anything bigger yet”

A layoff became a travel business—and time to help his parents.

Apr 2019Recalled in 2023

Life at the time

  • An unexpected layoff ended his treasury career.
  • He began building a travel agency around an existing interest.

How it felt

  • He disliked losing control of the departure date. “wasn’t happy”
  • Leaving an unfulfilling job opened a more enjoyable direction. “something now I enjoy”

A second retirement begins with fewer simultaneous changes

Jan 2019

Life at the time

  • He walked around his new Cyprus surroundings and began writing extensively.
  • Making new local connections was proving slow.

How it felt

  • Initial euphoria had given way to doubts about the decision. “I’m finding this really difficult”
  • Improved sleep and exercise coexisted with fears about money and employability. “sleeping like a baby”

They imagined months away. Home, friends and flexible work changed the plan.

2019 · Year 7

Life at the time

  • Steve combined part-time consulting with trips of a few weeks.
  • They had replaced the condo with a house near friends and beach activities.

How it felt

  • Long trips had made them miss home. “we missed home too much”
  • The flexible work arrangement suited them when its boundaries were respected. “establishing boundaries”

The rental business brings freedom, but fewer office friends

Dec 2018Interview snapshot · published 2019-04

Life at the time

  • After selling a business, he managed rental-property managers and made room for extended travel and time with his wife and daughter.

How it felt

  • He considered himself retired while still working on investments, and missed the everyday social contact of an office. “I miss the social aspect of having an office”

A video hobby becomes a smaller working week

Nov 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

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.”

Part-time work fits around family care

Aug 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

Life at the time

  • Her flexible remote freelance work made it easier to manage her mother's affairs; her husband kept short hours in his own law practice.

How it felt

  • She favored a partial retirement that preserved mental engagement and reduced pressure on assets. “That flexibility allows me to manage my mother’s affairs more easily.”

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

Jul 2018 · Year 6

Life at the time

  • Blogging still took twenty to thirty hours a week.
  • Family travel could move at a slower pace than former vacations.

How it felt

  • The site provided engagement and helped prevent boredom. “Blogging keeps me busy”
  • He expected retirement to change as his son became more independent. “Life changes. Retirement will too.”

Consulting and outdoor hobbies after the executive job

May 2018 · Year 3Interview snapshot · published 2018

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”

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