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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
61–70 of 94 posts

He quit the job. The laundry never ended.

Nov 2020

“just busier than I ever expected.”

u/enfierRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Confirmed that the household had retired. “We pulled the trigger”
  • Traveled for a couple of months, then settled in a lower-cost area.

How it felt

  • Said the transition was going well but life was unexpectedly busy. “just busier than I ever expected.”
  • This was a brief early confirmation, before the fuller account of family pressures.
TravelHomeChange
u/enfier
Read original postreddit.com

Travel opened the world. Deciding where home belonged proved harder.

Nov 2020 · Year 4

“I’m having difficulty figuring out where home is or should be.”

David · I Retired YoungRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Travel, skiing, cycling and blogging widened his interests.
  • They were testing a split between France and the UK.

How it felt

  • He enjoyed becoming more willing to try things. “a new mindset”
  • A settled sense of home remained elusive. “where home is or should be”
TravelHomePartners
David · I Retired Young
Read original postesimoney.com

The mortgage ended and spending became more generous

Oct 2020

“My wife and I are looking to enjoy life and travel as much as we want to over the next, hopeful, several years.”

ESI Millionaire 231Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Golf and bike rides complemented nonprofit roles.
  • His wife still enjoyed part-time teaching.

How it felt

  • He felt comfortable allowing wealth to decline. “no problem areas”
  • He described few retirement worries. “enjoy life”
MoneyTravelContentment
ESI Millionaire 231
Read original postesimoney.com

Slow travel felt right. A return to paid writing helped her value freedom again.

Aug 2020

“We have absolutely fallen in love with the slow travel lifestyle.”

Michelle · Fire and WideRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Longer stays replaced hurried vacations.
  • Weekday exercise and healthier routines became easier to sustain.

How it felt

  • She enjoyed exploring places at a slower pace. “slow travel lifestyle”
  • Having time made ordinary choices feel different. “having time makes”
TravelFreedomWork
Michelle · Fire and Wide
Read original postfireandwide.com

They drove away from their old life with doubts. Six years later, the road still appealed.

Aug 2020Recalled in 2026

“wondering if we made the right choice”

Jake · Wandering Money PigRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Selling, donating and packing reduced the contents of their longtime home.
  • They drove to stay with family in North Carolina after closing.

How it felt

  • Leaving familiar surroundings prompted doubts. “wondering if we made the right choice”
  • In retrospect, he felt the decision had worked out well. “a resounding yes”
TravelSimplicityFamily
Jake · Wandering Money Pig
Read original postwanderingmoneypig.com

Part-time travel helped a physician find his place at home

Jul 2020Recalled in 2021

“I started to feel anxious and felt the need to start searching for my next career”

PoF Post-FI 1Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • The family began a year of RV travel across the US.
  • He mixed locum work with prolonged breaks and household tasks.

How it felt

  • He welcomed time to relax. “time to relax”
  • He felt out of place in the family routine. “felt awkward”
ParenthoodIdentityTravel
PoF Post-FI 1
Read original postphysicianonfire.com

Renting winter homes keeps the next destination open

Mar 2020Interview snapshot · published 2020

“we have now opted to rent (Airbnb) instead”

ESI Millionaire 164Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After a consulting phase ended, the retired couple traveled more and chose winter rentals instead of buying a second home.

How it felt

  • They wanted to explore several southern locations before deciding whether one suited them for a permanent winter base. “we have now opted to rent (Airbnb) instead”
HomeTravelChange
ESI Millionaire 164
Read original postesimoney.com

Retirement began with travel restrictions. The motorhome years still delivered.

2020Recalled in 2023

“She found the first few months under lockdown hard.”

Mark GreeneRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • They stopped full-time work in early 2020.
  • Travel plans were constrained by lockdown.

How it felt

  • His wife found the first restricted months difficult. “found the first few months under lockdown hard”
  • Mark did not regret leaving work. “never had second thoughts”
TravelChange
Mark Greene
Read original postmonevator.com

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