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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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71–80 of 91 posts

A pandemic interrupts the first retirement itinerary

May 2020Interview snapshot · published 2020-06

“We are both enjoying the leisure time to work out more, do some hiking, volunteer work and projects around the house.”

ESI Millionaire 191Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • After both retired in November, the couple enjoyed exercise, hiking, volunteering and home projects while travel was on hold.

How it felt

  • They were taking retirement as it came, with future travel and Census work still described as plans. “we are just taking it as it comes.”
ChangeOutdoorsRoutine
ESI Millionaire 191
Read original postesimoney.com

Retirement and divorce arrived together. A different life still took shape.

Apr 2020Recalled in 2023

“So, I was dealing with a whole new level of emotional and financial challenges.”

ESI Retiree 53Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Divorce followed soon after his corporate departure.
  • The change brought simultaneous financial and emotional demands.

How it felt

  • Divorce overshadowed any feelings about leaving work. “emotional and financial challenges”
  • He did not consider returning to employment. “earned a good salary”
ChangeIdentityCuriosity
ESI Retiree 53
Read original postesimoney.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

A frightening market coincided with a reassuring new community

Mar 2020Recalled in 2021

“I had to dig deep for trust in my chosen asset allocation.”

ESI Millionaire 216Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • She entered a continuing-care community.
  • She maintained her chosen investment allocation during the market fall.

How it felt

  • The timing tested her trust in her finances. “dig deep”
  • Experience of the earlier crash helped her avoid changing course. “leaving it alone”
HomeContentmentChange
ESI Millionaire 216
Read original postesimoney.com

He won his freedom—and ran out of goals.

2020 · Year 4

“That would cause me a lot of stress to have to empty properties.”

Mad FientistRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Reconsidered a proposed two-home arrangement before buying the properties.
  • Absorbed a sharp fall in unexpected post-retirement income while keeping spending restrained.

How it felt

  • The pandemic exposed how quickly the travel assumptions behind the plan could fail. “the entire travel industry would just go poof overnight”
  • Did not want the stress of managing that arrangement under pressure. “I don’t think I would be comfortable with that.”
ChangeFreedomSimplicity
Mad Fientist
Read original postmadfientist.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

A second retirement begins with fewer simultaneous changes

Aug 2019

“That extra buffer feels really good as I wrestle with purpose”

RIT · Retirement Investing TodayRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He left a short experiment back in his former industry.
  • The household was back in England after the Cyprus move.

How it felt

  • The return revealed how much both he and the job had changed. “my own needs had changed”
  • A financial buffer reassured him as he reconsidered purpose and relationships. “That extra buffer feels really good”
RecoveryChangeWork
RIT · Retirement Investing Today
Read original postretirementinvestingtoday.com

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

May 2019 · Year 2

“The everyday workday stress is absolutely gone.”

ESI Retiree 8Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Home projects and bass guitar joined visits with adult children.
  • Travel became a priority while mobility allowed it.

How it felt

  • Everyday work stress had disappeared. “stress is absolutely gone”
  • He still missed colleagues and wanted a clearer sense of purpose. “a more definite purpose”
ChangeFamilyBoundaries
ESI Retiree 8
Read original postesimoney.com

A second retirement begins with fewer simultaneous changes

Jan 2019

“I also think the increased exercise and loss of stress is resulting in my sleeping like a baby currently which can’t be a bad thing.”

RIT · Retirement Investing TodayRead original post (opens in a new tab)

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”
RecoveryChangeWork
RIT · Retirement Investing Today
Read original postretirementinvestingtoday.com

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