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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 84 posts

Travel together, with another career still possible

May 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

Life at the time

  • The retired couple traveled and exercised regularly, while remaining interested in trying a different line of work.

How it felt

  • He valued close family involvement and wanted to enjoy experiences while they were healthy. “I’m not a fan of being away from the family at all”

A wish for roots does not mean a wish for office hours

Apr 2018

Life at the time

  • She traveled without a permanent lease or household bills.
  • She increasingly wanted her own bed and familiar belongings.

How it felt

  • Finances felt secure, but travel had become tiring. “I’ve grown weary of the road”
  • She felt isolated and wondered whether roots and relationships mattered more than mobility. “the more isolated I feel”

A little teaching leaves room for a much larger life

Mar 2018Interview snapshot · published 2018

Life at the time

  • After leaving his main career, he kept a small online teaching commitment and took up hiking, writing, travel and visits with grandchildren.

How it felt

  • He described the balance as outstanding, with only a short daily period of paid work. “freedom and independence”

He already had enough. It took a second job to recognize the choice.

2018Recalled in 2020

Life at the time

  • He reduced contracting hours before leaving paid employment.
  • Chosen projects mixed compensated work and volunteering.

How it felt

  • Helping others felt more rewarding than the contractor role. “thoroughly enjoying the new projects”
  • Recognizing financial independence widened his options. “freedom to choose”

A second career keeps scientific skills in use

Dec 2017Interview snapshot · published 2017

Life at the time

  • After retiring from research in 2002 at 58, he trained as a patent agent. By the interview, occasional assignments continued after a busy second career.

How it felt

  • He found the challenge rewarding and kept consulting for enjoyment, despite already exceeding his financial target. “I could give up my work”

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”

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”

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

Dec 2015

Life at the time

  • Staying home replaced long daycare days for his son.
  • Blogging and managing a duplex continued alongside his wife’s employment.

How it felt

  • More time with his child was a central benefit. “that was me”
  • The household arrangement was working for them at this stage. “Right now it’s working out pretty well”

Retirement, a startup and a calmer division of responsibilities

2015Recalled in 2021

Life at the time

  • He left his corporate sales position.
  • Former colleagues drew him into a healthcare startup.

How it felt

  • The abrupt end of the old pace felt harsh. “very harsh”
  • Being comfortable with retirement took time. “took me a while”

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