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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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81–90 of 91 posts

A pilot retires as his wife considers more work

Jan 2019Interview snapshot · published 2019

“Since I retired, I wear a straw hat and Hawaiian shirts.”

ESI Millionaire 109Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Newly retired from the Air Force, he enjoyed recreational flying and a relaxed routine while his wife considered returning to full-time nursing.

How it felt

  • He liked the improved balance and was still anticipating how an empty nest and different work schedules would change it. “Since I retired, I wear a straw hat and Hawaiian shirts.”
PartnersChangeFreedom
ESI Millionaire 109
Read original postesimoney.com

Chosen work gave freedom a purpose. Divorce changed the family around it.

Dec 2018

“It has been a hard year.”

Mr. Money MustacheRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Went through a divorce and reorganized family life.
  • Lived nearby and continued spending time together as a family.

How it felt

  • Described a difficult year despite financial resources. “It has been a hard year.”
  • Valued maintaining family contact within the changed arrangement. “we all still spend plenty of time together”
FamilyChange
Mr. Money Mustache
Read original postmrmoneymustache.com

She quit her career. Years later, she quit performing retirement.

Dec 2018 · Year 1

“I’m a person who’s passionate about too many things and loves throwing myself into projects… and therefore my early retirement looks jam-packed with stuff.”

Tanja Hester · Our Next LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Adjusted to daily life with Mark after both left work.
  • Balanced creative projects and social commitments with time together.

How it felt

  • Found that spontaneous days meant different things to each partner. “More time together doesn’t make for instant harmony.”
  • Realized that extra time still did not make every appealing activity possible. “You still can’t do everything.”
PartnersRoutineChange
Tanja Hester · Our Next Life
Read original postournextlife.com

They retired to travel the world. Then family life rewrote the plan.

Jan 2018 · Year 5

“Listening to your kids is a wonderful thing.”

Jeremy Jacobson · Go Curry CrackerRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Tried school in Taipei after their son wanted more contact with other children.
  • Changed the initial school arrangement and began fitting travel around a classroom calendar.

How it felt

  • Valued responding to their child’s preferences. “Listening to your kids is a wonderful thing.”
  • Had not settled where the family would live or travel next. “Future destinations: unknown.”
ParenthoodHomeChange
Jeremy Jacobson · Go Curry Cracker
Read original postgocurrycracker.com

The bucket list did not run itself. Neither did the friendships.

Mar 2017

“Winter would be the best time, but I’m too busy right now.”

MrFireStationRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Compared the retirement activities he had imagined with those he actually pursued.
  • Traveled and enjoyed entertainment while leaving some proposed hobbies untouched.

How it felt

  • Found the calendar full without completing every original idea. “I’m too busy right now.”
  • Discovered that boating involved more effort than the couple wanted. “more work than we wanted”
CuriosityChange
MrFireStation
Read original postmrfirestation.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

Learning to retire, then learning to leave a beloved project

Jan 2017

“Since that stage is about ‘finding stability and routine,’ I think I’ll keep experimenting with what’s out there for a little while longer!”

Donna · Retirement ReflectionsRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Travel and time with friends, family and grandchildren filled many weeks.
  • She and her husband had relocated to Vancouver Island.

How it felt

  • Quiet gaps made her question whether she needed a stronger routine. “Am I still transitioning?”
  • She preferred to keep experimenting rather than declare the transition finished. “keep experimenting”
ChangeFriendsFamily
Donna · Retirement Reflections
Read original postretirementreflections.com

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

2017Recalled in 2019

“This has also been a period of getting used to having unscheduled free time.”

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

Life at the time

  • After the corporate exit, he moved directly into a different job.
  • The couple postponed firm volunteering commitments when they fully retired.

How it felt

  • The health emergency prompted them to reconsider their timetable. “re-thinking an earlier retirement date”
  • They were still learning to use unscheduled time. “unscheduled free time”
ChangeFamilyBoundaries
ESI Retiree 8
Read original postesimoney.com

A trial in Mexico grew into a home and a different health routine

2017Recalled in 2022

“And we knew we would lose our OHIP coverage.”

Jim & Kathy McLeodRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Two snowbird seasons gave them spending records.
  • They moved full-time to Mexico and budgeted for local care.

How it felt

  • Tracking costs gave them confidence in the move. “we knew”
  • They accepted leaving Ontario’s familiar coverage. “lose our OHIP coverage”
HomeChangeEnough
Jim & Kathy McLeod
Read original postfindependencehub.com

A home fit for a while. Traveling light fit better later.

2014 · Year 30

“more trouble than it was worth”

Paul & Vicki TerhorstRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • They had sold the Argentina house in 2012 and continued traveling.
  • Travel interests had shifted toward Europe while retaining visits to Thailand.

How it felt

  • Managing a house had felt more burdensome than worthwhile. “more trouble than it was worth”
  • They were more concerned about remaining time than running out of money. “We're running out of time”
SimplicityTravelChange
Paul & Vicki Terhorst
Read original postretireearlylifestyle.com

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