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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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1–10 of 88 posts

She escaped the office. Then burned out planning the next trip.

Oct 2026 · Year 6

“I think we’ve settled into it nicely.”

A Purple LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Combined an upstate New York home with nearby travel and several international trips. “I think we’ve settled into it nicely.”
  • Renewed the lease through at least May 2027 while planning additional travel.

How it felt

  • Felt comfortably settled after more than a year with a home base. “I think we’ve settled into it nicely.”
  • Enjoyed discovering a new shared routine after her partner retired.
HomeTravelPartners
A Purple Life
Read original postapurplelife.com

Financial safety opened into a brighter home and deeper friendships

Sep 2026

“Money and time well spent!! (So many exclamation marks but they’re meant to convey the real joy that simple beauty offers).”

London A Long Time AgoRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • She renovated a sunnier home.
  • New friendships joined reading, yoga and walks.

How it felt

  • The move brought joy. “real joy”
  • She valued room to grieve her parents. “grateful that I can feel”
RecoveryHomeFriends
London A Long Time Ago
Read original postmonevator.com

Small pleasures made the first weeks rich. Years later, home still competed with adventure.

Sep 2026

“My nose is turned firmly towards home now”

Frogdancer JonesRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Traveled in Nepal and took a scenic flight near Everest.
  • Looked forward to returning home for family birthdays.

How it felt

  • Wanted to be home again without dismissing the trip. “My nose is turned firmly towards home now”
  • Described the holiday positively; adventure and familiar routines both appealed. “It’s been a very good holiday.”
TravelFamilyHome
Frogdancer Jones
Read original postburningdesireforfire.com

Freedom once meant the road. Later, it included a growing family.

Sep 2026

“Making real connections has been the easiest of anywhere I’ve lived.”

Pablo · The FIRE ExitRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • He shared life with his partner and daughter.
  • Personal websites and outdoor activities filled free time.

How it felt

  • Parenthood had become a welcome change. “pretty special”
  • Making connections in Lisbon felt easy. “Making real connections”
ParenthoodFriendsHome
Pablo · The FI/RE Exit
Read original postmonevator.com

An unexpected exit slowly became a retirement she chose

Jul 2026

“the freedom, the flexibility, the contentment”

Leanne / Cresting the HillRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Both spouses were retired, taking local trips outside school holidays.
  • Spent time walking, reading and seeing family; she visited her mother weekly.

How it felt

  • Felt content with freedom and flexibility rather than big plans. “contentment costs next to nothing”
  • Found earlier fears about the loss of wages and timetables had eased. “the freedom, the flexibility, the contentment”
HomeSlowing downPartners
Leanne / Cresting the Hill
Read original postcrestingthehill.com.au

Leaving work was the easy part. The house kept sending bills.

Jun 2026 · Year 7

“I'm usually so busy doing my own stuff I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”

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

Life at the time

  • Handled another roof replacement and ongoing work on the new home.
  • Stayed busy with personal activities while annual outgoings reached roughly $87,000.

How it felt

  • Had little desire to fit a regular job back into his days. “I don't know where I would fit a regular job in anyway.”
  • Hoped the next year would bring fewer expensive surprises. “Hopefully this year will be a little less expensive.”
HomeRoutineContentment
u/hows_my_fi
Read original postreddit.com

She escaped the office. Then burned out planning the next trip.

Jun 2026

“After 5 years of planning how to pop around the world every month and creating perfectly interlocking travel plans, I burned myself out.”

A Purple LifeRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Renewed the apartment lease with her partner.
  • Expected travel to occupy about a quarter of 2026, leaving more time near family.

How it felt

  • Recognized burnout after years of arranging the next move. “I burned myself out.”
  • Planning trips had changed from a pleasure into an obligation; some trips made home seem more appealing. “travel planning went from something I would wake up early excited to do, to something I was obligated to do”
HomeTravel fatigueFamily
A Purple Life
Read original postapurplelife.com

A frightening first year gave way to contented home days

May 2026 · Year 1.33

“Mathematically, I know we can spend more, but we have everything we want right now.”

u/Widget248953Read original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Cooks from scratch with a spouse and walks the dog twice daily.
  • Tends berries and vegetables, trying to grow the garden from seed.

How it felt

  • Feels more comfortable with retirement. “more comfortable with it now”
  • Sees little reason to spend more when current life already feels satisfying. “we have everything we want”
EnoughHome
u/Widget248953
Read original postreddit.com

He escaped burnout. A family and a farm rewrote the retirement he bought.

Mar 2026

“we are probably the living definition of asset rich, cash-flow poor”

Captain FIRead original post (opens in a new tab)

Life at the time

  • Spent days parenting, gardening, beekeeping and working on a hobby farm.
  • Reduced blogging while his wife considered limited paid work. “I have been slowing down with the blogging”

How it felt

  • Described an uncomfortable gap between household assets and available cash. “asset rich, cash-flow poor”
  • Family responsibilities and changing costs were reshaping the earlier plan.
FamilyHomeChange
Captain FI
Read original postcaptainfi.com

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