Early-retirement wannabe

westv

As long as you do what you really want to do rather than what you think you should do then it doesn't really matter if that includes paid employment.

mgdavid

I'm not surprised, you're clearly a bit of a different animal from the majority - and thank goodness for that as someone needs to keep the wheels of commerce turning and earn the money and pay the taxes that pay our pensions!!

kidmugsy

Is my memory playing tricks or did I say earlier that I suspected this whole huge thread of being based on an elaborate leg-pull?

k6chris

I will have to take your poster off my wall now I think that now you are FI you will have a different relationship with work and if your employer knows you could walk away they will have a different relationship with you. Good luck, but let's keep the thread going.......other plans may vary!

gfplux

Marine_life wrote: »

Long time no post....time for an update

and a fairly major one.

Decided to go back to work.

What can I say other than "its a funny old world".

I enjoyed a couple of months on the side lines but a couple of things made me decide it just wasn't for me.

1. Having told my employer I was retiring they took away all my previous (stressful) roles and I'm now able to negotiate the job I've always wanted.
2. I found I really missed the responsibility and challenge - I've read all those trite saying like "nobody ever died wishing they'd spent more time in the office" but I'm fine with that.
3. At 53 its hard to think about NEVER working again. Maybe I will only work another 2 years - maybe 5 - who knows. The key to financial independence is the freedom to choose.
4. I certainly haven't allowed a long time to adapt to retirement but in all honesty ... I was a bit bored. I have hobbies and interests but really ....I felt the days just leaked away without 'closure' if that makes any sense at all?
5. I don't want to be careful with money. Nobody could argue our retirement budget is anything other than generous but I want to take the topic of money completely off the table.

I haven't locked in the new job yet but I've been playing the part for the last 6 weeks. Some box ticking and then I am back.

Thoughts?

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

chucknorris

Marine_life wrote: »

I certainly haven't allowed a long time to adapt to retirement but in all honesty ... I was a bit bored. I have hobbies and interests but really ....I felt the days just leaked away without 'closure' if that makes any sense at all?

It is over 7 years since you started this thread, and it sounds to me like you have spent that time preparing financially for retirement, but not otherwise. I handed in my notice to retire 18 months ago, but they asked me to stay and work one day a week, which I enjoy doing. But every now and then it does get in the way of my real life, I gave up playing chess last year because there wasn't really enough time to do it (I was captain of two chess teams), there is still so much to do (as well as the usual stuff with family and friends):

Hiking
Running (although I am injured at the moment)
Cycling
Weight training
Gym classes
Outdoor bowls
Indoor bowls (I am struggling to fit this in)
Swimming (I have had to sideline this, not really enough time)
Short breaks away as well as at least one long annual holiday (which will become 3 months in Spain during the winter when I do eventually) retire).

bugslet

Marine_life wrote: »

Long time no post....time for an update

and a fairly major one.

Decided to go back to work.

What can I say other than "its a funny old world".

I enjoyed a couple of months on the side lines but a couple of things made me decide it just wasn't for me.

1. Having told my employer I was retiring they took away all my previous (stressful) roles and I'm now able to negotiate the job I've always wanted.
2. I found I really missed the responsibility and challenge - I've read all those trite saying like "nobody ever died wishing they'd spent more time in the office" but I'm fine with that.
3. At 53 its hard to think about NEVER working again. Maybe I will only work another 2 years - maybe 5 - who knows. The key to financial independence is the freedom to choose.
4. I certainly haven't allowed a long time to adapt to retirement but in all honesty ... I was a bit bored. I have hobbies and interests but really ....I felt the days just leaked away without 'closure' if that makes any sense at all?
5. I don't want to be careful with money. Nobody could argue our retirement budget is anything other than generous but I want to take the topic of money completely off the table.

I haven't locked in the new job yet but I've been playing the part for the last 6 weeks. Some box ticking and then I am back.

Thoughts?

Well you certainly aren't the only one, doubt you'll be the last. Jim from SHMD did the same

https://sexhealthmoneydeath.com/about/

Until you try something, how will you know if it's for you?

I'm 99% sure that once the year end is over (March), I will look to work four days a week - Friday I am gone by 14.00 anyway. And see how it goes from there. I'm unsure that I want to retire yet.

jungle_jane

Marine_life wrote: »

Thoughts?

Do what makes you happy. If you find that's not the right decision then change it something else that feels right

ams25

I am the same age, used to be a bit (lot?!) of a workaholic and always thought (planned for) 55 would be the right age to be able to stop but had had enough at around 50. Today at 53 have been early retired for over 18 months...and have loved it...and zero desire to go back to work. Have 2 primary age school children to look after so not full retirement (never a quiet moment) but the idea of stepping back into the corporate arena horrifies me. However, I could possibly see myself doing some kind of self employed/consultancy type work in the future on a part time basis if I get bored when the kids are older. But going back full time....deadlines, politics, early starts, late finishes, s&%t hitting the fan.. No thanks.

But we are all different....and if for Marine Life being financially independent has provided the opportunity to optimise work then all is well. As long as its right for him...

Good luck.

OldMusicGuy

Marine_life wrote: »

Long time no post....time for an update

and a fairly major one.

Decided to go back to work.

What can I say other than "its a funny old world".

I enjoyed a couple of months on the side lines but a couple of things made me decide it just wasn't for me......
Thoughts?

You are clearly a bit young for full retirement IMO. I still felt fairly resilient and strong mentally between 50 and 55, but later 50s was when the pressure started to build. I could feel my body ageing, blood pressure going up, increasing aches and pains, not getting enough exercise, hating the travel (could not sleep in hotels, always jetlagged). Breaking point for me was aged 58 when I realised I had to leave the high stress world. Original plan was retire 63/64 but brought that forward to 60 (ok not much but a big shift in attitude).

I am 2 weeks away from retirement and am nervous about the financial side (no security of a DB pension) but realise I am done with work. I could do consulting (have had many offers) but that would just take up too much time from the things I really want to do. I do not want to be defined by my job any more. I think if you still enjoy the prestige and kudos of work, then it's too early to go.

The financial side will be challenging, as our take home income will drop by 60% but our ethos will change, we will become Mustachian. Again, you need to buy into that mentality if your finances aren't really secure and there's nothing wrong with preferring to have the security of work if that's what you want.

I would look at it this way - you have FIRE'd. You are doing the work that you want to do because you enjoy it rather than having to do work that maybe is not always enjoyable to pay the bills.