Hello - I thought it might be a good idea for me to re-introduce myself since I have only posted a few messages, and it was quite some time ago. I've dropped in on and off for the past couple of years, but have been stopping in more frequently and would like to become more active in some of the threads.
I left megacorp in Sept. 2007. I guess most would consider me semi-retired since I do still w*rk part-time - I teach a few classes each week. Despite the fact that my timing left much to be desired (how was I to know the stock market would promptly initiate a nosedive as I left my full-time income behind?!), I've not had any regrets.
I have no pension, and I buy my own high-deductible health insurance. My mortgage is paid off, and I have no other debt. At the time I retired, FireCalc indicated that I could survive with my invested assets, assuming that I continued to live my rather modest lifestyle.
I had been tracking my expenses (almost to the penny) for a number of years so I knew how much I needed in living expenses. Despite that, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that I spend even a bit less now without work. Admittedly, I do not like to travel (heresy, I know!), so that budget item hasn't really been affected. Another pleasant surprise has been that my pt income has supported my lifestyle fully - I have yet to withdraw from any of my investments/assets.
The only real downside has been what the stock market has done, starting right when I left the job. I fully expected ups and downs, even big ones, but can't say that I expected the market to tank just as I retired. Trying to be positive about it, I've concluded that if my finances can survive this, I should be fine for the future, LOL!
Finally, the funniest thing to me has been how people have reacted to me. Almost without fail, when I see my former co-workers (many of whom I consider friends) or just run into someone I haven't seen in a while, they all comment on how relaxed I look. I didn't realize I looked tense before, and I don't feel that different, but apparently it shows.
All in all, I've decided that I would make almost any adjustment to my lifestyle necessary to never have to return to full-time employment. Before I made the decision to leave my job, I read a number of books including the excellent "Work Less, Live More" by Bob Clyatt. I decided that I was fine with working pt as necessary, and consider that option a fallback as needed.
I left megacorp in Sept. 2007. I guess most would consider me semi-retired since I do still w*rk part-time - I teach a few classes each week. Despite the fact that my timing left much to be desired (how was I to know the stock market would promptly initiate a nosedive as I left my full-time income behind?!), I've not had any regrets.
I have no pension, and I buy my own high-deductible health insurance. My mortgage is paid off, and I have no other debt. At the time I retired, FireCalc indicated that I could survive with my invested assets, assuming that I continued to live my rather modest lifestyle.
I had been tracking my expenses (almost to the penny) for a number of years so I knew how much I needed in living expenses. Despite that, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that I spend even a bit less now without work. Admittedly, I do not like to travel (heresy, I know!), so that budget item hasn't really been affected. Another pleasant surprise has been that my pt income has supported my lifestyle fully - I have yet to withdraw from any of my investments/assets.
The only real downside has been what the stock market has done, starting right when I left the job. I fully expected ups and downs, even big ones, but can't say that I expected the market to tank just as I retired. Trying to be positive about it, I've concluded that if my finances can survive this, I should be fine for the future, LOL!
Finally, the funniest thing to me has been how people have reacted to me. Almost without fail, when I see my former co-workers (many of whom I consider friends) or just run into someone I haven't seen in a while, they all comment on how relaxed I look. I didn't realize I looked tense before, and I don't feel that different, but apparently it shows.
All in all, I've decided that I would make almost any adjustment to my lifestyle necessary to never have to return to full-time employment. Before I made the decision to leave my job, I read a number of books including the excellent "Work Less, Live More" by Bob Clyatt. I decided that I was fine with working pt as necessary, and consider that option a fallback as needed.
