New Name for Retire

[nwsteve]

A bright and creative bunch of folks visit this board. Surely we can come up with a better "label" for our life state than 'retired" or semi-retired" and even early-retired"
Maybe it really bugs me that when talking to others that use of the conventional "semi or early retired" creates such a misperception in other people's mind.
Let's see what innovative and refreshing new terms we can develop for our "special" state
As fodder and a beginning point, here are a couple I have played around with: relife; neulifed (not a "re" anything but a new thing); and a madeup word neujorn for new journey.
Okay okay some sappiness but thought it might trigger some wild and crazy ideas. IMHO we should not a "re" anything. The label should be more description of the incredible choices and possibilities we can now explore.
Take your whacks!
nwsteve

 

[John Galt]

I hope you are kidding. I fear you are not.

JG

 

[nwsteve]

John,
As a seasoned poster I am curious why you might a feel a new "label" would not be of value. Your posts suggest that you "get it" better than many. You live your life now very different than ever before.
To me being re anything suggests a replication i.e renew--make new again. So does being retired mean make tired again?
mwsteve

 

[John Galt]

I'm "seasoned" in more ways than one. I'm an old guy who likes the old things and am reluctant to change
just for change sake. That said, I confess that I post
my share of goofy stuff. I just don't think this is a
serious topic, nor am I entertained by it. But, if others are then it's fine with me.

JG

 

[wabmester]

I prefer "terminally unemployed." It gets me plenty of sympathy.

 

[nwsteve]

I just don't think this is a
serious topic, nor am I entertained by it.  But, if others are then it's fine with me.

JG

John,
I am a much newer arrival to this condition of ER or whatever we want to call it so may have not succumb to the condition.  
I have found however, words are powerful in communicating certain "realities".  All you have to do to read the posts here to know our "realities" as ER's is NOTHING at all like the previous generations retirees--in fact the term tended to describe the condition shortly before departure.
My request was not to create entertainment but more to find a phrase that more accurately communicated what we as ERs have in front of us that has nothing to do with death.
"Teminally unemployed" is one one approach but even it does not frame the possibilities that folks like Billy, Brewer 1234 and TH are doing.
If this is not a topic of interest then it will die of its own and we can all continue to use the rear view mirror to describe where we are going.
Always enjoy your comments, John
nwsteve

 

[Nords]

Don't need a new name for it.

Plus ca change...

In the 19th century this used to be referred to as "gentlemen of leisure". I don't think anyone knew how to refer to ER women, especially Hettie Green, although "rich widow" was popular.

But by creating new words to describe ourselves, ERs exacerbate the ever-present risk of being labeled even more self-centered than we already are.

I think we should stick with the phrases that create a picture in everyone's brains while opening the door for further conversation:
- at-home parent
- surfer (or surf bum)
- home handyman
- family financial manager
- private investor
- retired.

If you want to move the discussion right along to a new subject, try "unemployed" or "not interested in working."

 

[brewer12345]

Hmmm, personally, I will not think of myself as "retired" when I get to FIRE any more than I think of myself as "employed" right at the moment. I tend to think of myself as a contractor who has one client at a time and when I choose to no longer have clients, I will devote more time to investing and other pursuits. The fascination with societal labels has never had much appeal to me.

 

[wabmester]

Oh, you hold up your nose to "terminally unemployed," eh? OK, for you, I would pull out my other card that says "poor man's renaissance man: I read all of the internet discussion boards."

 

[nwsteve]

 The fascination with societal labels has never had much appeal to me.

I agree societal labels can be drag--but so is spending so much time unraveling bias that pop out as soon as someone hear a phrase they have already defined eg retired.
Different word--maybe different bias. New word perhaps you can then really define the reality.
Then maybe we could just go with Nords observation of "self centered" So what do you do now--Oh, I spend my time being self-centered.
Looking more all the time, the problem is mine of being a newbie in the category and am just not use to wearing the label.
nwsteve

 

[brewer12345]

I agree societal labels can be drag--but so is spending so much time unraveling bias that pop out as soon as someone hear a phrase they have already defined eg retired.
Different word--maybe different bias.  New word perhaps you can then really define the reality.
Then maybe we could just go with Nords observation of "self centered"  So what do you do now--Oh, I spend my time being self-centered.
Looking more all the time, the problem is mine of being a newbie in the category and am just not use to wearing the label.  
nwsteve

Gotcha. If you need something to tell people who ask, make something up. "Investor", "unemployed" and "freelancer" are popular choices. Those under 55 who say "retired" tend to get funny looks.

 

[hocus]

The word "retire" means "to withdraw." I agree with nwsteve that it does not convey well what those who win financial freedom early in life are trying to achieve.

When you are 65 and don't expect to live much past 70 (that is the circumstance many were in when it first became a common middle-class goal to be able to "retire"), the idea of withdrawing from the world of work before passing on possesses a certain appeal. When you win financial freedom in your early 40s, the idea is not to escape something bad (dependence on a paycheck to cover the costs of living) but to revel in something good (the pursuit of the life goals that one has put off while needing to work for money).

A term that I sometimes use to refer to the purpose of my saving efforts is "Upsizing." I like it because it suggests that the movement is towards something rather than away from something; it is positive in orientation rather than negative. "Downsizing" is something that is done to you because of your financial vulnerability. "Upsizing" is something you control because of the power you gain through saving to live The Self-Directed Life (another term that I find more fitting than "retired" for those who win financial freedom early in life).

 

[brewer12345]

A term that I sometimes use to refer to the purpose of my saving efforts is "Upsizing."

Good thing you like that term. That way when you run out of money and have to go back to work, you will require only a little bit of modification to get to the word "supersize".

 

[hocus]

Oh my.

 

[Cut-Throat]

I read this on another thread. I left work because I came down with anal glaucouma disease: the inability to see my a** showing up for work anymore.

 

[MJ]

In a few months, I will become "Mr. Jack of all trades".

I'll continue being in the "business of life" trading my time or my money for
food,
clothing,
housing,
more sleep,
more reading,
travelling,
working out
playing my instument.
voluntaring my services,
doing nothing,
and the list goes on.

Like I said, a simple jack of all trades, thats moi.

MJ

 

[Marshac]

self-employed financial advisor

 

[Hyperborea]

professional dilettante

 

[retire@40]

Workforce Fugitive

 

[snowbird]

House Spouse

 

[bow-tie]

President/CFO of ME Inc.

I have a very tight group of board members - - me, myself, and I.

 

[fln]

Internet Forums Specialist specialized in Life Strategy consulting.

 

[newellcr]

Financially independent?...

 

[rockpile]

Shiftless bum; according to mother-in-law.

 

[arrete]

As coined by 1HappyFool

"Self-unemployed"

arrete