Anxiety before FIRE (poll)
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M Paquette
Moderator Emeritus
The anxiety didn't really start ramping up for me until about a month before I left work. I found myself re-running all the simulations (FIRECalc and company) I could find just to make sure. 
I kept talking out my plan over and over with DW, who would nod sagely while continuing to do word search puzzles.
I kept talking out my plan over and over with DW, who would nod sagely while continuing to do word search puzzles.
REWahoo
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give
Absolutely no anxiety - unless that's the term you use to describe the feeling of a five year old kid as Christmas approaches.
I'd say my anxiety peaked around five years before ER and dropped exponentially as the blessed date approached.
Luckily I had plenty of retirement checklist tasks to accomplish beforehand, so there wasn't much time to worry about what I'd do all day. And once I'd ER'd, that imaginary problem resolved itself before I really had a chance to notice that it was gone.
I retired a little earlier than expected, in 2007, due to a layoff. Though nominally a 100% equities proponent, my anxiety was enough to raise about 3 years of cash (including college tuition for DS) and hedge with gold and BEARX. The plan was to leave the equities alone until all of that ran out, though I ended up reinvesting quit a bit of it. My DW decided to continue working, mostly because she still enjoys it. All good moves as it turned out.
Never too concerned about what I'd do in retirement. Kind of like a teenager now, jumping from activity to activity depending on what catches my eye at the time.
Never too concerned about what I'd do in retirement. Kind of like a teenager now, jumping from activity to activity depending on what catches my eye at the time.
Khan
Gone but not forgotten
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I had a "run screaming into the night" retirement once I realized I spent less that $25K/year. I'd rather sell a kidney than go back to work.
Plenty of anxiety from 3 years out worrying about the DB pension still being available. Last 6 months the anxiety changed rapidly to eager anticipation.
Rustic23
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
None, I had known for years I was FI. I knew my retirements plans more than covered my current spending. I was working because DW was working and I was bored around the house. From the time she decided she was ready to move to the lake until we both retired was less than three months.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
My anxiety was more related to social aspects than financial since I socialized a lot with my co-workers . I retired anyway . I found new friends and still socialize with some of the former co-workers .
Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Not retired yet, so no vote. However, leading into retirement I can say:
1) Highest level of anxiety was actually telling my boss, I delayed several times. He was in denial for almost a month, but now he realizes I'm serious and we've talked about who will replace me.
2) Moderate anxiety, the period before I told my boss. The one more year syndrome, annoying but probably inevitable.
3) Least anxiety, after I told my boss and ever since. No one aside from DW and my boss know yet, and I like it that way, don't look forward to co-workers once they all know. I am enjoying work a little more now, and whenever something happens I don't like - I smile and tell myself, won't have to deal with this much longer. And mentally checking off some assignments in my head with a 'last time I'll ever have to do this,' and the co-workers/audience doesn't know it.
1) Highest level of anxiety was actually telling my boss, I delayed several times. He was in denial for almost a month, but now he realizes I'm serious and we've talked about who will replace me.
2) Moderate anxiety, the period before I told my boss. The one more year syndrome, annoying but probably inevitable.
3) Least anxiety, after I told my boss and ever since. No one aside from DW and my boss know yet, and I like it that way, don't look forward to co-workers once they all know. I am enjoying work a little more now, and whenever something happens I don't like - I smile and tell myself, won't have to deal with this much longer. And mentally checking off some assignments in my head with a 'last time I'll ever have to do this,' and the co-workers/audience doesn't know it.
East Texas
Full time employment: Posting here.
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W2R
Moderator Emeritus
One of my favorite hobbies leading up to ER was to test my retirement plan against all the "what ifs" I could think of. I did this for hours and hours every week, and while I did not foresee the Market Crash of 2008-2009 or the real estate crash, I did think of some pretty gruesome possibilities. It survived them all, so I was not anxious about financial matters. I was not anxious about my emotional adjustment, either, because I knew I would take to retirement naturally.
So, I voted that I was not anxious.
However, I admit that occasionally, in the middle of the night, I was fearful that something terrible and unexpected could happen - - a "Katrina II", or maybe my agency would be disbanded before I could retire (forcing me to move at my own expense to Alaska or something), that my daughter would need money desperately for some reason, or maybe I would be wrongfully arrested for something serious, etc etc. Just general fear of unexpected awful things happening. As dawn broke my anxiety would vanish, so generally I was not anxious at all about retirement.
I think the source of these fears was the thought that nothing is this easy, and the surely something would stand between me and retirement.
However, guess what? It really IS this easy to retire.
So, I voted that I was not anxious.
However, I admit that occasionally, in the middle of the night, I was fearful that something terrible and unexpected could happen - - a "Katrina II", or maybe my agency would be disbanded before I could retire (forcing me to move at my own expense to Alaska or something), that my daughter would need money desperately for some reason, or maybe I would be wrongfully arrested for something serious, etc etc. Just general fear of unexpected awful things happening. As dawn broke my anxiety would vanish, so generally I was not anxious at all about retirement.
I think the source of these fears was the thought that nothing is this easy, and the surely something would stand between me and retirement.
However, guess what? It really IS this easy to retire.
dessert
Full time employment: Posting here.
I'm there right now with 54 days to go. I have prepared for this day for a long time. So far I'm not getting anxious or nervous about ER. Funny thing though, when I'm driving in to work each day I actually think about getting into a wreck and not being able to enjoy ER. That's weird.
bbbamI
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
When I left my job in 1998, I was too ignorant to have anxiety.
When it got close to the time that DH was set to retire, he looked at me and said, "Everything ok?" I said "Let 'er rip!" No anxiety on his part at all. He's been blissful since day one...
When it got close to the time that DH was set to retire, he looked at me and said, "Everything ok?" I said "Let 'er rip!" No anxiety on his part at all. He's been blissful since day one...
easysurfer
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Some anxiety - retired anyway. My original plan was to not retire until Nov 2011. But circumstances made it so I decided earlier. Wouldn't trade my decision for the world, nor would I trade seeing the expressions on some faces when I told them, "I'm outta here!!" 
harley
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
My only anxiety was that I wouldn't get to retire. I volunteered to be downsized, but they didn't want to let me go. If I hadn't gotten the RIF package I'd have had to work 2 more years in order to be eligible for retiree medical bennies. Luckily, through a combination of pleading and acting like a real @-hole, they RIFed me. As far as retirement, my only anxiety was when I realized DW likes to shop online when she's bored. Luckily she's found some activities that keep her interested, and may bring in about what she spends on [-]crap[/-] interesting home goods.
traineeinvestor
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Hopefully less than 12 months to go.
Having over-engineered the financial side (famous last words), my remaining anxieties are:
1. The social side
2. The risk of coming down with a bad case of "just-one-more-yearitis" and delaying things
To reduce the chances of chickening out, I told my immediate boss about my intention to retire early.
Having over-engineered the financial side (famous last words), my remaining anxieties are:
1. The social side
2. The risk of coming down with a bad case of "just-one-more-yearitis" and delaying things
To reduce the chances of chickening out, I told my immediate boss about my intention to retire early.
obgyn65
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
There are days when I feel I have not made the "mental jump" yet... One more year in my case means about an additional $5k-$10k per year in retirement. Still, I am targeting FIRE date July 2012.
Aiming_4_55
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Not retired yet, so no vote. However...
1) Highest level of anxiety: planning early FIRE, crunching numbers, and learning I'm not that far off for a moderate income for retirement. At 41, I thought I was 14 years away, but will have FI in 2-3 years, and option to RE in as early as 4 - 6 years.
2) Moderate anxiety: Lifestyle change with younger kids.
3) Least anxiety: how I will fill my days.
1) Highest level of anxiety: planning early FIRE, crunching numbers, and learning I'm not that far off for a moderate income for retirement. At 41, I thought I was 14 years away, but will have FI in 2-3 years, and option to RE in as early as 4 - 6 years.
2) Moderate anxiety: Lifestyle change with younger kids.
3) Least anxiety: how I will fill my days.
Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I know it seems strange to many here, but that's my biggest fear too. None of my friends will be retired. I don't need constant companionship, but I need to stay social. I am planning on joining in activities that I might not have when I was working.
freebird5825
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Anxiety? nah...at least not related to the FIRE process. I had too many
other sources of anxiety to deal with.
I had a Plan A to do an early out at age 50 with 20 years. Life happened, so I used 2.5 years to put Plan B into action. I essentially "stuck it out" while I increased my TSP principal to a value I was comfortable with. I used online retirement calculators frequently and consulted with a trusted personnel specialist. I made some key changes to my retirement portfolio.
I kept my eye on the ball. When I requested and was denied a lateral transfer to escape an antagonist, I happily put in my resignation letter with 6 weeks until blastoff. Johhny Paycheck would have been proud.
other sources of anxiety to deal with.
I had a Plan A to do an early out at age 50 with 20 years. Life happened, so I used 2.5 years to put Plan B into action. I essentially "stuck it out" while I increased my TSP principal to a value I was comfortable with. I used online retirement calculators frequently and consulted with a trusted personnel specialist. I made some key changes to my retirement portfolio.
I kept my eye on the ball. When I requested and was denied a lateral transfer to escape an antagonist, I happily put in my resignation letter with 6 weeks until blastoff. Johhny Paycheck would have been proud.
scrabbler1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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I answered, "No Anxiety" but I did have a few but fleeting tense moments in late 2008 in the weeks surrounding my ER.
The first was waiting to see the quarterly update to my company stock's value (9/30/2008) following a big drop in the market earlier that month amidst the accelerating financial crisis. For the first time ever, the announcement of the new price got delayed one day. This made me a little nervous because I would be cashing out this stock to provide me funds whose dividends after investing them would cover my monthly expenses. If the price dropped a lot, could I still go through with the resignation? From my read of the memo, it did not appear the price would take a huge hit. And I could always withdraw my resignation if I had to. My next day in the office would not be for 3 more days, though. Anyway, the price dropped by only 1% which was fine.
The second was making that walk to my boss's office. I actually wanted to tell the man who headed my division but he had not yet returned from a meeting, so I had to tell his two immediate subordinates (my direct supervisors) instead, a somewhat tougher task because I liked working for them more than the head honcho. It felt somewhat surreal but I got through it fine.
The next temporary bit of anxiety was waiting for the funds from the 401(k) and ESOP to arrive, as I had provided lengthy and complex instructions as to how to distribute the company stock, pretax contributions and earnings, and after-tax contributions (they received and understood all the faxed instructions perfectly, which was quite comforting). One was a check and the other via electronic payment. The former took about 7 days while the latter took about 4. The following week I went to visit my Fidelity rep to set up the IRA and the taxable bond fund. Handing over two checks worth over $500,000 made me feel pretty powerful, too.
When the stock and bond markets hit bottom in March, 2009, I became a little nervous but things did turn around soon enough.
The first was waiting to see the quarterly update to my company stock's value (9/30/2008) following a big drop in the market earlier that month amidst the accelerating financial crisis. For the first time ever, the announcement of the new price got delayed one day. This made me a little nervous because I would be cashing out this stock to provide me funds whose dividends after investing them would cover my monthly expenses. If the price dropped a lot, could I still go through with the resignation? From my read of the memo, it did not appear the price would take a huge hit. And I could always withdraw my resignation if I had to. My next day in the office would not be for 3 more days, though. Anyway, the price dropped by only 1% which was fine.
The second was making that walk to my boss's office. I actually wanted to tell the man who headed my division but he had not yet returned from a meeting, so I had to tell his two immediate subordinates (my direct supervisors) instead, a somewhat tougher task because I liked working for them more than the head honcho. It felt somewhat surreal but I got through it fine.
The next temporary bit of anxiety was waiting for the funds from the 401(k) and ESOP to arrive, as I had provided lengthy and complex instructions as to how to distribute the company stock, pretax contributions and earnings, and after-tax contributions (they received and understood all the faxed instructions perfectly, which was quite comforting). One was a check and the other via electronic payment. The former took about 7 days while the latter took about 4. The following week I went to visit my Fidelity rep to set up the IRA and the taxable bond fund. Handing over two checks worth over $500,000 made me feel pretty powerful, too.
When the stock and bond markets hit bottom in March, 2009, I became a little nervous but things did turn around soon enough.
Arnie
Recycles dryer sheets
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Not there yet, but having some anxiety as the time approaches, slowly but surely being replaced by that Christmas feeling.
I gave my checklist to Nords, so he could worry for me about my retirement.
Nords, I need to send you my checklist.
East Texas
Full time employment: Posting here.
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Am I the only one who's known since they were in their early 20s they would retire in their mid-50s?
My dad retired in his mid-50s because he simply wanted to enjoy life. He wasn't a wealthy man. He had a pension, retiree health insurance, and eventually social security. He took an occasional consulting job and spent most of his time fishing. I saw how much he enjoyed having the freedom to do things he enjoyed while still young and healthy and I knew I wanted the same opportunity.
I had 30 years to make my plan happen. One year before I hit the double-nickel we put the last of the plan in place - we bought a place in the country. Six months later I sold the house in the megacity. Then I got lucky. I was able to take all of my accrued leave prior to my birthday. There's nothing better than getting a regular paycheck every two weeks for four months while sitting on the porch drinking a cold beer. Then the pension kicked in.
Fast forward five years and I still think early retirement has been the best career decision I've ever made.
My dad retired in his mid-50s because he simply wanted to enjoy life. He wasn't a wealthy man. He had a pension, retiree health insurance, and eventually social security. He took an occasional consulting job and spent most of his time fishing. I saw how much he enjoyed having the freedom to do things he enjoyed while still young and healthy and I knew I wanted the same opportunity.
I had 30 years to make my plan happen. One year before I hit the double-nickel we put the last of the plan in place - we bought a place in the country. Six months later I sold the house in the megacity. Then I got lucky. I was able to take all of my accrued leave prior to my birthday. There's nothing better than getting a regular paycheck every two weeks for four months while sitting on the porch drinking a cold beer. Then the pension kicked in.
Fast forward five years and I still think early retirement has been the best career decision I've ever made.
