jonat
Recycles dryer sheets
I FIREd at the end of 2016 at age 61. This wasn't my plan - I expected to work another 4-5 years - but Megacorp both made it worth my while to retire then, and also dramatically changed the work environment to something I hated, so the decision was easy. Anxiety over the decision was not.
Like many here, I "self-identified" with the work I did, and I had a good reputation both within the company and among our users. I was a software engineer, though in the latter years I was on the support side, and I wondered how I would deal with it psychologically, especially as I didn't want to make a complete break from the field.
I decided that I would "step away" from that part of the world for a month - no peeking in the user forums, etc. Then I'd see how I felt after that. It was easier than I thought - while I was still glad to be a part of the community, I no longer felt the need to answer every question, investigate every problem, and feel personally responsible for issues. The Poles have a great saying that I discovered: "Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy", which translates literally to "Not my circus, not my monkey", or more colloquially, "not my problem".
Now I get involved where and when I want to, and don't feel I am shirking my duty if I leave issues to others (including the coworkers I left behind.) I remain active in the community, and have stepped up my involvement in the parts I loved.
Now it is close to a year after FIRE and I feel great! I have lots of things occupying my time, but they're things *I* want to do. DW and I are freer to travel more, and we do.
Like many here, I "self-identified" with the work I did, and I had a good reputation both within the company and among our users. I was a software engineer, though in the latter years I was on the support side, and I wondered how I would deal with it psychologically, especially as I didn't want to make a complete break from the field.
I decided that I would "step away" from that part of the world for a month - no peeking in the user forums, etc. Then I'd see how I felt after that. It was easier than I thought - while I was still glad to be a part of the community, I no longer felt the need to answer every question, investigate every problem, and feel personally responsible for issues. The Poles have a great saying that I discovered: "Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy", which translates literally to "Not my circus, not my monkey", or more colloquially, "not my problem".
Now I get involved where and when I want to, and don't feel I am shirking my duty if I leave issues to others (including the coworkers I left behind.) I remain active in the community, and have stepped up my involvement in the parts I loved.
Now it is close to a year after FIRE and I feel great! I have lots of things occupying my time, but they're things *I* want to do. DW and I are freer to travel more, and we do.