Were you nervous when you retired?

[Koolau]

When I (self) declared my Financial Independence at 51, I guess maybe I was "nervous" because I didn't retire at that time. I SAY it was because I still liked what I was doing. Several years later when I didn't like what I was doing I retired without any nervousness. YMMV

[WhenIsItTime]

It is a huge decision to walk away from steady income. I did at 47. My WR is well below 4%. I have lots of hobbies and young kids. More importantly, I was burned out on rat race of Corporate America. While I had a significant role performing a “strategic initiative”, I knew I didn’t need work to feel productive, useful or get my ego stroked. When I was confident my financial position trumped the rat race stress, I made the decision.

It’s been a year. I am stress free. Life is great. I do what I want to do for the most part and very little of what somebody else tells me I have to do.

One comment you made we seem to have in common. Daily exercise has become one of my key priorities and accomplishments. It’s aerobic and weight lifting along with several sports (favorite being golf where I’m lowering my handicap). So refreshing to do this without historical burden of constantly thinking about work.

For me, time still moves fast. I’m very fortunate to be spending it on my terms and not that of an employer.

Is work the best part of your day or week?

[Stormy Kromer]

I was a nervous wreck Before I retired.

[kcowan]

I was nervous because the portfolio had just melted down and DW was still enjoying work.

I spent 2 years as a private trader, and by the the time my wife was ready, our portfolio measured up too. After that everthing else seemed easy. I quit all my Board positions the following year.

[Green Papaya]

Three years ago, we were both working but kids were off to college. We were in good shape financially and could see light at the end of the tunnel. To battle empty nester syndrome, we decided to take dance lessons, plan more trips and couple activities together.

Early last year, we hit out target xxx NW number, and DW became unhappy with her BS bucket so she quit. I continued to work for 6 more months until 2 of our 3 kids graduated from college with good jobs lined up. I then gave notice at work, retired at 60 and we lived on our savings. DW was really nervous about it. When COVID hit, our NW took a hit and the anxiety level went way up. But I was still glad that I did not have to work and continued to enjoy our limited activities during the pandemic.

If you have enough money and have other things to do with your free time, then jump in. The water is fine. I am glad I did.

[Navigator]

I was definitely nervous about retiring. I liked my job but felt I had to leave because of health problems, so was really torn about what to do. Retirement is a huge life change - I think it is natural to be nervous about it.

[Sanstar]

Three months before retiring, I started making a list of “what I’m not going to miss”; read Zelinski books, made a travel bucket list; put a last day music play list together to listen to on the ride home; had a long list of projects and made a list of what to enjoy in solitude (DH wanted to keep working) and what to do to treat loneliness.

Five years later, still working to clear the project list, read the not miss list occasionally for a good laugh, continue editing the travel bucket list. Although, travel is temporarily on hold. Still enjoy the play list. Have yet to experience loneliness and am prepared should it occur.

Also, slept 10 - 12 hours every night for more than a year. Now, 7 - 8 hours. Can count on one hand the number of naps taken since retirement.

All in all, zero regrets. Loving life and looking forward to what’s next.

I hope your experience is all this and more!

[VFK57]

I was nervous only because I could not continue to do what I did all my life and understood clearly that the best part of my life was over. Sure there is freedom with FI retirement and if not for Covid, we would travel as we did twice, sometimes 3 times a year. In conclusion: enjoy your freedom and FI because our lives are not lasting forever. Many people could not retire even at 70. On the other hand DW sister was preparing to retire at 55 with the Standford retirement plan but died of cancer at 52. That is another main reason not to worry if you have enough and retired.

[bada bing]

Today is my retirement day. Not nervous, but it is an emotional day. I packed my bags and cleared out my room at camp this morning. Caught the company air charter to town for the last time. My crew had a small barbecue at the worksite last night to celebrate my retirement. It is good to go out while still on "top of my game" but I know that time is marching on and retirement is a big milestone marking the passage of time. Lots of stuff to do and and only a finite but unknown time to do it with.

I am going out on a very lucky note. I had planned to retire this year from several years ago, but serendipitously mega-corp decided to sell the asset at almost the exact time I would have gone anyway. Resulted in a nice severance windfall. Money isn't likely to be much of a limiting factor for me, which makes me fortunate and grateful. Having fairly simple wants and needs is a help as well.

On to the next phase

[Time2re]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bada bing Today is my retirement day. Not nervous, but it is an emotional day. I packed my bags and cleared out my room at camp this morning. Caught the company air charter to town for the last time. My crew had a small barbecue at the worksite last night to celebrate my retirement. It is good to go out while still on "top of my game" but I know that time is marching on and retirement is a big milestone marking the passage of time. Lots of stuff to do and and only a finite but unknown time to do it with. I am going out on a very lucky note. I had planned to retire this year from several years ago, but surreptitiously mega-corp decided to sell the asset at almost the exact time I would have gone anyway. Resulted in a nice severance windfall. Money isn't likely to be much of a limiting factor for me, which makes me fortunate and grateful. Having fairly simple wants and needs is a help as well. On to the next phase

Congrats! I believe my DH left the same mega-Corp way up north, about 21 years ago. Was a pretty big surprise to him, took awhile to recover, but ended up being good for both of us. Enjoy your new freedom.

[WestUniversity]

Absolutely! Reworked our numbers about a thousand times and also met with a financial planner/advisor. Everything said yes. Was still concerned about stepping off, so to speak. It’s counterintuitive to work so hard to get a job and to work so hard to keep it and then to voluntarily walk away from it into a untested future. All my efforts however paid off. I’ve been retired for almost two years and the planning worked perfectly. It was absolutely the right decision.

[Vacation4us]

My retirement date is fast approaching in December. DH retires 11/2.

As a nurse I completely understand where your coming from. I have had some second thoughts myself. I am making the most money I have ever made as a nurse and walking away seems counterintuitive to me right now. We move back to SoCal in December. I could keep my job and travel here once a month for 8 days with all the headaches that entails or I could look for work close to home at 50% of what I make now. Neither sounds appealing. So retirement it is.

I am nervous I am excited I am crazy but it’s happening.

Good luck to you!

[kingkarmann]

I was never nervous.
I worked very hard for relatively little. I have always been able to enjoy a lifestyle that fits my income. Sometimes it’s caviar, sometimes tuna. Both are good.

[msanniee]

I was quite concerned about anxiety after I retired. The opponent happened. I was relaxed, and began enjoying my life. I retired at 59.5 years young and have never looked back. Enjoy your retirement.

[Toocold]

I was only nervous about the large amount of stock options I had to cash, and figuring out the tax implications. It spiked a bit when the stock market became volatile. Everything else was relatively calm.

[athena53]

I was driven my whole life by a fear of being old and poor and by the mantra, "No matter what happens, do NOT touch the retirement funds". I'd planned to work till age 65 but my BS bucket was full at age 61 and consults with planners from two firms confirmed what my simplistic spreadsheet projections told me: I'd be OK.

That was 6 years ago and I'm in better shape than I would have expected so I've relaxed a lot. The one metric I keep checking, in addition to the fancy models, is average annual increase in invested assets since retirement; right now it's at 3%/year AFTER withdrawals. That tells me my spending is sustainable.

[nobody]

Left work in March and bought a house that I spent way too much on that needs way too much work. Then Covid became a reality. Got hit with hail storm, insurance only covered small percent of of it then the AC went out. Wasn't nervous then, but getting there now after having to spend an extra 21K on the house, right off the bat.

[Live Large]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1242Vintage I wasn’t nervous about retirement for a few reasons. Financially the decision was easy since the monthly pension I was eligible to draw became larger than my paycheck at that point. Not going to deal with all the BS of working for nothing! And before retirement I was working and living (at my own expense) in Los Angeles, 500 miles away from my permanent residence. Rent on a decent condo in LA plus flying back home every weekend was $3k a month. Retirement let me shed those costs. And finally, there was a little voice in the back of my head that kept reminding me that my father dropped dead of a heart attack at age 56 and never took the opportunity to retire with Mom. I turned 56 in April 2020, listened to that voice and retired on May 1, 2020. Now getting to spend my days enjoying life with my lovely bride ... just celebrated 33 years of marriage yesterday!

Congrats! We all are aware life is too short, don’t wait too long ya #’s good Firecalc - Time is of essence
Work Work Work Work think like Socrates take it Ez

Say, you love your work, that’s a good thing but ER is clearly an emphasis here , call it a day ~ early.

Nervous like kid on Christmas 🎄 morning I like that too. Super early just before 40? Wow! ER indeed!
My last day really working was in May 2016 I was 49
nearly 50. At 51, fully cut the cord.

That’s what retirement Freedom can really enhance, time with family, friends, and fun! Albeit, Covid adjustments these days. Travel is mostly out for now although we drive to Cali coast to chase blue skies. No place like home I say...play it safe right.

It would seem you’ve tapered from full-time to part-time similar path I had so cut the cord - some work too long never get to this point. I’ve volunteered, run for local office, feel life full of purpose but specialize in leisure...but that’s why I worked, saved, deferred, early sacrifices - Bored of leisure? I’m Not Tired Yet!

DW has been an RN still works remotely but not for long says she’s ready join the ER group at 50.

Like this post #50 nice round number. Great ideas and encouragement on this site but main objective is ER enjoy your time your way ~ tomorrow? Today!

[maplefireseeker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4nursebee And yet, the thought of quitting work is scary. This despite saving too much. ... Is this what it was like for you? How did you deal with it? How long did it take for the nerves and anxiety to get better? I'd really like to be on the other side of this decision. Thanks, 4RNB

Lots of replies about money. But, if I read your post right, the issue you're wrestling with isn't finances.

I walked away with a package one year ago at age 53. Like you, I was fully FI.
I haven't missed the work -- years of retrenchment had taken the joy away -- but I do miss the people and the routine. Those aren't easy things to replace.

On a forum like this you will hear from lots of ER cheerleaders -- it's the site's raison d'etre. But the transition is a big one -- you don't need to rush it.

I liked the advice from @MarieIG in post #30: take a leave of absence and punt the final decision. There is no downside in that.

[wildbilly]

I'm still scared but it's worth every bit of it. I retired early with just enough to make it as I somewhat frugally was; with some buffer. I feel extremely blessed that I have chosen this path. I see too many friends and family die too young before then get to enjoy much. The risk is highly worth it! It do drool a bit when a friend or such buys a new Tesla; It's still worth the freedom and much less stress