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Old 10-24-2017, 06:42 AM   #21
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Originally Posted by Bklyn55 View Post
It is my 6 month FIRE anniversary. So far:

I was VERY nervous to retire from a job I had over 30 years.
Happy to report that retiring early was the best decision I every made!
I love a happy retirement story ! And I'm with you - I have no desire to ever work again !
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Old 10-26-2017, 05:31 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by inmygardn View Post
Thinking about retiring is the worst part. I ran every calculator and was very stressed about making the decision to retire. Two years in I can only say why did I wait so long? I can’t imagine going back to work now.


Exactly my experience!
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Old 11-01-2017, 09:33 AM   #23
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Thanks. This post is just what I was looking for.

Ever since my recent "epiphany" (see here if interested), the wife and I have been seriously focused on accelerating retirement.

To our surprise, we are in much better shape financially than I realized. Plus, we have done a pretty good job cutting spending.

We have run different FIREcalc scenarios and the results are about 95%.

So, while the "idea" of early retirement is quite pleasant and exciting, I am reluctant to actually execute. I don't know if my anxiety is uncertainty over the economy, or fear of actually stopping w@rk and not having a paycheck.

Of course, I suspect it's the latter. I have been working since I was 15, and left home to live on my own when I was 17. I have held a j@b (sometimes two j@bs) without interruption for over 42 years, w@rking part-time through college and full-time through law school.

The idea of being the "breadwinner" is so deeply ingrained that the thought of actually retiring triggers feelings of anxiety.

So, thanks again for this thread (and this forum), because it's helping me build up the nerve to actually say "I'm done".
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Old 11-01-2017, 11:46 AM   #24
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DW and I are almost 3 years into FIRE. At has been a slow adjustment, esp. for me. We spent the first year unloading a house, including doing much of the manual w*rk. The second year was a time of recovery. This year, we realized that we need to get on with our new lives. We started traveling extensively, at least from our perspective, and it has been a blast. The rising market sure makes it easier to spend $$$.

For the first 2 years, I was plagued by w*rk-mares, unpleasant nightmares about w*rk. Recently, these have abated, both in frequency and intensity.

Also, I've largely lost that sense of "guilt" that I should be doing something "productive". Now I realized how precious my remaining days are and make no excuses for enjoying them with beautiful DW.

I guess I'm a slow learner, but I'm finally settling into FIRE. For 2018, we're planning a mega cross country road trip, something I've been dreaming about for decades!
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Old 11-01-2017, 07:48 PM   #25
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I'll add, 9 months in. I am truly never bored (but I know myself and my hobbies and that is no surprise) and I never worry about money. I log into 401Ks and pour over spreadsheets, but never find any reason to worry (today!). DW is still working and struggling a bit sometimes, but we can work through that if need be. Not sure I have found my rhythm yet, a few surprising health issues have me concerned, but seeing the appropriate specialists. Waking up every morning thinking "what do I want to do today?" is still the best.....
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Old 11-01-2017, 07:58 PM   #26
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Having more time for fitness and other physical activity, is in my view, the biggest upside of retirement. Really need to take advantage of that because if you do, everything else is better. Also, helps create structure for your day which some people find useful.

Couch potato may be a good investment strategy, but it’s an awful retirement strategy
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Old 11-01-2017, 09:11 PM   #27
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5 weeks in:

OMG this is awesome! Hiking almost every day, lost close to 10 lbs, days go by incredibly fast - but it doesn't matter because tomorrow is another day off
DW said today she can't believe it's forever. We are in our California vacation home and are missing a foot of snow up north. Life is Grand
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Old 11-02-2017, 07:53 AM   #28
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5 weeks in:

OMG this is awesome! Hiking almost every day, lost close to 10 lbs, days go by incredibly fast - but it doesn't matter because tomorrow is another day off
DW said today she can't believe it's forever. We are in our California vacation home and are missing a foot of snow up north. Life is Grand


You sound like I did at a similar point in time. Our 1 year FIRE anniversary is coming up and the good news is, it just keeps getting better! It's real!!
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Old 11-02-2017, 08:53 AM   #29
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The best external confirmation of retirement life was when I sought to extend a portion of my "key man" insurance. The agent said my physical was so much better that a new policy would be the best deal.
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Old 11-02-2017, 02:55 PM   #30
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Almost 2 years in. While I was thinking about it - it wasn't my decision. I actually had some panic attacks thinking about how boring it might be. LOL. Best decision ever. Of course I am a Type B introvert, so it may not be for everyone.
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