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Some thoughts: 6 months in
10-21-2017, 09:01 AM
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#1
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 40
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Some thoughts: 6 months in
It is my 6 month FIRE anniversary. So far:
1. I am spending a lot less money than expected.
2. I have become a gym rat. Lost weight, sleeping well and feel great!
3. I have never been bored...not for one minute.
4. I appreciate things more. Time with family, a sunny day, a night out.
5. Enjoying new hobbies and volunteer work.
6. I have no desire to work, even part time.
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!
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10-21-2017, 09:16 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,433
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YAY! Another successful convert.
Glad you're enjoying retired life, Bklyn55.
omni
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10-21-2017, 09:28 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,999
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Nice to hear. I'm glad it's working out for you.
I've also noticed I spend a lot more time working out now than when I was working. I figure it's the least I can do to take care of myself now that I have all of this free time. I try to get between 2-3 hours of exercise per day. I'm below my high school weight, and it feels great.
Try exploring new types of exercise as well and see if there is something you enjoy doing that you haven't tried previously.
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10-21-2017, 10:12 AM
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#4
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 481
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Excellent summary! I'm four years into this FIRE gig and I still concur with each one!
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10-21-2017, 11:13 AM
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: San Diego
Posts: 14,212
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What a great report Bklyn55.
I have to agree with you on every point. I've discovered lap swimming and have lost weight and toned up since I started... never found the time when I was working.
__________________
Retired June 2014. No longer an enginerd - now I'm just a nerd.
micro pensions 6%, rental income 20%
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10-21-2017, 12:27 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,985
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Yep 18 months in and I couldn't agree more.
Lost 32 lbs, blood pressure and glucose levels down.
More than adequate income.
And to top it off its a beautiful sunny day overlooking the Atlantic with my DW, kids and grandkids. It doesn't get much better. What day is it anyway?
__________________
Took SS at 62 and hope I live long enough to regret the decision.
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10-21-2017, 03:12 PM
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#7
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pinetops
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally Posted by foxfirev5
Yep 18 months in and I couldn't agree more.
Lost 32 lbs, blood pressure and glucose levels down.
More than adequate income.
And to top it off its a beautiful sunny day overlooking the Atlantic with my DW, kids and grandkids. It doesn't get much better. What day is it anyway?
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Sounds Great.... Keep reporting back on the progress...
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10-22-2017, 05:13 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,514
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Great report and will agree with you on every point. I did gain a little weight in my retirement of 15 months. I don't understand why I gained about 8 pounds with all the activity I do but I eat better then I have in years and that is why. I get so much exercise since I retired that I never did while working.
I enjoy every minute of retirement.
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10-22-2017, 05:53 PM
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#9
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Confused about dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 7
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Wow, I could have wrote that exact post myself! 1 year for me.
Congrats and good job Bklyn55.
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10-22-2017, 07:53 PM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 751
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Congratulations!
almost 2 yrs in for me.
I agree on 4 out of 6.
I'm spending right in the middle of the range I expected.
No weight loss, None additional anyway, i did manage to lose 15 lbs from the time I made the ER decision to when I actuality pulled the trigger, about a year long span there. I've never been much for exercise beyond the dog walking and what I get from a fairly active life. Will see what happens with some diet changes, may just get back on the weight loss track. Time will tell. i do thoroughly enjoy having my time be my own. The best part of ER.
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10-23-2017, 01:51 AM
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#11
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bklyn55
It is my 6 month FIRE anniversary. So far:
1. I am spending a lot less money than expected.
2. I have become a gym rat. Lost weight, sleeping well and feel great!
3. I have never been bored...not for one minute.
4. I appreciate things more. Time with family, a sunny day, a night out.
5. Enjoying new hobbies and volunteer work.
6. I have no desire to work, even part time.
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!
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Congratulations! Things really did play out well.
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10-23-2017, 06:07 AM
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#12
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 40
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Just a few more comments which may help others. The first few weeks of retirement were a bit disorienting. I was happy, but I found myself watching way to much CNN! Once I got into a morning routine at the gym, I started loosing weight and feeling better and having much more energy for the rest of the day. For those about to retire...I would suggest some structure to part of the day. I think it helps the transition.
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10-23-2017, 06:09 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bklyn55
1. I am spending a lot less money than expected.
2. I have become a gym rat. Lost weight, sleeping well and feel great!
3. I have never been bored...not for one minute.
4. I appreciate things more. Time with family, a sunny day, a night out.
5. Enjoying new hobbies and volunteer work.
6. I have no desire to work, even part time.
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I'm at 6.8 months. Spending a little more than the original estimate because I can. Sleeping better. Haven't been bored either. More of the old hobbies - travel and photography. #6 to the max.
__________________
"The mountains are calling, and I must go." John Muir
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10-23-2017, 07:07 AM
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#14
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Las Colinas
Posts: 37
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I am 2 months into retirement and agree with previous posters: was a bit disorienting and concerns of what to do with my time. Full disclosure here but I am still doing a bit of part-time work to help transition my previous duties but have found myself resenting the time I need to do to get these projects done. Think that was a good sign for me and that is I am done with w*rk...at least for Megacorp. Anyway I joined a yoga studio and am there most everyday. I have always loved yoga but now I work through the classes without the constant ‘to-do’ list of w*rk items in my head. It is freeing actually. There is no longer the guilt of spending time doing something like yoga or cycling, that I should have been working instead.
For all of you on the fence - do not fear. Time is not infinite and you want to make sure that your time is spent doing what you want. No regrets (or regerts depending on whether you have seen the Snickers commercial!)...
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10-23-2017, 07:38 AM
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#15
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Lakewood
Posts: 920
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I love these posts. Keep ‘em coming!
__________________
Why be normal when you can be yourself?
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10-23-2017, 08:23 AM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Beaverton
Posts: 1,382
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I'm a year and a half in. Sure there are times when I just don't have a plan. First thought is "I need to do something constructive" then I come to my senses. First year I went all out with projects but have mellowed since.
I just love the flexibility. Last Sunday I got a 8:00 p.m. text to see if I wanted to go fishing the next morning. Had a great day on the water and salmon hitting the rod all day long. Today I have 45 minutes to decide if I'm golfing.
__________________
Jump in, the water's warm.
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10-23-2017, 11:11 AM
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#17
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 66
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Great thread;
I'm four months in and agree with you. I too use the gym in the morning to kind of set some structure. Enjoy it and am actually getting muscular 😁.
Not spending much money, have taken a couple trips, abd ride my bike alot.
Was concerned about the weather changing but I think I'll be just fine. My spouse is still working, making a pretty good buck and covering health insurance. Plan is for two more years then both of us will be Er'd.
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10-23-2017, 12:01 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 7,045
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I am at 5 years. After year one we started spending more on travel and that has been fun. I also have been teaching an online college class that I love. I can do it from anywhere that I have internet. Life is good!
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10-23-2017, 02:42 PM
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#19
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 400
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I really love reading these posts. Especially now that we are about 6 mos. from pulling the trigger. I am getting quite anxious about whether or not we are making a good decision.
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10-23-2017, 03:10 PM
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#20
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Dryer sheet wannabe
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 10
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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.
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