EpicRider
Dryer sheet aficionado
My FIRE update after almost two years of retirement. I started my military retirement in July 2016.
- My FIRE journey officially began in Nov 2016 after spending about "two weeks" in my first bridge career attempt. I will not get into all the details, but I had accepted a management level federal position after retiring from the Marine Corps and to put it mildly....it was not the environment I was expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have stayed longer and it might have eventually worked out, but I also think it was my real "wake up" to chose a different path after 26 years in the military and I have no regrets with the life experiences I have had since I walked away from any full time work. I embraced change!
- FIRE life experiences have been mostly amazing; sometimes slow but even then the freedom to do nothing is awesome! I have a difficult time fully embracing doing nothing for very long, but it is nice to have a flexible schedule most of the time.
- FIRE Budget; all good. We have continued to monitor monthly expenditures and consciously simplified when we retired...the big ticket items of home, healthcare and living expenses have all been tracking with expected costs. However, local property in Colorado keeps creeping up and this impacts property taxes and other living expenses. Military retirement healthcare is also creeping up but is still an incredible value for those willing to serve 20 or more years in the service.
- FIRE Hobbies; best part! I have been truly blessed with the many outdoor opportunities available in Colorado and have been able to participate in some extended camping, hiking, climbing, mountain biking and mountaineering. I recently participated in my first glacier climb this July 4th and successfully summited Mt. Rainier (emmons-winthrop route) as part of a "self-guided" Colorado Mountain Club group! These are the type of life experiences I imagined would be part of my best case FIRE plan and only reinforce the importance of striving for the best health possible throughout your journey to FIRE.
- FIRE travel; best part #2! My DW of 28 plus years and I have had an amazing time working on some "bucket list" travel. So far trips to Mexico, Vancouver, Alaska and throughout the midwest have provided some lifelong memories and brought us closer than we ever expected at this point in our lives. Mileage may vary, but we have been surprised at the amount of fun we have spending time together and planning our trips!
- FIRE future; still developing. So far, we are content. We don't have as much as some, but we feel very blessed with the options we do have since choosing a simpler path for our future. We both "walked away" from additional money in order to focus on other priorities. Our lives still have moments of chaos and other challenges but we are definitely less stressed and more focused on the small moments available more frequently when you are not working for the weekends or holidays. We discuss thoughts of returning to work; part-time or full-time related to a "passion" vice just working but we have not pursued this option very much. As mentioned, it is hard to give up the freedom of "time".
I still really enjoy this forum and appreciate all the life advice provided by the many members! FIRE is not perfect and does not guarantee dreams will come true but it can provide you the space and time to make special memories that will exceed your wildest expectations.
Attached a few photo-moto pic's: Mt. Rainier (Camp Schurman); Mt. Wetterhorn Peak & one of many Utah camping overlooks....
- My FIRE journey officially began in Nov 2016 after spending about "two weeks" in my first bridge career attempt. I will not get into all the details, but I had accepted a management level federal position after retiring from the Marine Corps and to put it mildly....it was not the environment I was expecting. In hindsight, I probably should have stayed longer and it might have eventually worked out, but I also think it was my real "wake up" to chose a different path after 26 years in the military and I have no regrets with the life experiences I have had since I walked away from any full time work. I embraced change!
- FIRE life experiences have been mostly amazing; sometimes slow but even then the freedom to do nothing is awesome! I have a difficult time fully embracing doing nothing for very long, but it is nice to have a flexible schedule most of the time.
- FIRE Budget; all good. We have continued to monitor monthly expenditures and consciously simplified when we retired...the big ticket items of home, healthcare and living expenses have all been tracking with expected costs. However, local property in Colorado keeps creeping up and this impacts property taxes and other living expenses. Military retirement healthcare is also creeping up but is still an incredible value for those willing to serve 20 or more years in the service.
- FIRE Hobbies; best part! I have been truly blessed with the many outdoor opportunities available in Colorado and have been able to participate in some extended camping, hiking, climbing, mountain biking and mountaineering. I recently participated in my first glacier climb this July 4th and successfully summited Mt. Rainier (emmons-winthrop route) as part of a "self-guided" Colorado Mountain Club group! These are the type of life experiences I imagined would be part of my best case FIRE plan and only reinforce the importance of striving for the best health possible throughout your journey to FIRE.
- FIRE travel; best part #2! My DW of 28 plus years and I have had an amazing time working on some "bucket list" travel. So far trips to Mexico, Vancouver, Alaska and throughout the midwest have provided some lifelong memories and brought us closer than we ever expected at this point in our lives. Mileage may vary, but we have been surprised at the amount of fun we have spending time together and planning our trips!
- FIRE future; still developing. So far, we are content. We don't have as much as some, but we feel very blessed with the options we do have since choosing a simpler path for our future. We both "walked away" from additional money in order to focus on other priorities. Our lives still have moments of chaos and other challenges but we are definitely less stressed and more focused on the small moments available more frequently when you are not working for the weekends or holidays. We discuss thoughts of returning to work; part-time or full-time related to a "passion" vice just working but we have not pursued this option very much. As mentioned, it is hard to give up the freedom of "time".
I still really enjoy this forum and appreciate all the life advice provided by the many members! FIRE is not perfect and does not guarantee dreams will come true but it can provide you the space and time to make special memories that will exceed your wildest expectations.
Attached a few photo-moto pic's: Mt. Rainier (Camp Schurman); Mt. Wetterhorn Peak & one of many Utah camping overlooks....
