I haven't posted here in over a year. I haven't even looked at this website much over the past year. I still apply the same early retirement principles that I have learned over the years. I just don't feel the need to keep it on the forefront of my mind.
Net worth during my last post (August 2005): $186,000
Net worth today (October 2006): $236,000
What led to the $50,000 increase? About $20,000 was thru my personal saving and investing, which was greatly accelerated when the federal government lifted the percentage limits impossed upon our 401K program. This allowed me to up my contributions to the IRS limit of $15,000 per year. The other $30,000 came from a great year in the stock market.
Now I'd like to share a more personal issue. In October 2005 I was struck with depression from my extremely stressful civil service job. Yeah, I said extremely stressful civil service job. I spent two months away from the office in a mixture of group therapy, antidepressants, psychiatrists, and family members watching over me. I started to realize how much working life meant to me. I don't feel successful without a job. I don't know what to do with my day if I'm not working. I end up wasting time and not being productive if I don't go to work. I took a reassignment into a less stressful division and that sped up my recovery. Now, I'm back to enjoying work again.
I don't know what the future holds for me but I'm more able to handle uncertainty and change that I was just a year ago. I've begun helping and mentoring others with anxiety and depression both on and off the job. I focus less on the early retirement aspect of life and more on the financial freedom and philanthropy areas.
I wish everyone on this board well and I hope you enjoy many future successes in your life.