15 Years!

[walkinwood]

The 1st of May marked 15 years since we first quit our jobs & began this ER journey in earnest.

We are happy and healthy with much to keep us engaged.

Our portfolio is a little higher (in real terms) than when we started back in 2008. While our SWR is based on Bob Clyatt's 4%/95% method, we've never used the 95% backstop. Our annual spending has mostly been under 4% of the portfolio at the beginning of the year.

A big difference from the early years is that a few of our friends have now retired and our retired status is now seldom met with surprise. All good things!

I'm grateful for the advice and support and sense of community that this forum has provided.

If you're interested, here are my past updates on this ER journey. It may also be of interest to those about to embark on this journey.

https://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/10-years-91820.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-by-81774.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ars-71848.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...day-66463.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-er-63105.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-er-57367.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-er-55986.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ate-50469.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...old-47618.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-er-44084.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...day-35372.html

 

[street]

Congratulations!!! It ss as easy as that. Lived 15 years in ER and still have more than you started with.

I'm also a May first graduate from the work force and I'm at 7 years.

 

[audreyh1]

Great!

 

[flyingaway]

Do you have any plan to spend down your portfolio, I.e., increase spending if you have too much money.

 

[Midpack]

Congrats, glad to hear your plan is working!

 

[folivier]

I'm 69? How did that happen? Been retired going on 13 years so trying to catch up with you. Enjoyed every day so far with NO regrets.

 

[scrabbler1]

Walkinwood, I'll be joining you in the 15-year club in about 6 months. Congrats!

 

[walkinwood]

Thank you to all!

Do you have any plan to spend down your portfolio, I.e., increase spending if you have too much money.

That's a very good question. We do! I'm in my early 60s and DW is younger. So we still have a couple of decades to go.


Our budget allows for pretty much everything that we wish to do or buy. We've upped our "luxury" quotient recently - splurging for better seats on flights, better hotels when we travel etc. But we still wish to get value for our money or we just feel cheated and it sours the experience.



We don't have children, so aside from reasonable bequests to nieces & nephews & any siblings, the rest will go to charity.

 

[Alan]

Happy FIRE anniversary, that is a great achievement. Well done.

 

[pacergal]

Congratulations. So nice when our plans work out the way we hoped they would!

 

[yakers]

Retired @57 in March 08, DW in 06. Portfolio higher than then. On a Portugal/Spain trip right now. I will say late 2008 was a bit scary.

 

[Gumby]

Congratulations.

 

[Dtail]

Congrats.

 

[skyking1]

congratulations!

 

[RxMan]

Congratulations!

 

[ls99]

Ditto on 15 years. If I make another 15 Ill be 90

 

[MarieIG]

Congratulations!

 

[LARS]

Another May ERer. It is twenty eight years for me.

When I started I used to run my spread sheets out sixty years.

Alas, not anymore! Good news is that it looks like Social Security will actually be there (at least for a few years ;-))

 

[Koolau]

Heartiest congratulations. May you have many more happy and fulfilling years in retirement.

 

[FreeBear]

Another May ERer. It is twenty eight years for me.

When I started I used to run my spread sheets out sixty years.

Alas, not anymore! Good news is that it looks like Social Security will actually be there (at least for a few years ;-))

Wow, just wow, 28 yrs Fired! We used to run our spreadsheets out 40 yrs, complete with actuarial life expectancy tables. Now we only go out about 30 yrs. Now, “time passes much too quickly”…

 

[Koolau]

Wow, just wow, 28 yrs Fired! We used to run our spreadsheets out 40 yrs, complete with actuarial life expectancy tables. Now we only go out about 30 yrs. Now, “time passes much too quickly”…

My spread sheet goes out to 99 and no more. Anything beyond that is gravy whether I have money or not. YMMV

 

[F.I.R.E User]

Congratulations!!! It ss as easy as that. Lived 15 years in ER and still have more than you started with.

I'm also a May first graduate from the work force and I'm at 7 years.

ER? Hope it’s not the Emergency Room.