Twenty years retired and so far, so good...

donheff

Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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Feb 20, 2006
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With the new year I crossed the twenty years retired threshold. Looking back, those twenty years have been the best since my early 20s. I would like to extend a big thank you to all the participants on this forum who have helped many of us flourish over the years.

I am a natural optimist, so I am anticipating another good decade. But that brings to mind the old joke about the optimist who fell off the Empire State Building. As he passed the 50th floor his shouted "so far, so good." I'm optimistic that I'm at the 50th. :)
 
Congrats on a great 20 years. In my 8th year now and loving it.
 
Congrsts.
Thanks for helping with advice on my posts over the years.
 
20 years in retirement is a big deal. Congratulations!!
 
Congrats on 20 great years of retirement! :dance: (I'm not far behind you at 18.)

omni
 
Congratulations on 20. My goal is to be retired as long as I w*ked. Doesn't seem too likely as that would put me at 94.:facepalm: But, Lord willn' and the creek don't rise, I'll be at 20 later this year myself. Biggest surprise? How fast it goes!:blink:
 
Congratulations on 20. My goal is to be retired as long as I w*ked. Doesn't seem too likely as that would put me at 94.:facepalm: But, Lord willn' and the creek don't rise, I'll be at 20 later this year myself. Biggest surprise? How fast it goes!:blink:
Wow, another 20 year success story. I hope I'm still here reading your posts, when you are 94.
 
Congrats on 20! I appreciate your posts and the knowledge & experience you've shared. Nice to know that a long retirement is possible and fulfilling. Thanks and congratulations!
 
Congrats! I reached 9 years Wednesday. I ER'd at age 50. Some peers told me "You're leaving money on the table" I chose my health instead, physical and mental. NO regrets.

OP, proud of you. I truly believe having a positive attitude helps a lot.
Yeah, retiring early is always leaving money on the table.
 
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Congrats, donheff!

+1 to audreyh1 on RE is leaving money on the table. But once you've got 'enough', so what? [Insert 'trading time I'll never get back for money I'll never spend'.]
 
Congrats, donheff!

+1 to audreyh1 on RE is leaving money on the table. But once you've got 'enough', so what? [Insert 'trading time I'll never get back for money I'll never spend'.]
Yep, and if you wait another ten years to retire then you still leave money on the table when you retire then.

That was a hard thing for me when I ER. Boy look at all the money I could be making if I stay. I don't think that way now after 8 years in ER.
 
What a great achievement. Congrats and best wishes for the next decade! I'm still at 1+ years of ER, hope to have some years ahead.
 
My 21st year last November. When I used to mention to my DW that I gave up a lot of cash - she always told me....you would probably not be here still.

Truly amazing how fast time flies ☮
 
Yeah, retiring early is always leaving money on the table.
Yes, technically that's true, but since FIRE I'm "making" a lot more money on my results! Much better than w*rking for a living! :cool:
 
23 years for me but I did focus on private portfolio management in retirement as a hobby and that has returned many benefits. I had the benefit of just having survived the dot.bomb so I had a sober expectation of returns. I also had no reluctance using niche players to handle specialty products like preferred shares.
 
Congratulations! After twenty years retirement, SORR is on your rear mirror. People who have gone through dotcom bubble and financial crisis during retirement must have very unique experiences. Way to go!
 
Congratulations! After twenty years retirement, SORR is on your rear mirror. People who have gone through dotcom bubble and financial crisis during retirement must have very unique experiences. Way to go!
Yeah. 2008/9 was very "interesting." That period happened a couple of years after I FIRE'd and it was also when I changed states and did two house rehabs. "Unique" is one way to describe it though YMMV.
 
Yeah. 2008/9 was very "interesting." That period happened a couple of years after I FIRE'd and it was also when I changed states and did two house rehabs. "Unique" is one way to describe it though YMMV.
During your “interesting” moment, have you had second thought: “did I pull the plug too early?”.
 
During your “interesting” moment, have you had second thought: “did I pull the plug too early?”.
I retired in January of 2005, so after dot com and before the financial crisis. I never worried but I have the luxury of a Federal pension which makes it easier to sleep.
 
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