Ask HN: How is your early retirement working out? I am curious how many of you on the FIRE path have reached the retirement stage and how it's working out for you. How do you spend your time? Is there any friction with your still employed friends and family? Do you miss work? Thanks :) |
When they are in school I study (Korean these days) or build stuff for the fun of it. I'm not really social or anything. I simply like being home and doing the same things that got me FIRE'd to begin with.
I don't have any friction with random people, but I have felt some... resentment/spite/jealousy from friends. I don't know the cause or origins of it.
I noticed them speaking to me less and eventually they stopped messaging me at all. If I messaged them they would respond but would never hold a conversation. I tried for a while and then let them go.
I've had another friend I lost touch with suddenly "reconnect" with me post-FIRE only because he wanted to leverage my network/clout/whatever. So, yeah... I've had to deal with that too.
Well, only some part of it is spite. I think many people associate jobs with identity, so not having a job is like not having a name. Batman has an alter ego for a reason. He can't just meet family and friends as Batman.
I travel on the cheap (2-3 months per year), volunteer at a museum a few times per month, spend gobs of time with my spouse, and work on various artistic/craft projects.
Friendships have been challenging. I have less in common with people my age now. Long time friends are still friends. Coworker-friends drift away once you realize they weren't really friends at all, just colleagues.
No real friction except with super spendy friends (who are still climbing the ladder I jumped off of) who want to make spendy plans. No, we aren't going to drop 10k on a Greek Villa this summer. They have limited time and lots of money, for me, the opposite.
I don't miss work. At all. And I was passionate about it while I was in. Life has its seasons.
Worries in FIRE are mostly related to inflation. Healthcare costs have skyrocketed, and so has the cost of food. We planned a generous buffer and are fine, but the trend line is a bit concerning.
Time: Coding, taking walks, reading, hanging with friends
Friction: Not that I can see. My lifestyle hasn't changed.
Miss work: Nope. I keep in touch with the coworkers I liked to socialize with. I can do the best part of work -- making things -- without the worst part: meetings, perf reviews, political BS, etc.
If you are a creative person, it's the best. Become your own patron.
Note: People who are "doing FIRE right" spend less time online so you won't see their replies. I specifically made an effort to comment on this, if it helps motivate you to pursue it. Best thing I've done for myself.
My partner is on 5 days a week, so I'm a househusband on my "day off".
The main friction seems to be with me. I always attempt to spend the long weekend doing hobbies and having fun, but more often than not I end up doing a bit of consulting for old and new clients.
Hobbies are play, but play is a simulation of some other thing. If you're crafting something but not selling the crafts, you'll hit a point where you question your ability with it.
Tournaments are a nice hack around that, and usually what the financially independent have historically done. You compete for a prize. The prize closes the hobby loop.
But once you start doing tournaments, that draws you back into commitments.
The only way I got FIRE'd was by building a successful business as a solo person. I can't imagine doing it any other way...
TLDR, focus on the big stuff (rent, vehicles, wage increases, etc) and don't sweat the small stuff, within reason.
You could go for a run or a bike ride, have a picnic with friends, play soccer with friends, skate. etc.