Knowing when to quit can be tricky. For me, the primary consideration was financial. Could I sustain my life with the amount of money that I have invested? Once I realized that the answer was “yes”, quitting was easy. That’s because I had grown to detest my job, the company, the commute, most of the people, the culture, the corporate nonsense, and the soul sucking pointlessness of it all. I also felt that, at 57, time was running out. There was so much that I wanted to see (travel) and do. So, I gave my notice and retired.
Life became immediately great. For over 2 years I travelled, spent more time with my grown family, and did a ton of household improvement and renovation projects. I squeezed in an epic trip and arrived back home literally the day before the mass Covid lockdown. That was mid March, so things have been a bit weird since then. Although, I have to admit that the lockdown didn’t change my lifestyle that much - other than curtailing international travel. I’ve become a bit more lethargic and lazy, and since most of the necessary projects at home have been completed, I’ve taken to helping out a couple of my kids with their home improvements in cities a fair distance away from where I live. It has helped fill the time, that’s for sure. I also help my daughter in her business by doing regular grunt work like deliveries and picking up supplies.
I’m trying to exercise more, but joint soreness, muscle aches, and chronic laziness prevents me from excelling on that front. I’m 61 now, so I sure am glad I pulled the plug on the rat race sooner than later. I don’t know that I would have had the energy that I did even 3 years ago.
The dilemma now, however, is where do I go from here?
There is only so much time one can spend reading, walking, listening to podcasts, and cooking meals. Booze has its limits too. One needs to be careful with that stuff - especially knowing that you don’t have to get up for work the next day.
So, I’ve been pondering what the next phase of retirement should be. I’m satisfied with the “me time” I’ve had so far. What’s next?
Volunteering? Some no-brainer part time job? Flying lessons? Get a commercial truckers license?
Maybe I’ll sell the house and buy a hobby ranch and pretend to raise cattle, ride horses, and raise me up a crop of dental floss.
I’ll figure it out, I suppose.
Like I said earlier, though, you need the funds (through a lifetime of investing), and the abhorrence of your corporate slavery thankless job to make it happen.
My favourite thing is to wake up in the morning knowing that I don’t have to go to the office, and the only task immediately at hand is to make a fresh pot of coffee!
Knowing when to quit can be tricky. For me, the primary consideration was financial. Could I sustain my life with the amount of money that I have invested? Once I realized that the answer was “yes”, quitting was easy. That’s because I had grown to detest my job, the company, the commute, most of the people, the culture, the corporate nonsense, and the soul sucking pointlessness of it all. I also felt that, at 57, time was running out. There was so much that I wanted to see (travel) and do. So, I gave my notice and retired.
Life became immediately great. For over 2 years I travelled, spent more time with my grown family, and did a ton of household improvement and renovation projects. I squeezed in an epic trip and arrived back home literally the day before the mass Covid lockdown. That was mid March, so things have been a bit weird since then. Although, I have to admit that the lockdown didn’t change my lifestyle that much - other than curtailing international travel. I’ve become a bit more lethargic and lazy, and since most of the necessary projects at home have been completed, I’ve taken to helping out a couple of my kids with their home improvements in cities a fair distance away from where I live. It has helped fill the time, that’s for sure. I also help my daughter in her business by doing regular grunt work like deliveries and picking up supplies.
I’m trying to exercise more, but joint soreness, muscle aches, and chronic laziness prevents me from excelling on that front. I’m 61 now, so I sure am glad I pulled the plug on the rat race sooner than later. I don’t know that I would have had the energy that I did even 3 years ago.
The dilemma now, however, is where do I go from here?
There is only so much time one can spend reading, walking, listening to podcasts, and cooking meals. Booze has its limits too. One needs to be careful with that stuff - especially knowing that you don’t have to get up for work the next day.
So, I’ve been pondering what the next phase of retirement should be. I’m satisfied with the “me time” I’ve had so far. What’s next?
Volunteering? Some no-brainer part time job? Flying lessons? Get a commercial truckers license?
Maybe I’ll sell the house and buy a hobby ranch and pretend to raise cattle, ride horses, and raise me up a crop of dental floss.
I’ll figure it out, I suppose.
Like I said earlier, though, you need the funds (through a lifetime of investing), and the abhorrence of your corporate slavery thankless job to make it happen.
My favourite thing is to wake up in the morning knowing that I don’t have to go to the office, and the only task immediately at hand is to make a fresh pot of coffee!
Life ain’t so bad after all.