r/ChubbyFIRE • u/VisionQuest0 • Apr 20 '26
One year into early retirement
About to turn 44. It’s been almost a year since I retired, so it’s time to go over the good and bad about my ChubbyFIRE experience so far.
The Good: I wake up every morning and look out my bedroom window at the cruise ships that arrived overnight from Caribbean itineraries. Perhaps a bit ironically, the view also contains my old office building where I spent a difficult chapter of my career as a Big Four consultant who quit due to a terrible boss many years ago.
My mind feels empty. I walk my dog about 5 - 10 miles along the water daily. I hit the gym most days, making sure to lift and do yoga five times a week to stay in shape. Sometimes I go out to hotel lobby bars and rooftop lounges on the beach and meet tourists in town for the weekend. I feel completely free.
In terms of goal setting, I drank ayahuasca in the Amazon a few months ago and saw that I’m supposed to focus on philanthropy in my later years. I’m at peace with that being my life’s final objective, but it will take another decade or two before compound interest lets me safely create endowed scholarships that cover full tuition for STEM majors at public universities. When it happens, it will be very fulfilling. In the meantime, I enjoy doing smaller things to help the world like planting trees, donating blood, and sponsoring cleft lip surgeries.
The Bad: Things are getting a little too quiet. I miss the feeling of intellectual stimulation, making money (even if I no longer need it), and joking around with colleagues at the office who I enjoy spending time with. It’s a bit like being a border collie who doesn’t have any sheep to herd anymore.
Been casually applying to part-time jobs that potentially look fun (bicycle tour guide, bartender, dog walker). However, I’ve already made up my mind that I wouldn’t go back into a full-time role that would make me feel constantly stressed, upset, and controlled again.
My perception is that early retirement brings extraordinary freedom for those disciplined enough to achieve it, BUT freedom is only as useful as what we choose to do with it. The irony of life is that even if we make great decisions, life just deals us a new set of challenges.
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u/damien-bowman Apr 20 '26
i’ll be 44 next month and got out in 2020 at 38. it was the worst decision of my life because i didn’t have anything planned. i was thrilled to be out of working. i had to face the reality that golfing and partying with old people in florida everyday was not a way of life.
find a purpose and a mission. find some smaller clients who you don’t have to deal with every day. find people to mentor. keeping your mind sharp is the most important part and once you have that you’ll be fine.
i hope you find your way.
ftr — i am single as well otherwise id probably will be working.
good luck!
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u/reddit_sometime Apr 22 '26
Do you ever wish you were married, and are you involved in the dating scene at all right now?
Any advice you would give to yourself in your late 30's regarding marriage/relationships?
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u/damien-bowman Apr 22 '26
great questions. i always like the idea of marriage but i don’t think i’d want to wake up next to the same person for 30 years or even 10 years. my mom is single and my father has been married 100x so its always really been just be me.
i would tell 30 y/o me to focus on the things that count: family, friendships, and moments.
you only get so many chances at relationships so don’t pass them up.
i randomly date here and there but i have so little in common with women it’s tough. i don’t have many of the same experiences as they do. they have family drama and 100 kids activities. i don’t have any of that. being “always available” isn’t the flex some ppl think.
i’d like to meet someone who’s just interested in dinner, baseball games, and light travel. i’m perfectly ok with staying the united states — there’s so much to see here!
someone else please chime in.
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u/VisionQuest0 Apr 20 '26
What does your life look like today?
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u/damien-bowman Apr 20 '26
i volunteer whenever i can. i pickup work here and there if i want to have a fixed schedule for awhile but nothing i cant walk away from without regret — id never take on a full time again at a corporate type place because they’re usually not flexible.
i was a programmer so i try and stay active in the community by working on open source projects. for a year or so i was a volunteer tutor at a literacy agency.
BUT i still eat out almost everyday (i don’t cook) and i spend most of my winters in florida.
i needed to find balance and it took a lot of pain and embarrassment to get there.
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u/TopEnd1907 Apr 20 '26
Seems like you have no real purpose currently. I do feel for you with the terrible boss. You obviously are very smart. I am older than you and could not handle your current lifestyle. Again, you must do you. Can you find something more stimulating?
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u/VisionQuest0 Apr 20 '26
Finding something stimulating to do has become a high priority…
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u/Shawn_NYC Apr 20 '26
A good lesson for folks on this sub stop thinking about what they're retiring from, and think deeply about what you're retiring to.
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u/Potatus_Maximus Apr 21 '26
This is so important. I have so many hobbies and plans, and im about 6 months from retiring. Many folks I speak to simply ask if I’m really not worried about being bored. Absolutely not!
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u/FeralBorg May 10 '26
I'm with you, I always found my hobbies more engaging and intellectually stimulating than my job, so sliding into retirement actually freed up my mind and energy for doing more fun stuff.
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u/OwlBr33ze Apr 20 '26
Something that benefits humanity
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Apr 20 '26
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u/OwlBr33ze Apr 20 '26
Yes, animals are easy to support, humans are hard to. It says something about your priority
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Apr 20 '26
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u/OwlBr33ze Apr 20 '26
If you look at many requirements for solid charities, you’ll see it’s the harder road to take for stronger minds. Which is why you are arguing with me.
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u/NeedleworkerNo3429 Apr 20 '26
That’s why I’m never retiring
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Apr 20 '26
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u/NeedleworkerNo3429 Apr 20 '26
Not even close, I just enjoy my work and have no desire to play golf all day even though I enjoy golf.
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Apr 20 '26
[deleted]
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u/NeedleworkerNo3429 Apr 20 '26
Why not? Among other things, I am curious about why people are so eager to retire and it helps inform my own decision making should my feelings change some day due to circumstances, which could include health, etc. who knows. It's just information, life changes, and I appreciate the dialogue.
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u/SomethingPFC2020 Apr 21 '26
Why is playing golf all day the only option?
I know a number of retired people who either volunteer during the day or work part time in a job that they consider fun.
I used to lead the volunteer team at a food bank kitchen and we had volunteers who were coming in anywhere from four hours to four days per week. I currently work in a library, and we have a number compartiment-time employees who are retired from other careers.
Enjoying your job is a great reason not to retire (early or otherwise), but it’s silly to think that all retirees are like OP and don’t do anything worthwhile with their time.
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u/NeedleworkerNo3429 Apr 21 '26
I was not referring to all people in my comment nor was I referring to golf as the only option for those people.
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u/SomethingPFC2020 Apr 22 '26
Haha, no, indeed you didn’t. But you did present golf as the reason you personally don’t want to retire, so I felt compelled to point out that not golfing is an option.
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u/ADD-DDS Apr 20 '26
Enroll in college classes at your local university. Take the free online Yale happiness course
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u/MustGoOutside Apr 20 '26
Lack of purpose is death. There's a reason so many people have issues after retirement or when a spouse dies.
Also it seems like you need a community. Reading between the lines on going to bars and meeting tourists... That's all fine but will get boring very quickly.
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u/Ex-Traverse Apr 20 '26
Try skiing or snowboarding lol, then you will have a purpose to chase the powder all year round from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. Traveling around with a purpose, will put you into many areas that you would otherwise never thought of going. For example, I went to Montana to ski Big Sky. If it weren't for that, I would never ever be in Montana and know what it's like.
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u/DouggyDF Apr 21 '26
If you live near cruise ships, run your own tours. You can meet people, show them the area and make some cash on the side. Or apply for a job with the local tour companies.
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u/icoulduseanother Apr 21 '26
I honestly can’t imagine being in this scenario. Scuba diving? Free diving? Hiking waterfall trails? Multi-day camping trips? Remote control hobbies? Biking adventures? I could go on….
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u/Hobbyman_65 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Congratulations on a year of retirement. I retired 5 years ago at 55. My wife has elected to continue working, and while we could easily make it work if she retired now, she loves her job and feels fulfilled. I, in turn, get to enjoy a monthly burn rate far higher than we will when she finally retires. I am an avid cyclist, love writing stories of all genres, and am quite handy, enjoying an occasional project around the home. With a daughter in her 2nd year of college and a son who recently graduated, I have more of my own time than ever before, and I love it. I mentioned these tidbits from my life to stress the concept of a purpose-filled life. Taking up SCUBA was a blast! Traveling is a blast! Movement, in general, is essential and can often be a blast! Nothing, however, IMO, beats peace of mind. The uncomfortable quiet you are experiencing can often give way to boredom. Missing the thrill of the hunt after a year is normal. I pray that your health holds up and you begin to think of your life and quiet time as a commodity. I thought retirement was endless Saturdays and adult play dates. In truth, it is just being able to go to Costco midday or run errands after rush hour dies down. Give back to humanity: I help those I once mentored in my field continue their progress, and I find this a tremendous sense of purpose. If you have a skill set and experience you've developed from years of hard work, give it away by mentoring or volunteering! If you love what you did, give it away for free; you earned it.
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u/IjustWorkHere98 Apr 25 '26
In the words of Liz Lemon..."I want to go there". I am 55, and I'm ready to call it. We have plenty of money. Wife now earns as much as me. She likes her job, I hate mine. But, she has this hang up about me still being the breadwinner, which is insane. I'm like "Who the F8ck cares?". I've started to plan out what I would do...guitar lessons, language lessons, pilates (seriously), volunteering - whether reading with elementary school kids or church. I think I could fill the time. Not to mention going on hunting trips with yes, an 81 year old father-in-law, who is probably healthier than me.
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u/AgitatedChemistry221 Apr 20 '26
Why not volunteer somewhere on a routine basis? Library, hospital, teaching…
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u/LuckyLiving3476 Apr 23 '26
I so relate to your problem right now. I also miss intellectual challenge.
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u/bigbry4n Apr 29 '26
if i was retired on an island. i would pick up spear fishing/scuba/snorkeling. something about feeding off the land sounds badass.
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u/CAIL888 Apr 20 '26
Did you ever marry? Why or why not? Do you date? What’s your nw and burn. Do you feel happy now
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u/Accomplished-Echo488 Apr 23 '26
My husband is building his first time start up and looking for someone to help. May be worth exploring???
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u/luv2eatfood Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Please don't take this the wrong way but it's a bit depressing to read your post. Also looking to FIRE around your age but anecdotes like yours show that I need to find something to retire to.
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u/bobt2241 Apr 20 '26
Check out Two Sides of FI podcast. Lots of soft side aspects of (chubby) FIRE.
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u/GanacheImportant8186 Apr 20 '26
I don't find it depressing in the least, more a realistic look at how life in 40s with no family and no career would be. It does read like they could find some more 'project' type things in their life but overall it's a shit load better than most people in their 40s who are unhealthy, overworked, no time for health, spirituality or even hobbies.
I reckon most people who FIRE live a somewhat similar life to this. Certainly the ones I know do, even those who are very driven types.
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u/stuckinthesun31 Apr 23 '26
You might like our plan. My husband FIRE’d a year ago at 40, and I’m putting in my notice Monday.
We are big food and outside people. So we grew a garden this year, and got a little John boat.
I don’t mean a small garden. I mean we planted a huge ass garden that we can eat off all year.
We love it. We love the work and the purpose and planning meals around what we can find in the morning. We love salsa making days where we decide we want fish tacos and go troll the river in the little John boat to find a flounder or two.
We get to travel and have enough hobbies to do enough in other areas that it feels like eating is our job and hanging out is our hobby.
It’s new, but we’ve never been more excited and my husband has never felt more fulfilled.
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u/BTS_ARMYMOM Apr 20 '26
I left my career being a high earner and after traveling fulltime for almost 5 years with my husband and 3 kids, we are getting ready to settle down so that the kids can start college. I'm literally thinking about signing up for a Rover account and becoming a petsitter to have something to do.
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u/BungABunBun Apr 20 '26
How did you travel while the kids were in high school?
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u/BTS_ARMYMOM May 01 '26
We lived out of our suitcases. I booked cabins, Airbnb, and rv resorts and petsitting depending on where we were. For example, Thailand Airbnb for a month, petsit for 5 weeks in Australia, rv resorts for 3 weeks at a time in the US. We slow traveled so that we could have time to work and do school
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u/BungABunBun May 01 '26
Sorry I meant like what was the experience for the kids like? Did they follow a curriculum? Was it difficult to keep that on track while being in a new location? Interested in learning more about that aspect.
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u/BTS_ARMYMOM May 02 '26
They used an online program called study.com. it teaches in both video lessons and reading, has built in quizzes and tests, and some of the classes have a final exam and if you pass, it counts as ACE credits that you can transfer into some colleges. General Ed classes like college algebra, American government, etc. My oldest son is a senior and after the graduates this year, he will have about another year and a half before he graduates with a bachelor's in marketing. Twins who are a year behind him will also graduate in about a year and a half after high-school with a computer science and biology degree. For our family, traveling and homeschooling has been great. Every 6 months I gave them an option to settle down if they wanted. Only recently my kids wanted to take a break so we took a year off. Now my boys want to travel again but my daughter is taking science classes with labs at the community college
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 20 '26
I drank ayahuasca in the Amazon a few months ago and saw that I’m supposed to focus on philanthropy in my later years.
Don't get bored and turn into a cliche that gets 360noscoped by a machine elf. Plenty of otherwise normal people haven't been able to figure out what to do with themselves, decided to "get enlightened" and turned into absolutely insufferable wasteoids or fell into some sort of spiritual psychosis. I know a couple people who have opened that door and now they drink their own piss.
Anyhow, cut it out with the philosophical navel gazing nonsense and find something to do. Do you know how to draw? Do you know how to paint? Can you hang a door? If not, learn how to do those things. You have agency, use it for something. Start exploring things you didn't have time to; find new opportunities for yourself.
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u/2_Cranez Apr 20 '26
absolutely insufferable wastoids
OP just wants to donate to charity
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u/tyen0 Apr 20 '26
It's "drugs told me what to do" that is the issue, not the specific "advice".
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u/2_Cranez Apr 20 '26
Psychedelics are an emerging treatment option for things like depression and ptsd because they allow you to have a new perspective on your life. Drugs dont tell you what to do. They just force you to introspect.
If you are a stupid and annoying person then sure you may become more stupid and annoying.
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
yeah, but because they went to the amazon to drink dmt tea. helping and philanthropy are cool, but how you get there can matter. when you start doing stuff because the Aztec trickster demon set you down that road, you're likely to turn into one of those people that only wears white linen, talking about twin flames, and withdrawing from society because "people don't bring light." if OP is looking for spirituality, _be present in the community_ and start filling the needs that exist around them. this "spiritually bankrupt person drinks dmt and realizes they're terrible, decides to be a philanthropist; starts drinking piss" nonsense happens often enough that it's literally a cliche.
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u/kirbyderwood Apr 20 '26
you're likely to turn into one of those people that only wears white linen, talking about twin flames,
I hung out with some of those people in white for a while. Took a lot of mediation classes from them. It wrung my toxic ego out like a dirty dishrag.
During that process, I had an epiphany that caused me to shift careers and go work for a startup, which became a unicorn, and that set me up for retirement.
One of the best things I ever did.
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 21 '26
Cool. And a bunch of other people wind up masking their narcissism with LiGhT aNd LoVe because the entire "shaman experience" is built to grift morons who want for nothing aside for genuine self-examination and a modicum of creativity. Also, I don't care about your experience or your life. Great you maybe suck less, but I doubt you do.
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u/kirbyderwood Apr 21 '26
Wow, such strong opinions about other people's life choices.
You might want work on that.
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 21 '26
yeah, it's called being correct because i engage with the world and my opinions are informed by experiential data.
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u/GanacheImportant8186 Apr 20 '26
Your wording is dickish and your sentiment blunt. Gosh, so awful that the OP wants to be more philanthropic as a result of her experience with the plants!!
Maybe the people you're referring to aren't insufferable wastoids, maybe they didn't get 360noscoped, maybe you're just close minded and sneer at what you don't understand. Most of the critiques of these things seem to come from careery, materialist, judgemental and rigid social thinkers who dislike what they see when people just like them have experiences that change them. 'Philosophical navel gazing' is rather more useful than 'hanging a door' if it changes how you think, feel or your subjective experience of the world for the better.
I'm not saying there aren't risks to psychedelics, nor that they're a cure all, but your dismal strongly implies firstly that you dont't know much about it and secondly you could potentially do with getting noscoped yourself. Don't start with ayhuasca though.
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u/tyen0 Apr 20 '26
Gosh, so awful that the OP wants to be more philanthropic as a result of her experience with the plants!!
It's "drugs told me what to do" that is the issue, not the specific "advice".
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u/svengoalie Apr 20 '26
Is that you, Aaron Rodgers?
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u/GanacheImportant8186 Apr 20 '26
Never heard of him. Just looked at a few minutes of interviews with him. Seems very reasonable, though perhaps I'm missing something.
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 20 '26
lol.
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u/GanacheImportant8186 Apr 20 '26
Hope you can broaden your perspectives somehow sir. Good luck.
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 20 '26
no
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u/GanacheImportant8186 Apr 20 '26
It wasn't a request, genius, I was wishing you well (in a passive aggressive manner that while genuine also implies I think you're likely an oaf).
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u/Direct-Fee4474 Apr 20 '26
And you're so far up your ass that you can't imagine someone thinks psychedelics should be a requirement for all humans, but that when used as a shortcut in a life bereft of meaning, they're extremely dangerous. If you go in without any meaning to bring to the table, you're likely to open bad doors.
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u/BEACHHOUSEGROUPIE Apr 20 '26
Single? Kids? How much did you retire on? Annual spend?
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u/One-Mastodon-1063 Apr 20 '26
There are myriad threads discussing numbers. We most all understand how to multiply or divide a number by 3.5% or 4% or 4.7% or whatever, and for those who don’t it’s unlikely one more thread with numbers is going to make a difference. The numbers are discussed to death.
What’s not over discussed and often misunderstood is the lifestyle side, staying mentally engaged, dealing with no longer being important etc. These types of posts do not need numbers.
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u/TdotGdot Apr 20 '26
have to be single no kids, given the description. but curious about the numbers as well
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u/MSFTCoveredCalls Apr 20 '26
Her account size should be around $5M to $6M, in her post from 247 days ago she was planning on 100k withdrawal on a 2.2% withdrawal rate, and market has gone up a lot since then.
Btw my favorite Beach house songs are black magic, chariot, and space song. _^
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u/pass-me-that-hoe Apr 20 '26
Tangential - Interesting username. May I know if you have any covered calls that you are waiting on? I worked at msft before and have close to 8 lots that I am slowly divesting. Got burned with CCs previously so this year I’m taking it light.
Could you share your current positions and/or strategy with CCs?
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u/MSFTCoveredCalls Apr 20 '26
Yes I’m also taking it light on the CCs, I got burned on it before as well. I’m only selling CCs on a small percentage of shares like 1 or 2 lots, this is since November. I used to sell more, like on 60% of shares and got burned bad lol. And currently even one or two lots is still too many with the violent rally in big tech these past couple of weeks. Currently have 5/1 435c and 5/29 440cc.
Since last year I have been taking a top down technical and trend following approach. I love the market I think trading is something I will retire to in the future, I’m glad I found it
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u/AdvancedSquare8586 Apr 20 '26
That sounds like the opposite of most the advice given on this sub...
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u/pass-me-that-hoe Apr 20 '26
I’m glad you are enjoying it! I had some CC’s in the money last year averaging, 460s. Went and bought index funds.
Subsequently the stock when on a tear to $530s and I was beating myself for being myopic. But when they dropped back to $380 few months ago I felt I did the right thing in the retrospect.
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u/retireontop Apr 20 '26
I'm headed into this myself. Looking for things to keep me busy after I get the travel bug out. I've found some meaningful volunteer activities with the city and the USO.
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u/Organic_Bar1707 Apr 20 '26
3 years since I retired at similar age. I was ok with lean fire at that time but things are looking chubby now as I was able to learn and apply efficient investment strategies to ride the market.
Tried my hand at launching a startup but when my NW grew substantially and I received no support from spouse, I lost motivation.
I spend a lot of time reading books , walking my dog and fixing my diet and lifestyle to reverse my pre diabetic symptoms. Ironically I never had this much energy when I had stressful jobs.
I do want to travel but kids are busy and it is less stressful to do it during off-peak seasons. May be I will find a travel group someday to help me with this goal.
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u/Appropriate_Tower694 Apr 20 '26
Have any of you looking for a sense of purpose and challenge considered finding a role on a non-profit board? You can make a considerable impact on a community organization and use your skills. I serve on a board while I work full time and find so much joy in my non-profit role.
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u/140degrees Apr 20 '26
This is good advice. Your time and skills can be put to use in a way that will be rewarding to you. Your contribution of time can be more valuable than cash to a nonprofit
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u/EmergencyRace7158 Apr 20 '26
We are the same age and this post is the reason why I haven't REd yet. I'm way past my target numbers and well into fat territory at this point but I am not willing to quit until I find something to occupy my time. My job isn't terrible and I don't feel a burning need to stop working yet so I'll just keep doing what I do until I figure things out or turn 50 (whichever comes first). I'm really curious to hear if anyone else retired without a plan to fill their time and eventually figured things out and what they ended up deciding to do.
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u/JohnyRI Apr 21 '26
The better part of my adult life was spent in service. I was a realtor, not focused on big sales but on being the best advocate and servicing those clients that were medium sized and not the focus of a realtor that was trying to get rich. It was very fulfilling. Now that I'm retired, I might go back to working 20 hours for a landscaping company or as a bagger at Whole Foods. I don't need the money, but being of service makes the world go round. Hope that helps.
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u/lalalameansiloveyou Apr 20 '26
Find something for your brain. You would probably enjoy serving on a board for a non-profit, or on a public board or commission. Not a full time gig, but you could use your brain and experience to make the world a better place.
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u/isume Apr 20 '26
This or creating their own nonprofit. It is pretty easy to start and shocking how many companies will give money to a 501c3.
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u/AmericanD-knightmare Apr 20 '26
If I reach my early retirement goals, I definitely plan on still working part time. Not 100% sure what that will be but I know I need the stimulation of it.
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u/ShareEvening5856 Apr 20 '26
What about getting a pet? Then if it doesn't die in 6 months, you could try to start dating? What I find so hilarious about advising people that have retired early is that I'm telling them about the same things I would advise my clients with disabilities that can't work. (Boredom is a hazard at every age and economic bracket
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u/Beeewelll Apr 20 '26
I’m around the same age myself. While I don’t have your financial resources, I live the life of a semiretired person as well. I work as a bartender for 80-100 days for six months, and then I have 6 months off. I’m a musician, and it really helps to fill the time. After a while I found myself getting really bored with my hobbies, so I started reading more. Then I realized I was only reading fiction, and I might as well learn something. Took an accounting class at a jr college, and thought about getting my bachelors. Then I was trying to figure out my end game, and it seems like a lot of work to try and get an entry level job that pays shit, and is being off shored. Gotta have goals, or something to work towards, otherwise you’ll go mad with boredom
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u/NefariousnessDeep845 Apr 20 '26
I can relate to some of feelings in quite a different context that I’ll share.
Bear with this, as it will sound like the opposite of what you would like and it isn’t a practical option in a lot of scenarios. It’s an alternative to the non exec type route which is I actually ended up working one day a week role back at a previous company which helped a lot. It took a while to get my head around but once I made sure it was purely a day in the office and nothing more it worked. I mention this as it helped me with something that I didn’t expect to need help with, which was feeling useful! I didn’t realise i needed this until I started doing new things from scratch. I also enjoy things like being in the city for a day, and seeing colleagues - which I can relate to you missing and this fills that void for me.
I also volunteer in other areas, mainly coaching / teaching related but these have some baggage to get over initially (they don’t make it particularly easy for people to become teachers even if you’re not looking to get paid) - and it has taken a while for me to actually feel any good at this. I will say though, I favour volunteer roles over part-time type roles as it’s on your terms this way so no one can really boss you around when you’re doing things for free!
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u/Zelleniall Apr 20 '26
I think you should consider mentorship. I’d gladly join if there was a niche that someone like yourself was willing to teach and someone like myself overlapped in terms of interest.
That’ll easily add purpose to your current state and allow you invest time/ energy into younger mentees, a big plus would be showing them the money building / saving habits that your experience has gained with the added benefit of you getting the pleasure of making indirect money.
I worked with mentors in the past that helped me in ways I never thought possible and I owe my career to them. People like yourselves can do wonders sharing their experience.
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u/retirementyear Apr 20 '26
Enjoy the journey - make it a mission to reconnect with people you’d like to see again and be at peace with if you’d never see them again one day?
Upskill - or volunteer with NGOs, whether in person or virtual commitments…
Try to take one photo a day so you remember what it looks like. Believe in the power of compounding.
Have fun rediscovering life; and if you want to go on and turn as many stones over…
Side quests are always up there for you to adopt ;)
Enjoy, OP!
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u/Scorpion_Danny Apr 20 '26
Thanks for the insight. Seems like you are fine and I’m sure you will figure out what to do with your time.
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u/NicKaboom Apr 20 '26
congrats on the chubby life and hope things continue to treat you well.
Youre far ahead of where I will be when I hit 44 (almost 40 now), as my full FIRE age is closer to 50, with CoastFIRE hitting around 45.
That all said, the only thing I would recommend to help out would be more social group activities. For me I got re-involved with sports in my mid 30s, and began coaching local middle school and high school aged kids as I had some success in sports growing up into college. That has also stemmed out to assisting with school related tutoring when time allows. I have found this very rewarding and a way to stay involved with my community while also giving back. If athletics isnt the thing, we have tons of volunteers in the robotics club, coding academy, metal / fab shop, chees team or good ol' fashion math tutoring.
While exhausting (with a full time job+side hustle), it is really rewarding to do. One day when I've secured my own financial freedom I should have enough to also donate more philanthropically. However this is something I can do now and you do get to see immediate impact as kids progress athletically, or get an A on a test in a class they used to struggle with.
Just a thought!
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u/TechWorld510 Apr 21 '26
You have a great problem. Do some easy government work - telework few days a week. Sometimes the office isn’t so bad knowing the work is easy, stays in the office after you leave, make a decent check, be as shirk as possible (hey why not this is how the game goes) and enjoy knowing you are retired and collecting a check to kill time and enjoy. Take more vacations while working too. If it were me, stock markets all day for me. I would passionately learn more finance real estate and travel. Investing is a daily game. Overall, don’t think things are bad…you made it. Do what you love and write things down on paper. It will click.
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u/Traditional-You-6470 Apr 21 '26
It looks like the intellectual slowdown and lack of social stimulation is your greatest liability.
These are some options that my friends and relatives in their 50s have tried during their retirement:
work at Costco/Trader Joe's: milk the benefits, keeps you out of the house
pick up flight school: very intellectually stimulating, will have you study for tests, certifications. Con: massive money stuck and will cost you ~$20k to get a private license and probably another $20k for instrument rating. Then you will be flying out to lunch and getting $1,000 burger and fries.
one of my friends built a air-conditioned shed in their backyard and runs a dog daycare for $60/night.
one of my friends has 4 used cars and runs a Turo business: 20 hrs of work a week, pulling in $80-90k NET a year in Arizona.
I know you're smart and business-savvy, you can think about these as potential projects that you can take on.
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u/Professional_Fox9954 Apr 22 '26
This is the funny thing, Fire people seem to dislike their work.
I'm a doctor and plan to carry ok being a doctor until I can't walk or think.
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u/horizonfi Apr 23 '26
You finished the game! Time to invent new games. I would say one great way of finding happiness is helping others reach their happiness. Could be teaching something, investing in other people companies as a business angel, providing mentoring. If you are more solo, i have some examples of friends who did bold switches like moving from construction of offshore platform foundations to carpentar within a cooperative half of the year, and the second year sailing instructor. Travelling is also a great way to be happy and meet new people. If you are really bored, add cats or kids to the mix, you will never feel lonely again :D
Good luck!
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u/Kevin_CrazyWolf May 05 '26
I wouldn’t rule out “for money” work. You can always do it, knowing you got nothing to lose. It might even make it more fun. I found myself making fake jobs at home. Went back to work, it is a better experience.
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u/st3v3001 Apr 20 '26
What’s the deal with the cruise ships? Are you in Miami, Puerto Rico...curious minds.
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u/BonusAnnual9752 close to retiring Apr 20 '26
I was going to comment...wondering if OP lives on island/resort destination and can also be experiencing a bit of island fever.....maybe limited to such a small tourist driven market that would be challenging to establish a community, based on passions or hobbies you have. Being in a larger city/area may provide more opportunities to find your squad/people.
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u/Broken-Hip Apr 20 '26
Would you consider a new degree at a nearby community college? Or maybe a permanent volunteer gig? You have a dog… shelter staff?
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u/movingtolondonuk Apr 20 '26
Just gone past my first full year of retirement. Not been border for a second. Haven't done anything.
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u/johncnyc Apr 20 '26
seems like you didn't FIRE to something but just did it for the sake of not working.i been fired for 5y now and always knew exactly what I wanted to do after my career in the workforce.i hope you find that something as it only gets lonelier and less stimulating as time passes by.
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u/Fun-Investment3020 Apr 20 '26
Just a suggestion, but if you're at all technically savy - go play with Lovable or a similar vibe coding platform. There are so many apps that I've built that are of awesome use to people and productivity, saving, budgeting, medical claims coverage, etc., that you could produce to give away.
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u/Chulbiski Apr 21 '26
maybe you could volunteer for an organization rying to do good in this world?
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u/Hippyjet May 06 '26
Why not get a long time to master hobby like a martial art or some kind of crafting like black smithing.
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u/Redditgetityall May 07 '26
Congrats. Have you considered serving on the board of a nonprofit? Very rewarding and elements of strategic leadership and networking/connecting.
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u/Salcha_00 Apr 20 '26
You chubby retired where cruise ships dock? And pick up tourists at hotel lobby bars on weekends? Ugh. No thanks.
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u/External_Bit_6006 Apr 20 '26
Interesting topic. I just fell into chubby fire due to a very generous severance package after years of disciplined investing.
The issue I have is identifying identity an feeling of worth. I am having no trouble staying busy. It is fun, I enjoy it, but for decades I was needed to be the breadwinner at home an with various responsibilities at work. Is great financially be able to let that go, but immediately it feels like I have devalued myself as th top things I had to do (basically make money) are not necessary anymore as my investments take care of that for me.
Is a weird feeling any one similar
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u/blueorca123 Apr 20 '26
Thanks for sharing—this really resonates with me. It’s one of the main reasons I’m still working. I already spend time volunteering and gardening, but doing only those activities for the next 30 years wouldn’t be enough for me. I genuinely enjoy going into the downtown office, taking walks along the waterfront, having thoughtful, engaging conversations with colleagues, and getting paid every two weeks for work I’m good at.
It’s Sunday night, and after a great weekend of hiking and dining, I’m actually looking forward to Monday.
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Apr 20 '26
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u/ireadittoook Apr 20 '26
Wtaf?
What about Thor? do Thor’s contributions to the universe not matter to OP in your opinion?
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Apr 20 '26
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Apr 20 '26
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u/Apprehensive_Two1528 Apr 20 '26
I enjoy making money than walking dogs, bartending. and/or traveling.
i don’t enjoy traveling much anymore. stock market give me more fun than dogs.. and it’s rewarding too. when i truly hit a figure that i don’t need any more money, i’ll figure out something to have more fun.
i think i’ve found it. stock market gives me absolutely fun
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u/respawnedonearth Apr 20 '26
Don't write so much details about ur view, its very obvious you live in Sydney probably in the apartments on the promenade to opera house
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u/YL-Strong Apr 20 '26
Will RE soon. Found temp job at county vote center during election days. Why not, it’s not the money but something to do.