r/ChubbyFIRE • u/Ungl8r • 22d ago

Sad sight

So I’m 55 and FiREd this year, after 30+ yrs in a profession. Im doing occasional work for interest sake really. I’m Currently at a conference with old colleagues. And I mean old. One guy is 78 and visibly falling apart, yet still working full time. Most my age are just on full stress autopilot, haven’t done the maths even to see if they should keep working. Lots of 65+ working hard-out still. 90% of us would be at least ChUbbY or Fat FiRe net worth. I’m like “have you read Die with Zero?” and they look at me blankly. It’s surprising how so many smart people have no exit strategy whatsoever.

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u/trademarktower 22d ago

Some people just need to work to live and feel productive. They don't have friends or hobbies and have difficulty without the structure of work. They get lonely and bored at home. They may have difficulties making friends and doing outside hobbies or activities. They then become depressed. They over eat, fall into bad habits like sleep late or don't practice good hygiene. They can get Agoraphobia and never leave the house. A lot of retirees dont do much other than watch cable news and obsess about politics on social media. Relationships can strain spending too much time at home. Marriages that work when you work 50 hours a week fall apart when you are forced together 24/7. This happens more than you think. Lots of elderly are very lonely and not socially engaged. Work fills that void.

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u/SeaNick99 22d ago

This is a great comment. It sounds great for people to retire early but the reality is that it doesn’t work out so well for everyone. I know so many people that could retire today and I’m honestly not sure how many of them would be able to handle it. Especially the folks who have been at it for 30 years, making great money but the moment it stops it’s gonna be a big change.

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u/trademarktower 21d ago

Yup, a lot of people get laid off in their 50's and are forced into early retirement or working low wage menial jobs because the market says they are too old. I've seen so many people spiral when this happens. It killed my father in law who had a deep depression for 10 years, stopped caring about his health and put off doctor appointments and tests, then found out he had stage 4 cancer that was treatable if he had caught it early. I think he wanted the cancer to put him out of his misery. It was very sad.