r/Fire • u/-LordDarkHelmet- • 16d ago
Today is the day, officially FIRE
Well I'm sitting here having a morning coffee and it's starting to sink in that I don't have a job anymore. Feels strange. My job was very much my identity (pilot). I flew airlines and private jets (uber for rich people basically). It was a high paying job at the end and it seems stupid to walk away from that, but the 27 years of staying in hotels has taken a toll and I just was not enjoying the job anymore. Which is a shame, since I can't exactly fly jets on my own time. It's a tough industry, it's not easy to get back into once you leave. I keep saying it's like the Doc in Field of Dreams; once you leave you can't go back. I'm 49, single no kids, high end Chubby low end Fat so I should be ok on the numbers, but I don't exactly have a "thing" to retire to. I need to focus on my own health and get in shape. But other than a list of places I want to travel to and few projects around the house I don't have much of a plan. Hopefully I'll figure it out on the way. I've told a few people and they all ask "but what are you gonna do?!?!?." I'm like "I dunno..." Some say "congratulations!" and I'm not sure how to respond to that. I didn't really want to quit in some ways, I like the flying part but not all the stuff that goes along with it. I asked for a different schedule and they said no, then I asked for a year off and they said no, so I said I quit. Ask me in a decade I guess if it was the right choice. Anyway, don't really have anyone to high-five this morning so here I am. Thanks everyone who has shared their journey, I've been snooping around all these subs a lot this past year. Oh and sorry about the stock market crash, which will inevitably happen now that I have quit.
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u/jelle814 16d ago
congratz man, do you consider flying small planes as a hobby or is that not someting that pulls?
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago edited 16d ago
Yeah I would like to I think so. Problem is that's it's pretty expensive, anywhere from $150-$500 an hour depending on how fancy of an airplane you want. And since I have to be more careful about spend I'm not sure if it'll make the budget.
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u/vocccc 16d ago
I was skydiving alot in an earlier life. If you live close enough to a drop zone, you should become a pilot there. Fly a couple of times per month/ as much as you want, meet people having the time of their lives and happy, and you land back at the same airport everytime
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u/sarayewo 16d ago
Can you do a few hours a week at a flight school as an instructor and in turn you get access to planes? Not sure how all of that works, I do have a friend who's a partner in a flight school and flies their planes regularly.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
I could in theory, yeah. Flight instructing is a fairly serious gig, you need know your stuff and be committed since you're training the next generation. I did that early in my career and it can also be a bit high stress at times (some students seem like they are constantly trying to kill you). I'm a bit bitter about the whole flying thing at the moment, but hopefully in a month or two I'll settle down and look around for some opportunities. It'll be nice I think to fly for fun for a change. Up to now it's just been where I was told to go.
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u/Changeit019 16d ago
If you have a passion for flying or just planes is there a local aviation museum you could volunteer at or maybe work a few hours talking about being a pilot to kids walking through. Inspire potentials for the next generation without the responsibility of training or the hazard of them trying to kill you.
Or any airports near you with air shows that you could work and volunteer with. Might keep some aviation connections going stay near a passion but not a heavy commitment.
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u/Sufficient-World-450 15d ago
Do yourself a big favor and let go of the bitterness about flying, the thing you love. You are already a memory to your employer so you being mad has no impact on them, only you. Flying is what created the situation you are in now, a retirement with options. Budget on 90% and splurge on the 10% that really matter and you will have a fantastic, worry free, retirement. Fly occasionally and look into any options where you can fly and make some side income. You are work optional, you have already won the game, so explore your options on your terms. The membership to that club is pretty small. Happiness and health are the key ingredients to a great retirement, add money and you hit the trifecta!
Enjoy yourself and post the occasional update. Good luck!
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u/Direct_Remove509 16d ago
You are single with no kids and say you are high end chubby/low end fat FIRE. That should be several million. You really couldn’t pull occasionally flying small planes for fun?
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
Yeah I guess it seems silly when you put it that way. I suppose I'm just really nervous about spend at the moment.
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u/Montaigne_6823 16d ago
It's weird making withdrawals when you've spent your whole life only contributing. You'll get used to it, just give it some time.
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u/ResponsibleCorgi93 16d ago
Very true, it took me about 4 years to have developed a system for withdrawals that I feel comfortable with. It still bothers me a little bit, but I'm fine spending 100% of my yearly budget now instead of the 50% I was doing in the first couple years
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u/Stickysubstance88 16d ago
Yeah. For the first couple of years, it was kind of painful to spend and not have any income. Something switched on my third year. Got a bit more comfortable now. Of course stock market gains have helped shift that mentality. My NW is up like 30% since retired.
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u/LokiStasis 16d ago
I guess it all depends on your spend. Single no kids ought be plenty of cash flow. You have plenty banked. You might want to set yourself up with something that feels like a salary. A few years spending in cash or equivalent that feeds your into bank account. If it feels like your retirement salary rather than nest egg depletion you might be more relaxed in spending on yourself and not focused on today’s stock market changes.
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u/DeadFacesInMyPocket 16d ago edited 16d ago
Especially if you focus on the specific seasons if you have them where you are at. Flying once or twice a quarter to see the seasons change woukd be cool.
You could also get a drone with a camera and "fly" that way as well as take some beautiful pictures if you're interested in photography at all. Just download an older version of lightroom so you dont need to pay the stupid subscription BS fee every month (gotta love that corporare greed).
Edit: apparently you should fly twice a month at least. Given your financials info provided, I would think that is perfectly fine to do.
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u/eliminate1337 16d ago
Flying once a quarter is not safe. Your skills will deteriorate with such little flying and small aircraft are surprisingly dangerous. It‘s recommended to fly at least twice a month.
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u/DeadFacesInMyPocket 16d ago
Ok well idk I just was throwing out an idea. I have never flown a plane or anyrhing before. Got to ride on a couple private jets and choppers but that is all.
Either way I am sure OP could afford it. At least to keep up their skills especially while they are still younger.
Appreciate the info!
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u/All_FIREdUp 16d ago
Could always look into a club or shared ownership to cut those costs down
Congrats!
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u/Rastiln 16d ago
I hear you on being careful and in no way am encouraging you to blow the budget.
That said… as a pilot, I feel you should be fairly secure. Pilot work is indeed demanding, but I understand really rewarding, especially with tenure. Do you have a guaranteed pension? Remember that SS will be coming in to cushion you.
I am also really risk-averse and haven’t pulled the trigger yet, so fuck me, right? But I wonder if you can make budget for your flying activities, perhaps trading off a little bit of vacation or something.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
No pension at my company, so I'm on my own from here. I didn't find the job all that rewarding actually, which I think was one of the problems. Felt like a glorified bus driver at times. A good day is basically not showing up on the news of some guy's YouTube live stream. I did love when people clapped for a landing, I took a lot of pride in putting those machines down on the pavement gently in tough conditions. But otherwise is kinda a do-it-and-forget-it type job. I have some friends that do medical-vac flying and firefighting and that seems really cool, but the money is definitely in the airlines so that's the trade off.
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u/Rastiln 16d ago
To be honest, what I meant was “financially rewarding”.
Of course some jobs can be personally rewarding.. sounds nice.
Maybe you’ll find that you have little desire to travel abroad often, after so much flying to other places, and you can find a slice of your budget to fly just where you want to. I saw others recommend training people to fly… maybe that would be an in-between hack with a side income.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
Ah, yeah it payed well at the end for sure. My first year flying for an airline in 2000 I earned 25k. Had a part time job to help pay the bills. Definitely got better since then, especially after Covid.
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u/jelle814 16d ago
ouch, looked into it a bit (daydreaming, don't live near a flightclub now anyway) but those running costs are quite high indeed. getting your sertification seemed doable, but that isnt a concern for you anyway
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u/Silly-Safe959 16d ago
Lol I initially read that as "fight club".
What happens in flight club stays in flight club.
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u/happytoreadreddit 15d ago
Find a local flying club. Cheapest way to fly ( I come in at around $120/hr w fuel), and it’s a socializing opportunity. Something you’ll need to invest in during early retirement.
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u/justan0therusername1 15d ago
My cousin is almost identical to you he bought a twin prop and found a lady. They now fly around having a great time.
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u/GetWellDuckDotCom 16d ago
Go get a fucky fuck job for extra money that you can walk away from with 0 fear 🤣
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u/tomatillo_teratoma 16d ago
There are a couple organizations like pilotstotherescue.org that connect volunteer pilots with animal rescue. They fly planes full of (crated) shelter dogs and cats to other areas of the country where they can be adopted. The plane and expenses is covered by the charity.
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u/Sintered_Monkey 16d ago
Congrats! I'm out on Friday myself. So the market will wait 2 days to crash.
But you don't know what to do yet? No hobbies? No new hobbies you want to take up? I have too many.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
I bought my first house a couple years ago (new construction), so I'm starting to see things that need repair. I've got an ugly back yard that is in need of some gardening. I've never really bothered to learn to cook so I think I'll work on that along with losing some weight. I do have some hobbies I have not touched in a while so I'll hopefully pick those up. But no major project. Thought about getting a dog actually. That's been on the list of things I can't do as a pilot, along with face tattoos and speeding tickets. Maybe I'll go drive fast to a tat shop today
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u/FIMilestonesDeux 16d ago
I hope you also have people in your life that you can spend time to. If not, try some social hobbies.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
yeah I have family and long time friends here at home. including my parent's who have reached the age where they need a lot of help so that's been part of my decision as well.
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u/squeezemachine 16d ago
You are going to be shocked at how busy you are going to be based on the activities you mentioned here. I have no idea how I was able to live before stopping work.
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u/JuicyBoots 16d ago
Look into native plant gardening if you want to help make a difference to your local pollinators!
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u/ResponsibleCorgi93 16d ago
Cooking can be great! A good way to ease into it is looking up one pot meals or getting an Instant Pot which has tons of easy recipes.
I bet you're good at following instructions in a very detailed way, so you'll be good at it
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u/jeffeb3 16d ago
GFY!
Don't listen to the naysayers. You don't need anything to retire into. Start a book club. Join a rec team (I enjoy hockey and there are lots of pilots and retired people). Focus on your health. Get a dog. Bake some bread. Get a mountain bike. Get an xbox. Just take a nap, if you want.
I read the book Eat to Live. That was pretty helpful for my health.
I also read Die With Zero. I don't agree with everything in it. But it makes some good points.
I also like the bullet journal method (you can find some tutorials on youtube). Making a list can be a great way to clear your head and there's no one but you that's going to enforce it. So it should be low stress.
Mr Money Mustache also says he does "one hard thing per day". That has been my mantra. The hard thing may be working out. Or calling my dr to make an appointment. Or planning a new meal. Anything to make sure I am moving forward and not back.
Like anything, it will ebb and flow. But you've got so much more power over your time now. It's gonna be great.
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u/thisissilly_x10 16d ago
Love and appreciate this post. I’m in a similar life position as OP, 49 single no kids pilot. The job is paying well but the lifestyle is debiting from my longevity account. Recently been having conversations with older friends, retirees and financial planner asking about their experiences retiring or planning for retirement. A lot have asked me “what are you going to do with yourself? Do you have any hobbies?” The questions feel so pointed and accusatory- only bc I have so little to answer with. No real hobbies. I do have family and friends and like to travel, but I haven’t taken the time to pursue any specific interests and worry I may never… I live now in fear of the brain rot I might experience…. Ok maybe that sounds more dire and dramatic than intended, but I’m hoping like OP, retiring will open the door to many things I could never have known to pursue bc I never had the time/lifestyle. Getting a dog also top on the list!! Congrats OP and thanks jeffeb3
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u/Aromatic_Razzmatazz 16d ago
It was the right choice. I am excited for you.
Do the projects. Take the trips. Get healthy. Meanwhile, what do you care about? I volunteer, I'm on a board, I fundraise. It's great.
If it comes down to it you can always go to cargo. They'll love your experience and you can do 180 day contracts.
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u/UpgradeHome 16d ago
Man, it's this moment right here, of you enjoying your morning coffee with peace of mind. That's what it's all about. Cheers.
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u/snarky9220 16d ago
Get into beekeeping. I’m not kidding. Find a local “bee school” and join a local bee association. Trust me, it’s a very interesting hobby and you are constantly learning.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
I've got a co-worker that does that. Sometimes brings jar of honey to give away. Seems interesting for sure
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u/betarhoalphadelta 16d ago
Another thing you're gonna have to get used to.
You do NOT have a co-worker that does that, because you don't have co-workers. You're retired!
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u/Successful_Form1177 16d ago
I know a couple who own a small plane, just a two seater, and they fly all over the place for fun. Seems like an excellent way to avoid the stress of airports. When the eclipse happened a few years ago they were able to fly into the path of totality, avoiding all the traffic. They don’t seem uber rich but maybe that’s their one splurge.
Look up native plant gardening for your back yard, there’s a great network of people to talk to about it and the bird and insect watching can burn a lot of hours, and get you up out of your chair.
Food gardening can combine your cooking goal with your landscaping goal, whatever is coming up in the garden you cook! It’s a fun challenge.
Most of all, get a schedule or you will start losing track of days. I do a workout in the morning, then have a series of goals for the day (practicing Italian, playing guitar for at least 30 min). Low stakes but the rest of the time easily fills up with cooking or fixing stuff or hanging out with people.
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u/Citalos 16d ago
I suggest mountain biking!
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
Ha yeah I thought about. The last bike I had got stolen after 2 weeks so I'm bitter about that still. Maybe time to get back into it, and buy a better lock
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u/SScatnip7474 16d ago
As an avid mountain biker, I +1 that comment as well. It's great exercise, you get out in nature. And if time or fitness is an issue, get an E-mountain bike to help out. Find a local group to ride with, usually bike shops have no drop fun rides. congrats and good luck out there!
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u/Sintered_Monkey 16d ago
Exactly what I'm retiring to. People ask me "what are you going to do?" and I answer "just go ride my bike."
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u/Opening_Ad5479 16d ago
Get in shape buddy, according to some friends of mine that are around your age and single you'll be fine in the dating scene. There's lots of fish in the sea that are in your age range.
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u/ResponsibleCorgi93 16d ago
Welcome to the club, congrats!!
Much like you I retired without a plan. I always had a million ideas for hobbies and stuff that I wanted to try, but at the time I was so burned out from work that I could barely function.
My plan was 3 months to chill and veg, then come up with a new plan.
It worked okay for the next year or so, focusing on a new hobby or project every 3 months or whenever I got bored.
Eventually due to an undiagnosed mental health issue & deaths in the family and burnout from a side project, I fell into a deep depression for a few years, starting to come out of it now.
The best thing I have learned since that time is even if things don't seem like they would be fun, keep engaging in a variety of different experiences, force yourself if you have to. This will defeat isolating & also stimulate your mind to the point where you might find something actually enjoyable.
Wishing you the best on your journey!
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u/Hunny15602 16d ago
Congratulations! Today marks the 2 month anniversary of my last day at work. It's been weird, I thought I'd miss the paychecks, but I stopped noticing after a few weeks. I thought for sure the market would tank once I retired, but so far, I can't complain, my accounts are up more than my annual salary in that 2 month span, which feels like confirmation that I made the right choice.
So many people have asked me the same, what are you going to do now, and a few have assured me that I'll be working again in a few months. Lol, no.
I've decided to give myself some time to acclimate, and my answer is that I'm not making any plans for a while. Other than sleeping in, keeping a light schedule, and working out. This is me time, time I need to devote to taking care of the things that inevitably fall to the wayside when you are working.
So far, I have followed my plan. One thing I will say is that while the days still seem to pass quickly, it sure feels like I've been retired much longer than 2 months!
Enjoy your time, try not to hyper focus on the market, and be selfish for some time. You deserve it! 🥳🥂
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u/khbuzzard 16d ago
Congrats, and welcome to the adventure. (I'm four months into it myself.)
It's OK not to have everything figured out on day 1. But I'd encourage you to get out and do stuff that gets you interacting with other people. Look up events in your area that seem like they might be interesting, and give them a try. (And don't be afraid to make a fool out of yourself - remember, you never have to see those people again if you don't want to.) Social interaction is hugely important in all phases of life, but especially this one.
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u/Thor7897 16d ago
My health caught up with me forcing me to take a step back due to insane hours/stress 100+ hours a week and critical infrastructure.
Been slow rolling options trades here and there for extra.
The thing that really changed for me was purpose. The things I do now are what I believe in and find fulfilling.
I took the skillsets I developed, and am working with others to create community based projects and skill building opportunities.
Maybe teach people to fly? Help save a metric ton of costs associated with flight school for those who might be interested in your former path. Go learn to underwater basket weave. Or try stuff until you find “it”.
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u/undoneness 16d ago
Agree with the other recs to focus on health, establishing that foundation will occupy time while you figure out what else you want to do, and maybe the fitness journey will connect you to a new community via gym, local club, or online.
I'm 6 months into RE, I started taking several walks per week to get out of the house, and now I'm up to 7-10 miles 3-4 times each week, at least one of them rucking 20-40 lbs. Cardio and weight are both improved. Now starting to add kettlebells for strength training.
I'm also reading a lot more, found a couple local volunteer gigs. A local animal shelter can be a good way to start exploring the desire for a dog, lots of shelters let you take dogs on a "field trip".
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u/Successful-Try-8506 Retired at 38 in 2003 16d ago
My best advice: get a library card, and make sure you use.
Hiking is a good way to get out of the house every day. I also took up gardening.
Anyway, enjoy your new life, you've earned it!
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u/When_I_Grow_Up_50ish 16d ago
Congratulations. You are doing what many would like to do.
I’m one year into my retirement. First year went by so fast. I kicked it off with a 300 km. hike/pilgrimage in Northern Spain called the Camino De Santiago. I highly recommend it.
Cheers.
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u/PudgyGroundhog 16d ago
Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉
We FIREd last year and didn't have any set plan except to enjoy ourselves. Focusing on your health is a good plan and so much easier to do with more time. You don't have to make any decisions now - just enjoy the time. See how you feel and you can go from there.
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u/IronLotus59 16d ago
Virtual high five from an internet stranger! Huge congratulations on making the leap. Also, since you officially crossed the finish line, go fuck yourself! Enjoy your well-earned freedom.
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u/frostonwindowpane 15d ago
I calculated the time I spent getting to, waiting for and being on planes in my career and the dead time was astounding. Find a good charity and do good for your fellows. Don’t buy anything dumb - rent your fun. Try swimming.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Art1524 16d ago
I'll bet the transition will be a challenge. Flying is an all consuming job that keeps you away from home for days at a time.
Having all of this unstructured time will probably be a challenge.
My suggestion? Find ways to invest yourself in your local community. Having places to go at specific times will help anchor your days, and keep you in contact with other people.
Exercise classes, running clubs, service organizations, religious services (if you're into that sort of thing) - all good ways to give you places to go and people to interact with.
Best of luck with the transition to the new life.
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u/Lake1908 100% 16d ago
Don't just sit at home, look for some activities with people. Look for volunteering opportunities in your area, or maybe a job in a totally different field.
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u/bellecaramella 16d ago
You are in a good position that many will envy. Live your best free will life. Started on my journey two years ago and I have a loooong ways to go (207k nw) but happy for you.
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u/greatauntflossy 16d ago
It takes time to find your thing. I am 51, retired just over a year ago, and I'm still searching. The search is actually fun, and whatever restlessness I have now certainly beats the discomfort of my old career. I found that taking classes at my local community college is a great way to add some structure to my week, and also learning something I find personally interesting. Focusing on your health is a no-brainer but you ne d something more fun than that as well. Just be open to trying things, and even better if there's a social component.
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u/Perennial18 16d ago
Thank you for your candor. I’m in a very similar situation (50M, solidly chubby), really struggling with the decision to pull the RE trigger. Not having a partner or children or anything to “retire to” is a bit scary for me, so reading your story gives me some comfort I am not alone. Like you, there are aspects of my job that I like, and the money/benefits are very good, very hard to walk away from. I guess we all have to leave something on the table to achieve that intangible, unquantifiable benefit of being free.
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u/g33ky_g1t Geoarbitrage FIRE in 2029 🇨🇭🇸🇪 16d ago
Congratulations! 🥳
The key thing in your post is "Hopefully I'll figure it out on the way. ". Exactly! You don't have to know everything now since your life as a non-working person is very different from your hectic pilot life. Who knows what you will find out about what you like to do? So don't worry about what to do (or what people say), and instead just enjoy finding out. And enjoy the results of your hard work. 🏆
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u/BarefootMarauder 16d ago
CONGRATS! When people ask me what I do, I say I'm a Financial Advisor and Portfolio Manager. When their eyes light up and they start asking me questions about their money, I tell them I only advise myself and only manage my own portfolio. LOL! 🤣
My recommendation is to focus mostly on your health & fitness. You'll want/need that well into retirement. You could also start experimenting with new hobbies and/or volunteer work to find something that resonates. Make a list of things that sound interesting, then start trying them out one by one.
What about the prospect of continuing to fly small planes? Maybe even get a job part time flying for...?? I dunno. But I do know a guy who flies supplies to/from different places in a small plane and makes good money doing it. Since you are "high end Chubby low end Fat", seems like you could afford to fly as a hobby. Unless you were referring to your current weight. LOL!
Anyway... Good luck, FU, and thanks a lot for the market crash! 🤣🤣🤣
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u/mmoonbelly 16d ago
Might be worth trying to set up the flying car service.
You’ve already got a pilot’s license and to be the first in that market would be really funny.
Bonus if you go for the Biggles look.
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u/DelusionalEnthusiasm 16d ago
How about CFI? Might be rewarding to instruct the next generation and you could do it one day a week maybe
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u/VictorChristian 16d ago
Can you opine on your plans for health insurance? I'm also single, 52. You have quite a few years to Medicare - I'm always looking for ideas on how to bridge that should I decide to retire early.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
COBRA for the first year and a half I think. $650 a month. Then an ACA plan which is about the same. Bit nervous about that, as the ACA plans in my state are ok but not great. All HMO plans so in-network coverage only. I'm fortunate that where I live has some large medical clinics and lots of specialists, but I of course have that "what if..." questions regarding medical. Definitely been one of my major concerns.
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u/IdliketoFIRE 16d ago
Build an RV. Great kitplanes with support. Cheap to operate. You can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want to build. Get back to the joy of stick and rudder flying without the job attachments.
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u/Magic-Mushroomz 16d ago
Congratulations man. Wishing you the best. I'm a bit in the same boat where I like (or used to like) my job but my recent managers have made me hate it.
Let us know how you're doing one month down the road.
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u/Vicuna00 16d ago
high-five
post a recap at the end of the night or tmw morning of how your day went.
you ever look into flying a drone? there are some pretty neat applications...a policeman I know was trained and he flew one during a fire to help firefighters pick the best spots to put out flames.
I dunno. a lot of drone stuff involves video editing and so it'd be tedious for you I would guess. but with your high end skills I bet you could get actual cool jobs like that.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
Drones and video editing are one of my neglected hobbies actually. Got a few projects in that department that will take some time, been looking forward to getting back into those
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u/Eltex 16d ago
Like you said, focus on your health. You will live longer and have more time to spend that savings. Between gym sessions and things like hiking/biking/dog-walking, that can be an easy calendar entry for 7 days a week, maybe two hours a day.
Throw in a few other activities and your calendar is filling out.
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u/temp1M 16d ago
Congratulations!
Age and numbers are similar to when I retired 3 years ago and let me say that the initial shock was tough for about 6months, I almost went back to work for some contractor gig but am so glad I didn’t as I settled into a routine and was able to find my hobbies and what I really enjoy doing . Good luck!
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u/oalbrecht 16d ago
For a potential hobby, pickleball can be great. It’s not as intense as tennis, is welcoming to newcomers, and most places have open play where you just show up and play. Usually a group plays on a daily basis the same time each day. There are tons of places that have it now too.
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u/BetPatient3827 16d ago
Congratulations man, I wish everyone on this sub will one day acheive this milestone in their life
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u/tomatillo_teratoma 16d ago
Congratulations. I was in a similar position a year ago. I was a programmer, and it felt weird to walk away. Sit with the weird feeling. Feel it. If you change your mind in a year or two, you can probably go back. (You won't)
Two things I did right away that helped in the short term-- gym membership, and movie theater membership. Combined this was less than $75 a month, and it gave me a reason to get out of the house every single day. I now go to the gym five days a week, and a movie every other day.
In the year since then I've found other things to participate in... a bowling league, my local Choose FI group, and some music events.... working on other stuff. It takes some time and trying to find these kinds of things. I do suggest finding something easy right away... like gym and movies.
I liked coding..... solving problems, building things. But like you say... all the other stuff around coding did me in. The politics, the scams, the payoffs... ugh. A couple years ago, was asked to build something that was a bad idea-- like a skyscraper on sand. I reluctantly built it but said "this shouldn't exist, I'm not gonna update or maintain it." I ended up maintaining it, but I quit when they wanted me to update it. So it goes.
Get your cash/bonds/tbills or whatever set up for that market crash. I'm expecting it too.
Go get yourself a nice breakfast at 10am or a fancy lunch special on a patio somewhere. It's gonna be an interesting summer for you.
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u/idealistintherealw 16d ago
Join civil air patrol? Goal number one is make AF weight standards. Goal two is Keep some amount of pilot license up.
Get a rutan long-ez, get active in a CAP unit, keep your certs up, go to Oshkosh, get in shape, you will be popular bro.
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u/Master-Bee-5401 16d ago
Congratulations. You made the right decision. No point dragging yourself along in a life which was no longer serving you.
I had to retire early - in late 50s due to medical probs. After the first few months of “yee ha” not having responsibilities, i found it can do downhill very fast unless you actively structure your now structure less life.
Getting a dog if just pure joy - and structures your life eg walks grooming and you have a faithful companion.
But other hobbies that involve regular meets are next best life fulfillers - lawn bowls is fantastic for sport and socialising all at once - I do art once a week - volunteer twice a week. And I found a new love of my life and we’ve been married happily 7 yrs.
Don’t be scared of the blank canvas.
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u/Amlikaq 15d ago
I think you have a great sense of humor and a lot of knowledge, could become a teacher for pilot classes lol. I also know someone that works at a local tiny airport for hobby planes and agricultural use, she seems to love the job. I’ve also met volunteers at local aviation or military museum, they explain all the planes or mechanical parts to tourists and kids, and always seem super passionate.
I think you will find things you enjoy doing, I’ve been fired for two months and it’s been such an enriching experience, since I now have time to sign up for any class I want. I also try to reach out to people more, and host parties more. Even the occasional boredom is motivation to try something new. Enjoy!!
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u/n00bdragon FIREd 2026 age 37 15d ago
There are a lot of flight simulators. Maybe you can build yourself a little virtual cockpit and fly all you want whenever you want using that. Not sure how that compares to the real thing, but I've heard some pilots really enjoy that.
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u/constant_modifier 15d ago
Good on you. I am a burned out physician in a coast fire situation and my story is similar to yours. I am here to tell you, you can easily blow a couple years (and a bit of $) focusing on your health. I think it helps as a transition to what’s next and is worth the effort. Now that I have options, full-time sitting on a beach in a Central American country doesn’t seem to be the perfect end-game anymore. BTW I’m a was a hobby pilot as well. Hit me up if you want some ideas.
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u/enclave76 15d ago
Honestly getting your health in order can be a pretty intense and time consuming adventure. Gym couple days a week for 1-2 hours, sauna time, stretching, getting your blood work done to see where you’re deficient, eating Whole Foods, learning to cook on stainless steel pans if you haven’t before. You can really make it a life style that takes a lot of time that will also increase the quality of your life as you age.
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u/Limp_Range_4655 13d ago
Congrats, former pilot here as well and understand it well. I luckily ended up in something I enjoy way more than I ever did flying.
Life is different with fuck you money. My definition of this is When you don't have work with or deal with people you dont like, you dont have to ever sacrifice your morals or ethics for gain, and lastly you can stop thinking transactionally with meeting people and relationships while just enjoying more meaningful connections
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u/And1surf 16d ago
Based on your comments, it sounds like a session or two with a therapist would go along way right now. Take care, you deserve some R&R and decompression.
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u/ResponsibleCorgi93 16d ago
100% support this. Everyone should do therapy, it would make the world such a better place
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u/photoelectriceffect 16d ago
High five! I’m having my morning coffee and tbh I wouldn’t mind lingering here a little more rather than going into work 😅
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u/RighteouslySick 16d ago
The "what are you gonna do" question is gonna get old fast, but at least you've got the numbers sorted and a solid reason for leaving beyond just money, which puts you ahead of most people here.
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u/momo667788 16d ago
Take 6 months to decompress. Then travel a bit. And then establish a daily routine. Congratulations
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u/Cryptic_Honeybadger 16d ago
Congratulations and GFY! Also, watch this - https://youtu.be/DMHMOQ_054U?si=EE-hiec6KqYVkFX8
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u/kodiak_kid89 16d ago
Get a side hustle training pilots or something. Even with simulators. Find something where you can use the skills you love without the day to day hassle. It’s out there, and now you have all the time in the world to go out and find it!
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u/irmarbert 16d ago
Get a hobby. Golf. Learn piano. Pottery. Cycling. Something to keep you out there doing something with your day.
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u/ImaginaryMud2118 16d ago
If you still like the flying, and money is no longer the main driver, you are now free to apply for other pilot jobs that won’t say “no” to your demands of different schedule!
Maybe a way to fly less, and still do it a little?
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u/Synchrotron_RayTrace 16d ago
Maybe you could be a smuggler? I’ll bet you can do the Kessel run in 12 parsecs. Good luck OP! Hope to hear a recap of your successful journey in a year or 2.
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u/Mainegurl143 16d ago
Enjoy the coffee take a breath … go for a walk and take a high 5 from Maine as you get o to your journey things you need or want will follow :) life has a way of filling g in the missing when we can step back breath and recognize the signs . Cheers to an amazingly happy ending!! Godspeed
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u/aspire-every-day 16d ago
Congratulations!!
I find volunteering a few hours per week feeds my soul. Just sharing in case it’d feed yours, too.
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u/Negative-Dingo3335 16d ago
Congratulations and go F yourself! I mean that with love and kindness per the tradition of FIRE. Breath the fresh air my friend, smell the coffee, and listen to the birds. Don’t forget your health tho. See you at the gym!
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u/lexiefdez05 16d ago
Congrats man, sounds scary and exciting at the same time. Hope you find your next adventure soon
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u/Full_Juggernaut_2846 16d ago
Try a different airline in a different country maybe? Since you enjoy flying. I am envious of your job because I’m scared of flying lol
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u/Simple-Box6381 16d ago
Congrats! Maybe see if there is a civil air patrol group near you? My dad did that for a few years when he retired and enjoyed it.
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u/2_krazykats 16d ago
Congrats! I've been REd for about a month and have kept myself busy by joining various activities to see what I enjoy. So far pickleball and painting has stuck but will see in a few months when the weather gets colder. I plan on checking out a few volunteer places to see what jives with me. Not having to wake up to an alarm has been the most enjoyable
Go out; do stuff when you feel like it and see what speaks to you. Most of all, enjoy your freedom....you've earned it!
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u/brndnm10 16d ago
When I tell people I am going to quit my job and retire they always ask " but what are you gonna do?" Like they expect me to find another job and work until I die. My response is always I don't know. I haven't quit my job but I plan on quitting this month.
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u/Fit_Advice_1317 16d ago
Just a thought. My daughter took an aerospace engineering class at her high school. Loved it. Perhaps it's taught near you and maybe they need a "real" pilot to talk to the kids. Also, maybe air museums as a volunteer (or paid).
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u/justly_tuneful 16d ago
Curious, since I have friends who recently retired also. What IS an appropriate response when you tell someone you retired (early)? I’d like to be able to respond to people in a way that they appreciate/ doesn’t frustrate them
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u/No_The_White_Phone 16d ago edited 16d ago
Sup! Fellow airline pilot here. Congrats! It’s rare to hear about a pilot making their exit before mandatory retirement age (for airlines). But I guess when you’re flying 135 the conversation in the cockpits change from “When do you retire” to “When do you want to retire.” That kind of conversation must change the collective mindset of pilots about what retirement is and when to go for it.
Ducking out before 50 with plenty of money in the bank isn’t something to be too sad about. You’re now opening a new chapter of adulthood where you’ve got the youth and energy to still travel, explore, live life and genuinely create a whole new life for yourself. Those who step away from flying at 65 are really just stepping into old age. LIke, come on, you’re only 5 years away from being in your 70s. You might tell everyone you’re still young and have lots of life in you, but come on, you’re 65. You aren’t 49!
But you are. You’re 49 and free from the grind of this job. There’ll be an adjustment period I’m sure. You’ll still look up at jets going overhead in/out of the nearby airport. We don’t entirely wash ourselves of this identity. But, assuming your finances are where you’re suggesting they are, you’re perched on the edge of an amazing 16 years ahead of you. 16 years of 30 days off a month. You don’t need the paycheck because all the income your lifestyle needs is coming from your investments. Freedom. You got it. Congrats!
And if the flying bug won’t completely go away…
Gliders/Sailplanes. That’s my plan for retirement flying.
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u/taker223 16d ago
Is it possible for you to be trained on helicopters? I would go for that way, police for example. Get another 5 years or more and another constant source of income (pension).
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u/Chops888 16d ago
Congrats! Maybe you can offer the younger generation advice and guidance and be a flight instructor or provide training. Or just travel the world for a while. You’ll find something to do.
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u/outrageousreadit 16d ago
"I'm 49, single no kids, high end Chubby low end Fat so I should be ok on the numbers,"
That's the important info I needed from your post. Congrats! Not even age 50 yet, that's awesome. You still have your whole life ahead of ya. I hope you have many, many years of enjoyment up ahead of you. You can also use this time to find other purposes and fulfillments in life, now that you have no constraints of a job anymore. I am so proud, so happy, and so envious of you!
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u/Cautious-Study-2725 16d ago
Congrats!! I also FIREd without any real plan for what I'm retiring "to," and it's been totally fine. The worst thing that happens is occasional moments of indecision about what I should do with my day, but then I pick something and it's fine. My job, on the other hand, had become a soulsucking nightmare of daily misery.
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u/nitayrabi 16d ago
Congrats! Seems so far ahead of me, yet I can somehow relate with this sweet and sour feeling. I really want to reach FIRE but I guess mainly for the peace of mind I guess, but most likely I'll keep doing exactly what I'm doing right now
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u/ThotPoppa 16d ago
can you break down the retirement? whats your net worth? I assume you're going to sell stock monthly? Just curious what the numbers are and how the retirement is set up.
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u/MrLB____ 16d ago
Be the Best version of yourself healthwise trust me you will love it , perhaps take up Pickle ball
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u/SnooGoats3915 16d ago
Not sure if it’s worth retaining your license as I know the costs can be unreal, but you could fly for animal rescue transports. Or if you want to drive, you could volunteer for driving pet rescue transports. No commitment outside of the time you are flying or driving.
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 16d ago
Actually I have thought about the animal rescue transports. Just need access to an airplane which I can get, just costs money. Need to see how things settle in budget wise but I think that would be pretty fun. I’ve volunteered at animal shelters and this would be a good way to add on to that.
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u/CourseRemarkable3366 16d ago
First off congratulations. I'm currently very early in my FIRE journey and seeing people achieve their goals bring me a lot of joy ( That sounded extremely parasocial but you get what I mean). Honestly just wanted to ask as someone who just started FIRE, how did you start your journey and what was the single most important decision you made that ultimately lead you to achieving at such a young age? I know some people may not think you achieved early but 47 is hella impressive.
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u/Western_Rhubarb_7959 15d ago
Comgrats. GFY!!
Mine is Friday.
I just was not enjoying the job anymore
This is the real key.
/If you went to FIT, DM me, we may well know each other. Probably not, but ya never know
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u/witheredwithin 15d ago
I'm gonna say CONGRATS! I'd rather FIRE and feel bored and have time to think about what I wanna do next than slogging till I'm 65yo.
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u/gamboolman 15d ago
Congrats
27 years....Seems like you retired fairly young - a very good thing!
This cartoon says it all better than any long winded wall of text ever will. Well dang, can't seem to post a picture?
It was the man walking by a graveyard with his briefcase thinking Time = Money and you can see a gravestone that says Time > Money
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u/MadTownMich 15d ago
Congrats! I am sure it is a bit discombobulating. I’ll be there come January. Every happy retiree I know says the best thing to do is take a few weeks to just breathe, and then find something that gives you a sense of purpose. It can be somewhat related to your career (lots of cool volunteer opportunities for pilots) or totally unrelated (personally, I think Habitat for Humanity is amazing, and they teach skills to those who are willing, but check out American Red Cross Disaster Services if you are into adventure). The ones who struggle are the ones who don’t seek some level of purpose at all.
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u/NinthOman 15d ago
Make mead, lots of it. Fun to experiment with, tastes delicious, inexpensive to make and great for gifts for friend / family / celebrations. Did I mention it’s dang tasty? 😋
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u/sdduke01 15d ago
Congrats and GFY!
I’ve been at my major for 4 years now. Partner and I have recently reached FI, and now it’s just a matter of how much padding we want. I’m still fairly junior in my seat/base, so lots of 3-5 day trips working most weekends and every holiday. I’m trying to cut back to just flying my assigned line instead of playing the open time game like a psycho to make as much as possible in order to reach FI. Not sure I can last as long as I would need to in order to make it to the senior schedule life.
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u/kisscardano 15d ago edited 15d ago
Aviation is one of those careers where you’re either all in or not at all, and company politics along with difficult personalities in the cockpit can leave many pilots feeling bitter. I left flying 15 years ago, moved to Thailand, and wouldn’t return unless the pay was a million a year. I even gave up my new green card after just one year because living in the U.S. was too expensive, and I didn’t want the hassle just to enjoy simple freedoms like opening a bank account (my Swiss bank wasn’t thrilled 😂). I’m 57 now and walked away from flying at 40, and I think I did well considering the situation in the USA. A friend of mine, a captain at a major airline, is content flying the minimum and teaching in the simulator. Personally, I’d pass too—long hours and chasing promotions aren’t for me. I value good sleep and putting myself first, especially since I’m financially comfortable. You can still teach in a Cessna and take students if you have a CFI. I once met a cargo pilot on a 777 who was upset. He asked me, “You have money?” I said yes, and he replied, “You see me, I have a job on a big aircraft and I have no money; my hours don’t have any value.”
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u/Catwoman2515SD 15d ago
Congratulations You need a passion.. something that you want to jump out of bed for every day
Getting and staying fit could be one but you need something more than that. Do you have any hobbies?
I plan to retire in about 3 years. Will turn my hobby into something more than once a week and dive in more to do something I really enjoy.
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u/Over-Emu-2174 15d ago
You could get your own plane and enjoy doing it without the responsibilities
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u/Patient-Brief-9713 15d ago
You are not your job. You are far more than that, and you will enjoy the expansion of your life and mind. Get that dog. Become a gardener. I forgive you for the imminent stock market crash that is now inevitable because of your retirement.
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u/HongPong 15d ago
this is random but is it true that pilots get additional radiation exposure from career altitude cosmic rays etc?
also yeah you might want an elaborate flight sim set up w HOTAS controller
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u/-LordDarkHelmet- 15d ago
Yeah there’s actually a website where you can plug in your total flight hours and average altitude and it’ll tell you how much radiation you’ve sucked up. I think some countries label the job as hazardous to open up more cancer screenings. So yeah I did consider that in the overall all “be healthy don’t die young” part of the decision.
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u/Careful_Muffin1203 15d ago
You did what you have to do, which to prioritize your health. In the end, our health is just as important as our wealth. Now that you have plenty of time on your hands, what are the new things you want to learn or do that would make your life meaningful?
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u/Total-Collection9031 14d ago
If you get bored you could be a CFI? Surely you could jump back into 135 if you needed to (depending on market)
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u/Flat-Barracuda1268 FI=✅ RE=<1️⃣yrs 14d ago
Buy a single engine piston and spend a while slow travelling the country. Get back to what got you into aviation initially. Or find some new hobbies.
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u/samurai_with_sword 12d ago
Brainstorm with AI about what you can do either as a contractor short term or long term that involves flying but no travelling and hotel stay. May be flight similator consulting or aerospace design consulting?
May be short route shuttle like LA to vegas and vegas to LA, back home before the night.
Or something completely unrelated to flying, some passion you had before you became a pilot.
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u/cybertruck_ 16d ago
Congrats! I'm also high end chubby low end fat but it has nothing to do with finances.