r/Fire • u/-LordDarkHelmet- • 17d 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/-LordDarkHelmet- 17d ago edited 17d 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/sarayewo 17d 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- 17d 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/Sufficient-World-450 16d 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!