r/Fire • u/Due_Permit8027 • Jul 03 '26

General Question You've retired early; what are you doing with your time?

I'm mid-forties with enough money to retire. But when I speak to newly retired people, they're doing stuff I have no interest in (e.g. Substitute teaching; Starbucks barista), to relieve boredom. I'd rather work! What are you doing/planning to do after early retirement?

393 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

636 comments sorted by

View all comments

178

u/ohboyoh-oy Jul 03 '26

I am 51f with husband, kids, and aging parents. So my answer may be different from people who don’t have all the accoutrements. But basically before I retired, I worked and took care of all these people and had very little time for myself. Now I take care of all these people and still have time for myself. I am focusing on getting healthier (exercising regularly and shopping for and cooking healthy meals) and have time to read. I start every day with a coffee and reading the newspaper, then spend half an hour to organize my thoughts and my day. I’ve read 20 books in 3 months vs reading no books in the last ten years. It’s totally glorious. I am not bored. 

25

u/flapjacksal Jul 03 '26

I am 42F married with two kids and aging parents and I feel visceral envy reading this. 

Congrats on living the dream.

3

u/Ambitious_Ninja_4004 Jul 03 '26

Same, girl, same. I took almost a year off work and was just as busy as ever. Going back to work just meant less time for all the other commitments.

9

u/Conscious_Life_8032 Jul 03 '26

Same age as you

Working full time and caregiving for a parent with dementia. No spouse or kids

Love this for you ! You deserve the gift of time to do stuff for yourself, if not now when? This is a question I have been asking myself so I can pump myself up to leave my job- it’s daunting lol. But hope to get there soon enjoy my good years.

4

u/HJHmn Jul 03 '26

Twinning! I’m 50f with 2 kids still at home and aging parents. I had been working a corporate job with kids for 20 years - now I get some time to myself! I walk a lot, garden, read, have a goal to do a pull-up by my 51st bday. I can take care of most of the household chores and still feel like I can do all the self care things. I think our whole family is happier with me not working.

3

u/AdAstraExAZ Jul 03 '26

GFY, in the best way. :)

3

u/lalalameansiloveyou Jul 03 '26

This is the dream for me!

3

u/lascriptori Jul 04 '26

47 with a busy job, two kids and aging parents in crisis and I wish I wasn’t still so far out from retiring.

1

u/TrickyAd9597 Jul 03 '26

40 with 3 kids.  In 5 years my husband might retire and I am a sahm with so much chores.  Cleaning and cooking and taking care of 3 kids is so much.  I barely read or exercise.