Thanks all! And only just realised Arebelspy was responding - I heard you on the Mad Fientist podcast so it's good to hear from you. I, too, thought you were pronounced something like "Are-ble-spee".
Haha, yes, I've obviously had to directly address this issue of "anonymity" myself, especially given the recent Business Insider/Sun articles with our full names, pictures, etc.
Less of a concern with "work" finding out, now that we're retired, but many others have concerns about their family finding out about their financial holdings and hitting them up for money, friends finding out and being jealous, etc. etc.
The concern is that the position I'm working towards (partnership eventually) requires dedication to bringing in clients, building the firm and developing the brand. It can be difficult for old-school bosses to reconcile those goals with something I am working towards. Sometimes when just talking to friends about FI and the possibility of RE (even though the two are not necessarily linked), they immediately go "oh, so I guess you don't like your job then". There is some truth to that, otherwise I wouldn't be thinking about RE (whether or not I mention RE in a vlog). This is the main issue. I agree that once it's on the net, it's always there. I think bosses might be kinder if I had a side hustle like making bubble tea and I got in the newspapers. Might even get a pat on the back for entrepreneurship, but if the root of my interest is freedom from the (effective) bondage of having to come to work, and live on my own terms, I think they would have an issue.
I like the idea of 'masking' myself on a vlog. For a while was considering starting a vlog called "Anon Finance" or something - but might well come off as creepy. I'd also feel like one day, if and when I unmasked myself, there might be a sense of betrayal amongst those I worked with. I'll give it some thought, but I suspect the best way would be to simply do a blog. I just like video as a medium for connecting with others.
How much longer are you working? What do you think they'll do if they find out? Pass you up for promotions? How would that affect your FIRE time?
Or promote you, trying to hook you in, with golden handcuffs? ;)
That's the thing, they won't understand the mentality, or believe that you'd actually quit, in my experience, until you actually give notice (and maybe not even then).
I don't think it'd affect anything if you announced tomorrow you were early retiring in X years, and starting a blog about it. They'd laugh, roll their eyes, and move on.
Maybe not, of course, but that's how it usually seems to go.
I just think that:
1) They won't find out
2) If they do find out, they won't believe it,
3) If you do find out, and they believe it, they won't care
3) If they do find out, and they believe it, and they di care, it still won't materially affect you significantly.
The odds of all that happening are so small as to not be worth worrying about much, if at all.
YMMV, but those are my thoughts. :)