Looking back on the year or two before you fired, what was it like?

[DeskJockey2028]

In hindsight, what was the 1-2 year span before you FIREd like? Did you go right on schedule, stay a little longer than you though was necessary, worry lots about having enough only to be relieved? Leave in an unplanned way (lay-offs), spend a lot of time focused on finances and how you were doing or just sort of... drifted into retirement?

[Mr. Green]

...drift? might be an appropriate word for how I quit (the first time). I actually had a countdown going at my desk and several of my peers knew I planned to quit, though I'm not sure how many of them actually believed it. I had always wanted to thru-hike the AT, and it looked like ending my job was going to dovetail nicely with when people start a hike so I began planning for that. The hike helped give me something to focus on over the last year, which I'm very grateful for. I'm sure I would have struggled winding down the days if I was just playing the waiting game. The last 18 months before FIRE I also started tracking every penny we spent to ensure that our spending matched what I anticipated it would be, which it did. I could have stayed longer for the money (we were saving about 200k per year with savings dialed in over the last year). We had about 850k in liquid investments so another year would have been a substantial addition to our stash. But I had never enjoyed my job and I just couldn't do it anymore. I was getting older (32), and we had delayed starting a family, and there were still things we wanted to do before starting a family if the opportunity arose. I knew the math said we were good to go (using the 4% rule) so I hung it up.

Then went back for 9 months before hanging it up again when I second guessed walking away the first time.

[Financial.Velociraptor]

Two years out I was in a pretty good place work wise.  I could tolerate my job most of the time and occasionally even find reasons to enjoy what I did.  The big boss decided to shake things up and changed my supervisor.  I couldn't stand that fucking cunt. (FUCK her!)  I managed to get transferred to a new position with a promotion to get away from her but the new work was blah.  I was bored to tears.  I ultimately decided since the market was on a tear and QE was still gearing up it made sense to lever up the portfolio a tiny bit to pull the plug 6 months early.  I fully expected to need part time work or a side hustle but the market treated me well and it proved unnecessary.   

[bacchi]

I went part-time a year (more?) before FIRE and then did OMY as super part-time before feeling comfortable.

Part-time is a nice transition. There's some income so the stress of withdrawing money is lessened and it gives some structure to the burgeoning awareness of excess free time.

[Gunny]

I was working toward ER but was not really ready when I hastily made the decision to FIRE when offered an early retirement package from my organization.  I worked as diligently as I always did up until the last day.  I fretted a bit over if I could make it work.  This forum was a great source of encouragement.  I'm two years into FIRE and it's going great. Moved to a LCOL location near all the outdoors stuff I like to do. Portfolio is up and I Recently had a full time side gig for a couple of months which added to my travel stash.  Life is good.

[ShortInSeattle]

I was fairly stressed out! Giving up a well-paying job was scary, and deciding when to give notice was stressful, and I was anxious about how it would all turn out. I had a lot of feelings of guilt too, like I was letting people down by leaving.

Work itself was fine though. I was at the top of my game and I generally liked my job. I ended up FIREing gradually. First part time, and then *very* part time, and then no work at all. It took me quite a while to let go. I'd say 2 years of pre-FIRE anxiety, followed by a year of Post-FI emotional bumpiness, followed by mellow happiness.

SIS

[jim555]

As I approached the date it became harder and harder to get motivated to put up with Megacorp.  I made it known I wanted a package since my company had a history of shipping jobs to other locations and firing people.  Finally was told to go to a conference room where HR people sat.  I knew right away my day had arrived.  Gave my badge and cleaned my desk, escorted out by security.  Got a year of severance and unemployment.  So happy on my last train ride home, no more commuting.  No more soul crushing TPS reports or office politics.