Author Topic: One Year In...  (Read 6124 times)

Bolshevik Artizan

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One Year In...
« on: January 07, 2017, 07:48:33 AM »
Hi all,

Bolshewik Artizan with a one-year-in update....

FIREd one year ago with a NW of $2.2m and a still-working spouse. Gave up career I did not enjoy to resume my first love as a writer, having had a novel and five books of poetry published by the time I gave up the day job.

Thoughts? Well, I'm much happier. I'm also continuously becoming aware of the insidious effect my previous life had on me: not just the physical effect of getting up to write at 5AM before going to a day job at seven thirty (I became physically unable to do this in my mid-forties with a child so the day job had to go) but also the mentally limiting effect of corporate politics, bitchery, etc.

I've written two books in the last year - one completed and one at first draft stage. First one has a publisher, second not (obviously). What I've also learned, again, are the downsides of the writer's life I'd forgotten about - the poor money, the being alone, etc etc. But I'm much better prepared for them this time round than before. Money is a lot tighter, but that's not a problem for us.

Above all else, I feel I am living life, doing real things that matter to me, instead of sitting in a meeting room or cubicle listening to bullshit or being subjected to same. My perspective on everything has changed: and that's perhaps the best thing of all. I no longer feel trapped, miserable and desperate, which is more or less how I felt for the past 20 years.

I wish you all health and happiness in 2017!

BA

MoseyingAlong

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2017, 07:54:15 AM »
What a great update. Thanks for sharing it and offering your perspective.

Financial.Velociraptor

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2017, 09:28:51 AM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"

okits

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2017, 06:53:18 PM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"

Ha ha!  I liked that, too!

Congrats, BA, love the update!  How has your son reacted to your ER?  Loves having more time with you?  More relaxed because you're more relaxed?  Tells you more because you're around more?  Hopefully all good effects!

marty998

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2017, 07:38:59 PM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"

I have a theory as to why a Manager engages in this behaviour.

It's part of the training to be an Executive.

Stachey

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2017, 12:49:59 PM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"


LOL!

Congratulations BA!  The new life sounds wonderful!

Secretly Saving

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2017, 01:05:34 PM »
Congratulations.  Sounds like there is much to celebrate.  One year of happiness down, many more to go!

Bolshevik Artizan

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2017, 01:22:33 PM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"

Ha ha!  I liked that, too!

Congrats, BA, love the update!  How has your son reacted to your ER?  Loves having more time with you?  More relaxed because you're more relaxed?  Tells you more because you're around more?  Hopefully all good effects!

Well, the move and change of life were hard on him too but yes, he's now expressing himself more. Apart from a brief (18 month) period of transition, this move has been a straight swap for being cared for by his mother to being cared for by his Dad (Grandparents did the bit in-between). Now Mum is the main breadwinner for the moment... we are all calming down after a long and difficult 2016.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

BA

Bolshevik Artizan

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2017, 01:24:40 PM »
You just gave me a new favorite word: "bitchery"

I have a theory as to why a Manager engages in this behaviour.

It's part of the training to be an Executive.

Oh yes. And so many of them who have never been in a fight, cut down a tree, chopped wood, whatever - in fact, never done anything but sit in an office - will go on and on about the need to be "tough" and "maintain standards" while they swallow their n-th Dunking Donut of the day... hmmm... maybe that's part of the training too? :-)


BA

soccerluvof4

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2017, 03:11:32 PM »
Congrats on your first years success!

Mrs. Pomodoro

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2017, 06:03:54 PM »
Thank you for an honest assessment of your post-FIRE life. I kept reminding myself that not all my problems will be solved after FIRE, but it's reassuring to hear you say that life is still better outside of the corporate world. There'll be more good time to come!

Bolshevik Artizan

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #11 on: January 12, 2017, 10:50:03 AM »
Thank you for an honest assessment of your post-FIRE life. I kept reminding myself that not all my problems will be solved after FIRE, but it's reassuring to hear you say that life is still better outside of the corporate world. There'll be more good time to come!

As I said to a friend who is still trapped and miserable, though blessed with a lovely home, wife and family: don't expect a stress-free, blissful existence. It's just different - but the fact that you're looking to make the change is, in itself, the clue to you being happier on the "other side"...

BA

Mrs. Pomodoro

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2017, 05:50:23 PM »
As I said to a friend who is still trapped and miserable, though blessed with a lovely home, wife and family: don't expect a stress-free, blissful existence. It's just different - but the fact that you're looking to make the change is, in itself, the clue to you being happier on the "other side"...

BA

Hey that's me except that I have a lovely husband instead of a wife. My husband quit his high stress tech job 3+ years ago to take care of our son while working towards a 2nd career (I guess he's kind of RE in that sense?) and I just stumbled upon an interesting opportunity that may turn into a good part-time gig totally unrelated to my current high stress tech job. Both are not making much money. Maybe it's more about the change than about the not working, though not having to worrying about money (too much) doesn't hurt. :)

Bolshevik Artizan

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2017, 02:53:45 PM »
As I said to a friend who is still trapped and miserable, though blessed with a lovely home, wife and family: don't expect a stress-free, blissful existence. It's just different - but the fact that you're looking to make the change is, in itself, the clue to you being happier on the "other side"...

BA

Hey that's me except that I have a lovely husband instead of a wife. My husband quit his high stress tech job 3+ years ago to take care of our son while working towards a 2nd career (I guess he's kind of RE in that sense?) and I just stumbled upon an interesting opportunity that may turn into a good part-time gig totally unrelated to my current high stress tech job. Both are not making much money. Maybe it's more about the change than about the not working, though not having to worrying about money (too much) doesn't hurt. :)

Cool - although I would say I've retired on here, I'm really going all out for my dream career now as a writer. All I can say is, I'm glad I have the liquidity because it's a slow start, to put it mildly. Just got a big commission in, though - makes me happy! Very best of luck to you and husband !

BA

Mrs. Pomodoro

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Re: One Year In...
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2017, 05:29:05 PM »
Cool - although I would say I've retired on here, I'm really going all out for my dream career now as a writer. All I can say is, I'm glad I have the liquidity because it's a slow start, to put it mildly. Just got a big commission in, though - makes me happy! Very best of luck to you and husband !

BA

Thank you, BA! Doing what you love and getting paid sounds awesome! Part of me really want to leave my current job earlier to pursue other interests but 3 more months is not too bad all things considered. Wish you more fun and satisfaction to come in the future! :)