An Edward Jones advisor just stopped by the house. She was moving to the local office and was going door-to-door to meet some of the people in the neighborhoods around where she lives.
EJ: How did I catch you at home on a Monday?
Me: Well...I'm unemployed.
EJ: Oh....are you looking for work?
Me: No, not really.
EJ: Are you early retired?
Me: I am!
EJ: Do you use anyone for investing?
Me: No, I've always self managed. I just use index funds. I want to set it and forget it since I've going to be invested for a long time and I don't want to pay attention to all the up and downs along the way.
EJ: It's so nice to hear someone say that!
Me: Yeah, I know I'm the oddball.
EJ: Well if you'd ever like me to review what you're doing I be happy to do that at no charge.
Me: Ok, thanks!
EJ: Have a nice day!
Oh the gratification I got from that conversation! Not in a vindictive kind of way, but in a proud-of-our-accomplishment kind of way. I was quite surprised that she made the leap from not looking for work to early retired as her first question. Either that or I look way older than I am (I hope not!). There is some affluence in this area so maybe it's more common around here than I know.
I just had to share with someone and I've become acutely aware of the tension that begins to build when we have a conversation with pretty much anyone in real life that involves an aspect of us not working so I couldn't think of one person I know that I wanted to share this proud moment with (other than my wife).