2023 FIRE cohort

[AlanStache]

I broke the news at work, and recruiting for my replacement has started in earnest.  It's a weird feeling.

I also pulled my date in by a week, so I have some me time/decompression time before school's out and family events begin.  Don't update the official list yet though - I might be convinced to stick around that last week because I really want to finish this project!

Finishing that project will not matter to you 6 months after leaving and if the company fails because of it then that is on them :-)

[Bateaux]

Ok.  I have a definitely no later than date.  3-22-24 Yes, I know that's next year and one year from this date.  I signed a contract for no later than that date.  However, I will have 14 weeks of accumulated PTO to use as well.  I'll get a one month salary bonus by giving them 12 months of notice.  If I use the PTO properly, I can leave in the calendar year of 2023.  Then use the paid time off to bridge me to the official retirement date.  I'll also be eligible for any bonuses paid for the 2023 and a prorated 2024 year bonus.  Healthcare and pension benefits would be active to the March 22, 2024 date.  I'm still going to claim 2023 as my year even if I go with this plan.  If I decide however I can leave July 1, 2023 and still get all my benefits to that date.  I'll be 55 years old by then and my pension and health care eligiblity will be available.  One thing for certain is there is zero stress in my job these days.  I've never been treated better.  Especially now that I have a no later than date.

[RWTL]

Bringing to the top of the page...

Confirmed:
01/27/2023 watchmaker (39)
02/03/2023 NY Texan (55)
02/24/2023 shadesofgreen (46)
02/28/2023 Much Fishing to Do (51)
02/28/2023 baludon (50)
03/01/2023 stein07 (46)
03/08/2023 vagavince
04/14/2023 BFGirl (55)

Plans to Fire:

01/1/2023 Northstar (33)
01/31/2023 detrimental12 (34)
02/2023 Thriftyc (49)
02/24/2023 stasherus-maximus (48)
03/2023 Retiring gaijin
03/2023 Blissful Biker (50)
04/03/2023 AccidentalMiser (55)
04/28/2023 sheep_music_generator (30)
04/30/2023 Fresh Bread (48)
04/2023 SEAK
04/2023 FIREupDOOON
04/2023 Midwest_Handlebar (39)
04/2023 navyswim01 (44)
05/12/2023 RWTL (51)
05/2023 Wanttobehome (55)
05/2023 dougules (44) - could vary a lot
05/2023 paideuma
05/2023 lutorm (52)
05/2023 MaybeBabyMustache(46)
05/2023 MisterA (61)
05/2023 Beach_Bound (33)
05/31/2023 Kosho (60)
06/2023 HuffDuf41 (41)
06/2023 Present Muse
06/2023 markus
06/01/2023 2Birds1Stone (36)
06/02/2023 PhrugalPhan (60)
06/05/2023 ShadowRegent (36)
06/14/2023 RelaxedGal (45)
06/16/2023 scottish
07/15/2023 JGS1980
08/2023 Erutio (43)
08/2023 Fjord (50)
09/2023 FireGinslia (50)
09/29/2023 frizzywhiskers (51)
10/2023 Phryne
10/2023 mtnrider
10/2023 Mathew675
11/2023 frugal rph
12/2023 Bateaux
12/2023 beer-man
12/2023 CindyBS
12/2023 FI Curious
12/2023 Landlady
12/2023 NESailor
12/2023 RedHotLama
12/2023 SpeedReader
12/2023 Stache-O-Lantern (48)
12/2023 stupidiot8
12/2023 wannabe-stache
12/2023 bottlerocks
12/2023 lauren_knows (42)
12/2023 marblejane (40)
12/25/2023 moof (46)
12/31/2023 StarBright (41)
12/31/2023 Peony2019
12/31/2023 MamaMinou (52)
12/31/2023 mistymoney (55)
12/31/2023 garyjames8 (49)

OLY:

12/2019 I'm Fred
??/2020 Mmm_Donuts
12/2021 Arbitrage
02/22/2022 friedmmj
?  Le Dérisoire
11/10/2022  Slow road to freedom

OMY:

02/2024 grantmeaname
07/2024 pdxvandal
09/2024 FrugalShrew
12/2024 OurTown
12/2027 FireryFIRE
Ardrum (39)
rpr

SWAMI:
TomTx 5LY
Locksmith

TBD:
fuzzy math
drumstache
moneytaichi
AlanStache
Spiffsome

[RWTL]

Ok.  I have a definitely no later than date.  3-22-24 Yes, I know that's next year and one year from this date.  I signed a contract for no later than that date.  However, I will have 14 weeks of accumulated PTO to use as well.  I'll get a one month salary bonus by giving them 12 months of notice.  If I use the PTO properly, I can leave in the calendar year of 2023.  Then use the paid time off to bridge me to the official retirement date.  I'll also be eligible for any bonuses paid for the 2023 and a prorated 2024 year bonus.  Healthcare and pension benefits would be active to the March 22, 2024 date.  I'm still going to claim 2023 as my year even if I go with this plan.  If I decide however I can leave July 1, 2023 and still get all my benefits to that date.  I'll be 55 years old by then and my pension and health care eligiblity will be available.  One thing for certain is there is zero stress in my job these days.  I've never been treated better.  Especially now that I have a no later than date.

Sounds like you have good options.  I left you on Dec 2023 unless you want me to move it.

[Bateaux]

That's fine.  I may still could quit Mid-May. I've OMY a few times.  Now I can't anymore and that's why I signed.  Without the pandemic, I may have left in 2020. 

[vagavince]

2 weeks into retirement. I enjoy doing nothing.

There are some angst from time to time on finance and being productive. I think I'm ok with finance, but there are still some lingering anxiety of my spending exploding due to inflation or life style change. There is also still a desire to be productive, I find myself restless, signing up for class, sending out resume, trying to plan my day etc.

My retirement was pretty sudden. So still trying to identify what kind of lifestyle I want, where I want to live, what I want to do etc. Lots of stuff to figure out. Hope to have a better picture by end of this year and have less angst

[Much Fishing to Do]

Well, retirement was pretty awesome for the month it lasted ;-)

On Monday I start at a new job offered from a longtime associate.  It was an opportunity I knew was out there in some form and knew I'd probably inquire about after the Summer, but things changed quickly to where they wanted me now.  It'll be from home and my terms were I'd be on 2 days/wk and will not have work email on my phone so the other days are truly off. I wanted some form of limited work, and it looks like I can make enough to cover all our expenses in those 2 days (much more than I can make those hours than any other job I could get), so it seemed crazy to not at least give it a shot and see how it goes.

I've spent a lot of time consolidating financial accounts and running thru models and thinking about spending/expenses now and in the future and basically ended up still looking at basically two buckets, my life now (51) to 66 (living off cash and taxable investments, having kid expenses, pre medicare, pre SS, more travel etc) and then 67+.  Using just my current retirement account balance in Firecalc and playing around with the numbers I can get a 100% success rate starting spending that at 67 so giving me a simple target of making the cash and taxable last until then (16 years is so much easier for me to wrap my head around than some unknown large X years)

I'm more convinced than ever I could never make another dollar and be just fine, so I know I'm only working because I want to, and if it isn't a good fit I'll just leave.

[garyjames8]

Hi Folks,

Just checking in for a reality check from my buddies here in the 2023 FIRE cohort.

Backstory:  I was the fire starter back in December 2015 who reached out to our reliable and trusty administrator arebelspy to request the creation of a thread for a 2023 Cohort Class, which was granted.  I then became the very 1st person to post on this Cohort Class of 2023 thread on December 23, 2015 at 11:49:57 PM.  In this context, I feel there is a bit of extra weight on the shoulders to make sure I achieve FIRE in 2023.

Present Story:  I am still on track to retire early on December 31, 2023 (aged 49 years old).  The area where I need to request a reality check is in two areas:

AREA A:  Working an extra year to December 31, 2024, and
AREA B:  Being an active investor/entrepreneur post-FIRE to grow my net worth as much as possible post-FIRE.

Back in 2015 my mindset was different.  My goal was FIRE, pure and simple.  Never Work Again.  And the freedom to decide each day 4 key things:  (a) Where I spend my time;  (b) With whom I spend my time;  (c) What I spend my time doing;  (d) When I do things;

Have I totally lost my way, or is it technically possible to be branded as "FIRE" while being an active investor/entrepreneur? 

And if I choose to do OMY (One More Year) my Net Worth at the end of 2024 would be about 8% higher than if I FIRE in 2023.  What are people's thoughts on working OMY to have a net worth that is 8% higher after OMY than retiring on schedule?

God Bless,

Gary

[bmjohnson35]

Hi Folks,

Just checking in for a reality check from my buddies here in the 2023 FIRE cohort.

Backstory:  I was the fire starter back in December 2015 who reached out to our reliable and trusty administrator arebelspy to request the creation of a thread for a 2023 Cohort Class, which was granted.  I then became the very 1st person to post on this Cohort Class of 2023 thread on December 23, 2015 at 11:49:57 PM.  In this context, I feel there is a bit of extra weight on the shoulders to make sure I achieve FIRE in 2023.

Present Story:  I am still on track to retire early on December 31, 2023 (aged 49 years old).  The area where I need to request a reality check is in two areas:

AREA A:  Working an extra year to December 31, 2024, and
AREA B:  Being an active investor/entrepreneur post-FIRE to grow my net worth as much as possible post-FIRE.

Back in 2015 my mindset was different.  My goal was FIRE, pure and simple.  Never Work Again.  And the freedom to decide each day 4 key things:  (a) Where I spend my time;  (b) With whom I spend my time;  (c) What I spend my time doing;  (d) When I do things;

Have I totally lost my way, or is it technically possible to be branded as "FIRE" while being an active investor/entrepreneur? 

And if I choose to do OMY (One More Year) my Net Worth at the end of 2024 would be about 8% higher than if I FIRE in 2023.  What are people's thoughts on working OMY to have a net worth that is 8% higher after OMY than retiring on schedule?

God Bless,

Gary

You set a goal over 6 years ago. A lot has happened in that time.  It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  Do what you think is best for you in the present moment. 

[Wanttobehome]

Ten weeks to go
44 workdays
Notice given
Only two more full pay days before I finish.
Its great seeing others retiring, it has been a long time coming
I have my eye on a nice sun lounger for the garden to treat myself.
The summer is planned out with holidays and day trips, I have some volunteering days set up looking after a newly planted community fruit garden, historic guide training / reading with children in school /renovating an old garden.
Going part time for the final year has been a great transition from 38 years of full time working.
Time is creeping and leaping for me at the moment cant believe I am so close
See you on the other side of work!!

[mtnrider]

And if I choose to do OMY (One More Year) my Net Worth at the end of 2024 would be about 8% higher than if I FIRE in 2023.  What are people's thoughts on working OMY to have a net worth that is 8% higher after OMY than retiring on schedule?

I've done this a couple times, for about the same percentage of change.  It might be worth writing out the tradeoffs. 

OMY: "I can spend X more dollars/year to buy P" and/or "I have 8% more cushion, meaning I can maintain my lifestyle if the market goes down D%". 

The tradeoff: "given that I expect to have 25 more years of good life, I'm OK with sacrificing 1/25th of that - and that might mean not visiting C country, or doing activity B that is on my bucket list". 


For me, there were some crossover points where I wouldn't make the tradeoff.  I'm financially OK now.   If my net worth goes up by 10%, but I miss out on 1 out of 10 years of life, that's obviously not a great tradeoff - particularly since this is in my healthy years (which I weigh more heavily).

OTOH, if you're cutting it close financially and you'd be nervous, then it's probably better to work OMY, or have a solid plan to get extra income later.

And the freedom to decide each day 4 key things:  (a) Where I spend my time;  (b) With whom I spend my time;  (c) What I spend my time doing;  (d) When I do things;

My observation from watching entrepreneurs is that unless you choose a lifestyle job, you won't get many of those things. 

[Fresh Bread]

@garyjames8 if you need more money to reach your target, it's a hell of a lot easier to get that working OMY that trying to start a business and working 10hrs a day or more getting that off the ground. I agree with mtnrider, you won't get any of those things you want.

What about Coast-FIRE / Barista-FIRE? Maybe work 2 days a week somewhere where you have no responsibility and don't need to think about work outside of your shifts.

[garyjames8]

1. @bmjohnson35 - Thanks for the reminder to think about what is best for me.  That is good advice.  Especially considering that up to May last year I was working 7 days a week, predominantly on the front line, so constantly running around after people and what they want...for 12 years I did that so one consequence is that I got a bit lost in regards to thinking about what I want.  I think that this was partly a contributory factor to why I made my post the other day.

2a. @mtnrider - Interesting points about calculating trade-offs.  If I live to be 80 then I am sacrificing 1/30 of my future life for OMY.  If I die in 10 years then the ratio is 1/10.  I might go for a substantial health assessment and see what the results are to be able to make a more accurate prediction on my life expectancy.  I was planning on doing one anyway at the end of this year, so your post has given me an extra reason for doing so.

2b. @mtnrider - It is possible my entrepreneurship/investor work post-FIRE could be classed as a 'lifestyle' situation.  I recently became a fully licenced Business Broker which has the scope to be a lifestyle business.  It can also be an 80+ hour per week business.  But from talking with quite a lot of business brokers they all tell me there is quite a bit of leeway depending on how much money you want to make and what lifestyle you want.

3. @Fresh Bread - Thanks for the warning about starting a business from scratch.  I was not really looking to do that.  I would either be partnering with an existing business or buying an existing business as an owner (but not as an operator).  In terms of Coast-FIRE / Barista-FIRE I think working 2 days a week is a no-no for me.  I think I really want to get out of being an employee once and for all.  I theoretically could retire tomorrow.  I think my post is more about margin of safety (how much capital would make me feel secure in FIRE) and once I FIRE should I use the 168 hours of free time per week (minus sleep) to good advantage by taking my capital and growing it as much as possible during FIRE as an investor/entrepreneur?

[MisterA]

@garyjames8 in your signature:

"Target RE Net Worth: AU$1,000,000.
Target RE Passive/Semi-passive income: AU$52,000 p.a."

This equates to a 5.2% withdrawal rate, is that what you're planning?

[2Birds1Stone]

@garyjames8 in your signature:

"Target RE Net Worth: AU$1,000,000.
Target RE Passive/Semi-passive income: AU$52,000 p.a."

This equates to a 5.2% withdrawal rate, is that what you're planning?

At 50 years old, why not?

[mistymoney]

@garyjames8 in your signature:

"Target RE Net Worth: AU$1,000,000.
Target RE Passive/Semi-passive income: AU$52,000 p.a."

This equates to a 5.2% withdrawal rate, is that what you're planning?

I think the linkage there was AND not FROM? But garyjames can confirm!

[Kosho]

Final workday = May 31
Age = 60

[BFGirl]

Final workday = May 31
Age = 60

Wonderful!   Congratulations!

[RWTL]

Final workday = May 31
Age = 60

I added you to the list.  Since this is your first post, do you want to tell us a bit more about yourself?  What has your journey been like?  What struggles have you had?  What are you looking forward to?

[RWTL]

All - Once I retire, I'm going to start a long hiking trip so I won't be able to update the list as often (or at all) starting in the middle of May. Maybe one of you would be interested in keeping it up after that point?

[2Birds1Stone]

All - Once I retire, I'm going to start a long hiking trip so I won't be able to update the list as often (or at all) starting in the middle of May. Maybe one of you would be interested in keeping it up after that point?

I can carry the torch.

[FireGinslia]

Well done @RWTL and now @2Birds1Stone for keeping us all on track.

I reckon I’m 6 paychecks away from my final date, all going well.
 
Working my way through the pre-retire checklist, so currently getting some estate planning in order, then sort out a new credit card (while I’m still employed), and reading Die with Zero.

I also came across Nancy Schlossberg’s forms of retirement. I think I’ll be a searcher for a while (though I’m doing my best to research and try things out ahead of time), and hope to end up a mix of an adventurer, easy glider and involved spectator.

I’d say there’s a few “continuers” in the 2023 Cohort. My wish to the rest of you, is not to become a “retreater”in our post-FIRE lives.

[RWTL]

All - Once I retire, I'm going to start a long hiking trip so I won't be able to update the list as often (or at all) starting in the middle of May. Maybe one of you would be interested in keeping it up after that point?

I can carry the torch.

Great!  Thanks.

[RWTL]

 
Working my way through the pre-retire checklist, so currently getting some estate planning in order, then sort out a new credit card (while I’m still employed), and reading Die with Zero.

Are you enjoying Die with Zero?  I haven't read it, but have heard it mentioned on several podcasts.

[Kosho]

My only very small struggle was to pick a retirement date. My partner is already retired. I am looking forward to setting my own schedule and priorities. Thank you

[goat_music_generator]

Spouse and I finally went through all our expenses for the past year and considered whether the numbers really make sense for him to retire on April 30. He wrote up a Case Study for us -- I'd appreciate if y'all would take a look! https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/case-studies/are-we-ready-for-fire/

We're leaning towards taking the plunge. The numbers are a little close. But I want to get back to doing some kind of intellectual, preferably paid, work, and I'm not going to be able to do that even part-time unless he quits. And it would give us a little buffer. Plus, with the amount of tech experience we both have, going back probably would be pretty doable if we had to.

But we're definitely curious what y'all think.

[FireGinslia]

@RWTL i like the premise of Die with Zero, not sure I’d be brave enough to follow it completely.
By retiring early this year, I’ll be using up a lot of savings and investment accounts before I hit normal retirement age, which seems to go against mainstream advice to not retire early. But I don’t want to be old with a load of income I don’t need, when I could be younger with less income, but all the time &freedom to enjoy it.

[scottish]

@RWTL i like the premise of Die with Zero, not sure I’d be brave enough to follow it completely.
By retiring early this year, I’ll be using up a lot of savings and investment accounts before I hit normal retirement age, which seems to go against mainstream advice to not retire early. But I don’t want to be old with a load of income I don’t need, when I could be younger with less income, but all the time &freedom to enjoy it.

Yeah, it's a tough call.   Ideally you would just carry on with the health and vigour of a 30 year old until you turned 90 (or whatever age you're going to live until), and then you just drop dead.

Many people wind up in long term care for years.   (Like my mother and both my grandmothers.)    Having money can mean the difference between a marginal home run by the government, and  a nice privately operated home.      Some privately operated homes aren't very nice, though.    It's  a tough time.

[mistymoney]

@RWTL i like the premise of Die with Zero, not sure I’d be brave enough to follow it completely.
By retiring early this year, I’ll be using up a lot of savings and investment accounts before I hit normal retirement age, which seems to go against mainstream advice to not retire early. But I don’t want to be old with a load of income I don’t need, when I could be younger with less income, but all the time &freedom to enjoy it.

If you will have a decent social security payment and/or pension at FRA, I think it makes what you're doing much easier. There are lots of programs for seniors that only have their soc sec if SORR impacts the stache too much. leastwise, in this blue state!

[mtnrider]

Are you enjoying Die with Zero?  I haven't read it, but have heard it mentioned on several podcasts.

My unsolicited opinion on Die with Zero:  It's a good read for a countervailing opinion about how to manage withdrawal.  It's worthwhile to read, if only to be able to help identify when you are overdoing frugality.

But keep in mind that Perkins is playing with house money, he's worth around $50 million.  As @scottish mentioned, you might actually be spending more later in life.  I've seen this happen with relatives.  The cautionary tale being that if you live too large, or are too generous, with too little buffer, then you might have a quite bad last decade because you can't afford services.  Leaning heavily on others for help might decrease their quality of life more than those parties were enjoyable.

Staying in the game beats expected outcome.  Only live large with house money.

[MisterA]

I have just under 50 working days left until my planned departure date, I’ve got less than 0.5% of my total career working days left to work.

Now I'm at less than 0.25%, if I go with my planned date, which I probably will.

My company is planning to send me to another company location for a few days, in the Mediterranean in May. It would be a no-pressure trip, but I think I'll just stick to my planned date and leave. If I give my notice they won't send me, and if I don't go as planned, I might end up working another 2 months.

As my date gets closer and the whole thing becomes more real, I keep reassessing and wondering if I should stay a little while longer. But overall, to hell with that!

[AlanStache]

I have just under 50 working days left until my planned departure date, I’ve got less than 0.5% of my total career working days left to work.

Now I'm at less than 0.25%, if I go with my planned date, which I probably will.

My company is planning to send me to another company location for a few days, in the Mediterranean in May. It would be a no-pressure trip, but I think I'll just stick to my planned date and leave. If I give my notice they won't send me, and if I don't go as planned, I might end up working another 2 months.

As my date gets closer and the whole thing becomes more real, I keep reassessing and wondering if I should stay a little while longer. But overall, to hell with that!

Can you take an SO or family member on the trip, one last cheap(er) trip for them partly on the company dime?  (I travel for work too and the thought of taking an SO to suburban of Oklahoma city are almost laughable.)

[MisterA]

Can you take an SO or family member on the trip, one last cheap(er) trip for them partly on the company dime?  (I travel for work too and the thought of taking an SO to suburban of Oklahoma city are almost laughable.)

Sadly, I can't. But these 'trips' aren't that good anyway. Travel -> meetings -> dinner with strangers -> travel (delays?), you don't get much spare time, just the knowledge that you've been somewhere.

Nah, I think I'll just finish instead, and start living my life.

PS. I used to live in SE Virginia, in Virginia Beach.

[AlanStache]

...

PS. I used to live in SE Virginia, in Virginia Beach.

Thank you for your service :-)

[RWTL]

Are you enjoying Die with Zero?  I haven't read it, but have heard it mentioned on several podcasts.

But keep in mind that Perkins is playing with house money, he's worth around $50 million. 

Well that's interesting! 

[MiatAccountant]

2 weeks into retirement. I enjoy doing nothing.

There are some angst from time to time on finance and being productive. I think I'm ok with finance, but there are still some lingering anxiety of my spending exploding due to inflation or life style change. There is also still a desire to be productive, I find myself restless, signing up for class, sending out resume, trying to plan my day etc.

My retirement was pretty sudden. So still trying to identify what kind of lifestyle I want, where I want to live, what I want to do etc. Lots of stuff to figure out. Hope to have a better picture by end of this year and have less angst

Vagavince, you're not alone. I haven't posted as 2023 Fire cohort as I wasn't sure if I'm retired or unemployed. Financially, I can retire and my wife is supportive of it....but I haven't quite figured out what to do with retired life...getting restless, anxious as you described and doing the stuff you mentioned from resume submission, working on cars/house, trying to stay busy..etc.  Recently I learned how to meditate which has been helpful. Hopefully, things gets back in a groove but this transition is lot harder than I imagined as you have described.

[BFGirl]

Today is the last Sunday I have to dread Monday.  I have finally reached excited anticipation as opposed to "wtf have I done?"  My last day is Friday and Thursday is scheduled full.  But my coworker has already taken over part of my role as she will be stepping into the job.  My last few days should just be about taking care of some cleanup things. 

I've had lots of people offering me work when they hear I am retiring.   Between that and my side gig, if I need to earn more money, then I can.  So that has made me mostly quit worrying about finances. I also have a lot of fluff I can cut if need be, so barring a catastrophe, I think I am good.

I am super booked with my side gig until after the first week of May.  I think I'll be able to start decompressing after that.

[RWTL]

Today is the last Sunday I have to dread Monday.  I have finally reached excited anticipation as opposed to "wtf have I done?"  My last day is Friday and Thursday is scheduled full.  But my coworker has already taken over part of my role as she will be stepping into the job.  My last few days should just be about taking care of some cleanup things. 

I've had lots of people offering me work when they hear I am retiring.   Between that and my side gig, if I need to earn more money, then I can.  So that has made me mostly quit worrying about finances. I also have a lot of fluff I can cut if need be, so barring a catastrophe, I think I am good.

I am super booked with my side gig until after the first week of May.  I think I'll be able to start decompressing after that.

That's fantastic.  I have a bit longer to go, and am counting down the days until mid-may.  I've also started to transition and have identified the interim leader that will take over after I'm gone.  My email box is at an all time low right now.

Congrats on getting to this point.  Let us know how your last few days go.

[Bateaux]

15 more shifts till my 6 week departure to the Appalachian Trail.  Only 5 more night shifts.  Doesn't seem real.  I'm thinking the economy will have to really go to crap for me to return to work in July now. 

[Fresh Bread]

It looks like I've got 11 working days left. Two will be long and painful, two have clients I don't like but the rest of the days will be easy.

I've told everyone I'm wrapping up the business and put the Google listing to 'temporarily closed' to try to stop the phone enquiries. Soon I'll put a closed sign on the website but I will keep the domain name & phone number just in case! I doubt I'll restart the business in the same form but I could do something else in the field if it was fun.

[MisterA]

15 more shifts till my 6 week departure to the Appalachian Trail.  Only 5 more night shifts.  Doesn't seem real.

Congratulations, sounds awesome. I used to work shifts, you'll be well rid of them.

It looks like I've got 11 working days left. Two will be long and painful, two have clients I don't like but the rest of the days will be easy.

Likewise, well done.

I'm scheduled to hand my notice to quit to my employer, tomorrow. As this day approaches, I'm having doubts and getting cold feet. I guess that this feeling is natural(?). Whilst I still can't wait to have my time to myself, I still have concerns about the general world economy and its affects on my stache. Whilst at the same time, I know that I earn a lot of money for not so much work! It seems like a lot to give up, during a time of uncertainty. But, I suppose that it will always feel that way.

The other thing is the social aspect. I work in a fairly vibrant office, all be it with plenty of people that I don't particularly like. Our social life is much less vibrant, I think that retirement will take some getting used to.

[Fresh Bread]

@MisterA I hope there's some local groups you can join.

I made quite good friends by volunteering weekly with the same team. My current volunteer role isn't that friendly and has some weird politics - you might have to try a few places to get a good fit. 

[baludon]

Hello all - lurked here since I discovered MMM in 2013. Ten years later, I reached my goal and retired on Feb 28 at 50.

[Midwest_Handlebar]

Just gave my 2 week notice just short of my 10 year anniversary! I discovered MMM back in 2013 as well and increased our net worth by ~$2M during this time. Doesn't quite seem real at this point.

[Blissful Biker]

Congratulations baludon and Midwest_Handlebar!  Exciting times ahead.

[frizzywhiskers]

Congrats all!  I love to see this thread ramping up!

For me today was day 100 of work days left. Double digits tomorrow, and all downhill from there!

[BFGirl]

Today was my last day.  Pretty emotional couple of days saying goodbyes to long time colleagues.

Happy dance time because I am officially retired!

[Fresh Bread]

Congrats BFGirl!!

[Sandi_k]

@BFGirl - I cannot wait to hear what you plan to do first thing on Monday morning. :-)

[RWTL]

I updated the list to include @BFGirl and @baludon retirements! Congrats!