Wow! I am, theoretically, FI! I had gotten away from MMM for a little while and have been facepunch worthy spending, but still saving quite a bit. I have not really been paying attention to my net worth. I reviewed the numbers yesterday and really thought about it. Between my home equity and investments I could sell in my high COL area, buy a simple rural home outright, and live a quiet life for the rest of my days.
If I wanted to make my hobbies my profession, I could. If I wanted to write the great American novel (assuming I have the skill), I could. If I wanted to simply spend my days reading, knitting, gardening, and hiking, I could.
For now, I choose to continue working. I enjoy my profession, I enjoy travel, and my family is here in this high COL area. But for the first time in my life working is a choice. My daughter is grown and gone, my son is still in college and living with me for now. They each have their own money thanks to their late grandparents. I am not in a hurry to upend my life and retire early quite yet, but I could. What an amazing place to be in!