July 31st was my last day at working full time- I was hired on a consulting basis to finish out a nearly completed project and put in less than 40 hours last month. It my age(late fifties) I am not actually a FIRE, but this forum has helped over the hurdles and kept me sane in the last few months of working.
First of all, I have two lifetimes of things I would like to accomplish so if anything I am working harder, physically, than when I was behind a desk. I will never be bored and find the ability to pursue whatever I want to be thrilling and very rewarding.
As my avatar implies I consider myself on the bottom end of what assets someone should have to retire, but many of the things I am doing earn me money and I have no regrets to getting the ball rolling while I have good health and can enjoy this stage of my life. I am enjoying spending carefully and have the time to utilize materials and stuff I have rather than going and buying them new.
The biggest thing for me has been the total control of my time. I no longer feel like life is rushing by me out of control. I take my time and work carefully and do things I wouldn't be able to if I had to have it completed so I could go back to work Monday. I have done a number of things in a way that were initially more time consuming, but in the long run have actually turned out to be best. I have just finished framing and drying in a somewhat remote cabin and I have had a blast building it! Yes, I am sore from moving materials, and I pick splinters from my calloused hands each night, but I love taking a break and sitting in the sun knowing that my time is my own.
Much of our assets are in property- having the time to make improvements and develop them by using my labor will probably end up increasing the value of our assets more long term than if I had continued working and is much more healthy and fun for me.
My stress level is way down and I feel like I did when I was in my early teens- the world is wide open in front of me and any trepidations about not having a bigger stash are squashed by this wonderful feeling that anything is possible.
Very happy with this change in life.
