This is a funny sort of thread... caught my eye- and I read through it.
@Skyhigh this really does read as if you are a brilliant troll... which I don't think you are, but just so you know- to an unbiased 3rd party stepping in, your argument seems a little unfocused.
But I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU!! FIRE is certainly no silver bullet to meet all your social/personal/live dreams/goals. Really all financial freedom can do is give you exactly that- freedom to pursue what you wish without (or with less concern) about the financial viability. It sounds like for you it has been golden handcuffs... like many people I knew in the military who hate it, and bitch and moan all day every day but are way to scared to do anything different... so they stay until 20 and then immediately get a GS position and continue to hate it forever. (*hint, the problem isn't the job.... it's those people.). Incidentally- I think *
many if not most* could care less about RE... in most cases it just doesn't apply- few plan to never earn another dollar. Most want freedom to leave a job they are very unhappy in- and FI allows them to do it. (Incidentally- you sound just like that btw- when you talk of golden handcuffs... that's what people tend think about their high dollar jobs. Weird? If you are RE I don't understand how you are handcuffed to it? It sounds more like you are self-employed in a field you don't enjoy.) Don't know why you are hung up on that? Or maybe you are just warning people that RE isn't all it's cracked up to be? Maybe you thought it would be awesome? In any event- if you don't like it, don't do it!!!
A couple of thoughts- (and I don't post often around here!!)
1) FIRE didn't ruin your career or prevent you pursuing it- you made a different choice, you went a different route. Other people dug into the trenches, and my guess is those are the people you are competing with for the jobs now. They dug into the suck and are now better positioned for the jobs you want. Whether you chose to do was for your family, or to avoid other perceived unpleasantness.... basically, you made a choice. It's cool. No biggie- you can't do EVERYTHING... you had to make some tough choices and you did. The world is littered with people who wanted to play 2nd base in the majors, or be a rock star opening for Billy Joel (both the dreams I WANTED to chase...) When those things didn't work out, guess what- people move on and do something different. You wanted a job in a competitive and highly selective industry...it didn't happen for you and so you went a different direction.
2) If you don't like doing bike rides and gardening, so what? If you want a job, go get one. Want to do something meaningful? Go do it. Nothing stopping you. Being a corporate drone isn't doing something meaningful. Just want to make money? Plenty of jobs will let you do that. If you can't because your life is too comfortable, or your family doesn't want you to do something different... err.... well... sorry, that's different situation.
3) The grass is always greener- you express concern over if something happens to your business/income you have no backup... most people in a job have no back-up either, and no control over when or how their employment will cease... sure it's great to collect that fat paycheck and not worry about the big picture... that's what everyone Enron thought right up until the scandal broke- or the 10 million people who found themselves without jobs in 2007-2009. You yourself were a victim (apparently) of job loss.
4) Incidentally how were you "Forced" into FIRE? Sounds like a pretty clear choice to me... like you chose to go that route... is there a reason you couldn't have transitioned to another field? I have reinvented myself plenty of times.... because it's hard to make a living as a musician... I have made far more money in RE and investing than I ever have from being a musician- but that is still what I consider my vocation.
FIRE is not panacea- I don't think many argue that it is. In your case you seem to be blaming it... but you seem to cite is as the only other possible option to the one job you wanted. Sorry, buddy- there are plenty of people who don't get their dream job. I don't think anyone would have sympathy if you came on here and said " I always wanted to be a rock star, but it was really difficult to get a break, so I went and became FIRE because I had to, and now I can't seem to get a job opening for Taylor Swift... they only want to offer me small clubs...I don't want to play small clubs because it is hard work and it suck, and isn't what I want. Basically, FIRE is to blame for this." Some industries are tough. They just are. If you love what you do- then find a way to do it. If you won't ever have your dream job- that sucks... but that's just how it goes sometimes. FIRE isn't your problem, for sure. And if you want something- it sounds like you are a capable business builder- pursue something else.
There is no secret code (or handshake or special way of talking) that you alluded to in an earlier post. It's about putting in the time, and being ready for your big break. If you love to fly, then make it happen- it might take risks that you are unwilling to take. Acknowledge that- you are where you are because of what you CHOSE. If you aren't doing what you want... then do something different. If you aren't where you want to be go somewhere else. FIRE isn't the be all end all. Nothing is. But I humbly submit it isn't your problem.
Good luck, friend.