I was laid off from my employer 18 months ago at 42 years old after 12 years of service. I had a Vice President I worked for that was a real Dbag and had it out for me, so once mass layoffs started I knew I'd be on the chopping block. Once I got canned, I decided to FIRE or at least give it a try. I'm single and had an invested portfolio of 1.2M so thought I was in pretty good shape. I traveled for the next 12 months off and on and had a great time. Studied all the FIRE blogs and got educated about investing (thanks JLCollins, MMM, Go Curry Cracker, etc.). I was miserable in my middle mgt. job anyway so it was a blessing I got the hook.
Fast forward 14 months and my former employer calls and wants me to do some consulting. They offered $80 per hour and I said "Thanks, but no thanks." So they comeback with an offer of $115 per hour! LOL, at that point I decided I had to give it a try. It's been great since I returned. I no longer have to manage anyone - just straight forward work and no political B.S. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I must admit, it feels like a bit of redemption. And if it gets stale after awhile, I'll walk away with a little extra gravy for my portfolio. I'm currently investing 100% of my earnings from this job and living off of less than 2% of my portfolio (now $1.4m). As a side note, the VP who canned me has been demoted and marginalized and on the chopping block from what I hear. He had no idea I was back so passing him in the parking lot with a big grin on my face was just EPIC!
Anyway, I thought I'd share my lil story as this blog has helped me greatly over the last two years. I like to consider myself Semi-FIRE at this point - life couldn't get much better. As I tell my close friends who wonder how I FIRE'd - I tell them, "Instead of buying stuff....I bought my freedom" Having the freedom to do whatever I want is the most fantastic thing I could have ever bought for myself :).