General Discussion > Post-FIRE
Soon time, and now what?
lemanfan:
Well.. it’s getting closer. Background:
I’m 45, and has spent the last close to twenty years as co-founder of a couple of software companies - and before that a few years of working for other companies after college. I’m single. I’ve had relationships, but currently no partner, and no kids. Engineering degree, but haven’t done any engineering in many many years, I quickly moved into first project management and later company management.
Since a couple of years, I’ve felt more and more burned out and tired of what I do. The whole purpose of what the company does no longer gives me any joy, and the stuff I have to do daily basically either bores me or stresses me. And the other co-owners and I are moving in different ways in terms of personality and corporate culture.
I’ve been seriously worried about a real burnout for some time, and together with the other owners, we’ve agreed to go separate ways. During the fall, my tasks will be taken over by new people, and we have almost reached a conclusion on how to arrange the future ownership of the company, meaning that I’ll sell back all or most of my shares in the company to the others. I’ll probably switch to part time work for some time to give a smooth handover, and the stop completely hopefully before the end of the year.
Financially, I have no major worries - high income the last decade, OK investments and reasonable cost of living have given me a stash that can support my current lifestyle without problem at least until the normal retirement kicks in (20 years or so in my country), and probably long after. I’m living in Europe, meaning that many of the points in the pinned Pre-FIRE checklist are not really relevant to me since it’s quite US-focused.
The big question for me now is basically… and now what?
The first big thing I see in the future is some time for decompression and getting my energy back. Probably more physically active and with healthier food when you have time to make it. And some regular day stuff in between. Read the fifty unread books in the book shelf. Spend more time with my aging parents. Clean the apartment.
But after that… what?
I really have no desire to just lie on a beach or become a ski bum or somthing like that.
From the vocational side, I right now feel that I long-term would like to do something of use to other people. Perhaps not founding another software startup, but to have something that fills my time with actually making a difference.
I’d love input from anyone that has been near a similar situation. What’s your experience of changes in wants and desires and motivations after a FIRE?
And then I have the personal side. I am actually kind of lonely sometimes, even if history has shown that I’d rather be by myself than in a bad relationship. And romance aside, work is one of the important places for socialization. When not working, my main social arenas are friends and partly staff at a couple of resturants / pubs here in town. Fun in it’s own way, but not always the healthiest options - after a couple of beers you don’t always make the healthy or cheap meal selection.
My worry here is basically to become isolated. How have you guys handled this?
Any thoughts appreciated.
peeps_be_peeping:
I worry about these things too. I'm still about 6 years out from FIRE. I have family and friends and hobbies. But will I be lonely and isolated in retirement? I also don't have a partner and honestly don't really expect to find one. I don't have any advice but I hope another discussion on this forum will help me figure things out by the time it's my turn.
asauer:
If you've started/ run tech companies in the past, why not mentor entrepreneurs through SCORE (retired executives). Or teach a very part time entrepreneurship course at community college?
Financial.Velociraptor:
I recommend starting with some soul searching. You need to define what you core values are. Once you know what matters to you, you can build a life around that.
I do recommend taking some down time for about 6 months to decompress. That will give you plenty of time to sort out your thoughts. In my experience, it took about six months to learn how to define myself by my values rather than what I used to do for money. That is a worthwhile journey that I hope you take. There will be time to be productive (in something that jazzes you) thereafter.
lemanfan:
Thank you all for the good answers. Just writing the post yesterday put me in a better mood, as it seems more real even if it is not happening tomorrow.
--- Quote from: asauer on June 26, 2018, 06:33:53 AM ---If you've started/ run tech companies in the past, why not mentor entrepreneurs through SCORE (retired executives). Or teach a very part time entrepreneurship course at community college?
--- End quote ---
Thanks. I've thought of similar things and it might be a good idea. SCORE seems a bit US-based but I'm sure I can find oppotunities here too.
--- Quote from: Financial.Velociraptor on June 26, 2018, 07:06:11 AM ---I recommend starting with some soul searching. You need to define what you core values are. Once you know what matters to you, you can build a life around that.
--- End quote ---
Thanks. I have actually been recommended the same exercise by others, but have yet to be able to perform it fully. My findings so far have given me an indication of what's wrong with my current situation, which is a valable insight. On the other hand, I don't know if I'm doing it right...
--- Quote from: Financial.Velociraptor on June 26, 2018, 07:06:11 AM ---I do recommend taking some down time for about 6 months to decompress. That will give you plenty of time to sort out your thoughts. In my experience, it took about six months to learn how to define myself by my values rather than what I used to do for money. That is a worthwhile journey that I hope you take. There will be time to be productive (in something that jazzes you) thereafter.
--- End quote ---
My initial thought was to spend at least one hundred days without anything resembling work before letting my thoughts venture into future planning... good to hear that more people think in a similar way.
--- Quote from: Linda_Norway on June 26, 2018, 07:49:23 AM ---My FIL was in the same situation 20 years ago, selling his own company.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the advice. I think I know what I'm getting myself in to here. I am currently the bean counter of the owner group after all. :)
I currently have no thoughts of relocating. I am comfortably close to my aging parents, and the friends I have mostly live in this area. Reasoable cost of living and not too hard to reach both the outdoors and som metropolitan areas when the urge arrives.
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