[quote author=Daisy link=topic=29358.msg671422#msg671422 date
Congrats! What was your original plan before you F-ed the OMY? You probably had to be pretty close to be able to make the instant decision to FIRE.
[/quote]
Hi Daisy!
My story is in a couple other threads with more detail, but in a nutshell, I was all set to retire in January, but a job inquiry came, and my interest was piqued. The offer came, I took it, I hate to toss out an opportunity... I hoped I'd like and enjoy it. Unfortunately, I did not.
My plan upon taking the job was to stick it out for a year and quit next April/May after maxing out their 401k for 2015 & 2016, test-drive living on my 2.3% withdrawal rate, and prepping mentally for the FIRE.
The non-enjoyment of the work, feelings of "ugh, I can't do this anymore!," and all the other annoyances of work, and the knowledge that I didn't *have* to put up with it--realizing I'm *choosing* to put off living life on my own terms to spend my precious time doing something I don't want to do, out of feelings of obligation to people who don't matter in the scope of my life... That led to calculating different scenarios where I quit earlier and earlier. Then I just wanted out NOW. The reasons I had to stay weren't going to have that much effect on the overall scenario. Why wait?
Yeah. Mostly that. I have the means, all calculations say I'll never run out of money, all those "put-off-for-somedays" waiting in the wings... if I'd just be brave for once...
No epic FU money story, just making a key realization, which I knew all along (we all do) but jumping into the unknown/untrodden path is scary. I faced the fear and did it anyway!
I work in the graphic arts field, and just last week I set my font-preview program to display a paragraph instead of a sentence. This was the paragraph it displays when you choose that option:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Having that in my face daily may have also contributed a bit of a "push"…
Wow, I'm gonna be free,
The Pigeon