Author Topic: 2018 FIRE cohort  (Read 738131 times)

homestead neohio

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1350 on: February 26, 2018, 09:52:20 AM »

02/26/18  Aegishjalmur (at 35)
02/28/18  Caoineag (at 36)
02/28/18  PKate and DH
03/01/18  Clean Shaven (at 45) Going Part Time
03/02/18  brooklynguy (at 37)


Looks like this is going to be a busy week!

I'm excited for everyone going this week as we finish out Feb and break into March (my month!), but I'm especially excited for @Aegishjalmur and @Caoineag . I know from Caoineag's journal that they are an MMM forum power couple who will pull up stakes and take to the road for FIRE in their self-built, stealthy travel home/van.

JerseyGrrrl

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1351 on: February 26, 2018, 04:17:34 PM »
Welcome @JerseyGrrrl. How awesome, first post and she signs up for a FIRE date!!!

From your name, you must be from my neck of the woods!!

I actually don't currently live there, nor do I have any plans to return there. But I'll always be a JerseyGrrrl at heart.

Congratulations Jerseygrrrl.  As another planned autumn retiree, I have worried a little about retiring at the start of winter.   Your solution of retiring, then moving South to avoid the winter entirely, sounds awesome.  You'll be pottering about in a T shirt knowing that if you hadn't pulled the trigger you'd be both working and cold.  You may need surgery to get the smile off your face!

Thanks all for the welcome. And it's been fun reading about the 2018 FIRE-ees who have taken the plunge already. I expect I'll have lots of angst to share as the year progresses.

rpr

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1352 on: February 26, 2018, 06:20:38 PM »
I get so much vicarious enjoyment from reading this thread as I still have a while to go.

And CowboyAndIndian -- Thanks for posting regularly. Maybe you should start a journal as well to keep busy :)


CanuckExpat

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1353 on: February 26, 2018, 10:17:24 PM »
Or if you've already FIRE'd tell us how wonderful it is.

There's been a spate of warmer and nicer than usual weather here: we've been spending a lot of time going to the beach or walking along the river. Afternoon naps have also been nice

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1354 on: February 28, 2018, 08:53:14 AM »
I get so much vicarious enjoyment from reading this thread as I still have a while to go.

And CowboyAndIndian -- Thanks for posting regularly. Maybe you should start a journal as well to keep busy :)

Thank you @rpr

No journal for me right now. I am not a very good writer. Being an engineer, I write in very terse style. And my life is rather boring!

I get excited seeing others FIRE both before me and after me. I analyzed the hell out FIRE decisions, but there is always a thought at the back of your mind that maybe I goofed up! Seeing others FIRE now keeps muting that voice at the back of my head!! So, I am excitedly cheering on the 2018 cohort.

JoJo

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1355 on: February 28, 2018, 11:05:02 AM »
Still not retired (on the edge) but reduced my hours from 70% time to 65% time.

DTaggart

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1356 on: February 28, 2018, 12:41:10 PM »
This group has gone silent. Someone FIRE, please;-)
Or if you've already FIRE'd tell us how wonderful it is.  My remaining 8 months is looking like a very steep climb and it would definitely help to see those already at the summit waving encouragement!

I'm just shy of my 1 month FIRE-versary. I haven't been on the forums very much because I no longer feel the need to waste time avoiding things I don't want to deal with, which is my primary motivation for internetting :) I've been getting 9-10 hours of sleep every night, and napping on the days I only get 8 hours of sleep. It's wonderful. We've been getting the dog out every day for a walk, have him up to 2 miles at a stretch now. That's on top of our hiking (without a dog) several times a week. I've also been able to consistently go running a few times a week and am up to 4 miles at a time. My bathroom scale is shit so I don't know how much, but my clothes are fitting a bit looser so I know I'm losing some weight. It's not just the exercise, but getting sufficient sleep all the time has greatly reduced my desire to eat crappy junk food to try and maintain my energy levels.

I went on my first overnight backpacking trip a couple of weeks ago and look forward to doing some more as the weather warms up. I've been able to keep the house much cleaner, which makes me happy. I have a lot of decluttering, organizing, and larger home improvement projects to get to but I don't feel any sense of urgency.

I successfully signed up for our ACA health care plan, which wasn't TOO painful, but they seem to think I'm not eligible for subsidies. Rather than dealing with the hassle of calling them and trying to straighten it out I'm just going to pay OOP and we should get it back on our taxes next year. We're getting piles of useless mail related to the end of the old health insurance, start of the new, and other transitionary crap. Hopefully it subsides after this first month.

SwordGuy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1357 on: February 28, 2018, 04:44:42 PM »
Just 2 months until I FIRE!   We're getting close!

Target2018

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1358 on: March 01, 2018, 07:22:50 AM »
My final month!  8 days until they payout last year's bonus and then I will give my notice.  March 28th can't come soon enough...

honeyfill

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1359 on: March 01, 2018, 09:21:43 AM »
My final month!  8 days until they payout last year's bonus and then I will give my notice.  March 28th can't come soon enough...

Congratulations Target2018! I bet you are counting the hours now.  My bonus is paid n the 9th as well but I am working until April 6 to get one more month of health insurance and because I get one more month of match in my 401k if I wait until that day.  It doesn't seem real.

homestead neohio

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1360 on: March 01, 2018, 09:49:39 AM »
This is my month!  So excited!  The end (3/31/18) can't come soon enough.  Every little work related thing that comes up seems disproportionately hard and terrible to have to think about.  I'm trying to savor the anticipation and not wish it into the past.  It is hard.

I'm recognizing I have low motivation to plan things after FIRE.   I'm finding I just want to live my simple life and have a period of not being super ambitious, which will be a bit hard to explain to everyone I know who thinks I should get a damn job already.  My work gig is such that I could go and work another job and handle my responsibilities on the side, collecting 2 paychecks plus severance this year.  That sounds like so much work!  I want less work!  Specifically less of the work I've been doing for the past 18 years. Some kinds of work sound nice to me, like taming the wild garden.  We had plans to do a 6 week cross country road trip to kick things off, but some minor logistical roadblocks and fears we could probably work through are tripping us up.  We might put it off until fall or next spring.  I don't want it to seem like a burden to pull it together.

I need to make arrangements for health insurance.  I was set against COBRA, but now Mrs. Homestead has a medical thing that started in Feb and might last into May or later.  We may hit our deductible for her soon, so changing to a new plan with a new deductible could be bad.  I think the deductibles are based on costs racked up during the coverage period, not calendar year.
 So we're considering COBRA until the next ACA open enrollment.  There is a lot of uncertainty regarding if she'll need more tests or procedures, though, so the higher COBRA payments are a hedge against her needing them.

Vegasgirl

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1361 on: March 01, 2018, 10:13:46 AM »
Well I've got some good news !! After careful consideration I've decided to move my date forward.  I just don't want to be a part of a new fiscal year, I can't take it anymore.  I've decided to work through the end of our FY and be done with it !!! My official RE date will be Sept 1 instead of December 1.  This will give me most of my summer back.  The FY ends June 30 and I will work until July 4 then be on leave through August 31st !! Now I'm stoked !!!

P.S. - Only working 3 days per week until then !!!

happy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1362 on: March 01, 2018, 03:20:33 PM »
Congratulations everyone, its so exciting to hear how close you are getting.

For me, its now less than 8 months to go,  until at the least a mini retirement of 3 months. My exact date of complete retirement eludes me still, but once I get to October and take that leave, work will scale back dramatically. I will take as much leave as possible, and drop work days from 3 to 2 if I have to work much of 2019. Unless something unforeseen happens I'll be fully FIRED no later than 30/9/19. Optimistically I still haven't joined 2019 cohort.

Fresh Bread

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1363 on: March 01, 2018, 05:03:00 PM »
Congratulations everyone, its so exciting to hear how close you are getting.

For me, its now less than 8 months to go,  until at the least a mini retirement of 3 months. My exact date of complete retirement eludes me still, but once I get to October and take that leave, work will scale back dramatically. I will take as much leave as possible, and drop work days from 3 to 2 if I have to work much of 2019. Unless something unforeseen happens I'll be fully FIRED no later than 30/9/19. Optimistically I still haven't joined 2019 cohort.

I might also need to move to 2019... We're about 5 months behind where we should be. I'm still optimistic but it's likely that I will be starting 2019 still working 12-15hrs a week.

poppydog

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1364 on: March 02, 2018, 05:43:40 AM »
Well I've got some good news !! After careful consideration I've decided to move my date forward.  I just don't want to be a part of a new fiscal year, I can't take it anymore.  I've decided to work through the end of our FY and be done with it !!! My official RE date will be Sept 1 instead of December 1.  This will give me most of my summer back.  The FY ends June 30 and I will work until July 4 then be on leave through August 31st !! Now I'm stoked !!!

P.S. - Only working 3 days per week until then !!!

Many congratulations Vegasgirl!  Me and DW have entered our second last month working.  It’s all very exciting.

This is a great thread.  So full of positivity. Love it!

Ottawa

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1365 on: March 02, 2018, 05:59:23 AM »
Hi 2018 cohorts - wow there are so many!

Alright, I'm ready - mark me down for 21 September!! There are a few caveats on that date, it may even move forward depending on circumstances  :-)

Looking forward to seeing everyone meet their goals

PhilB

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1366 on: March 02, 2018, 08:30:20 AM »
Well, I've finally told my boss that I am 'very seriously considering' retiring this October and that anything after that would probably be a little bit of consulting here and there rather than formal part time.  Given that the other 3 people in my dept are all retiring over the next 14 months, and represent well over 100 years of experience with the company between us, I needed to make it clear that planning to leave me carrying the can wasn't a viable option for the firm!
I may regret saying anything if they don't behave well, but I'm feeling good to have finally broken away from the idea of staying on part time as I don't need the money (and if I did I would much rather stay full time for a shorter period and get it over with).

moxie

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1367 on: March 02, 2018, 09:07:38 AM »
I gave my notice! And even though I thought I might have to delay until the end of April because of one last project, it was cancelled, so my March 30 day is firm.

My manager was "devastated" but ultimately understands and is happy for me.


CowboyAndIndian

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1368 on: March 02, 2018, 09:16:04 AM »
Welcome Ottawa!
Moved Vegasgirl's date.


01/01/18  CowboyAndIndian (at 59) CONFIRMED
01/04/18  Gimesalot (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/06/18  Monkey Uncle (at 49) CONFIRMED
01/26/18  PizzaSteve (at 53) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  patches (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  Wintergreen78 CONFIRMED
01/31/18  MomCPA  CONFIRMED
02/01/18  DTaggart (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/05/18  Mrbeardedbigbucks CONFIRMED
02/09/18  JLTinVA (at 42) CONFIRMED
02/14/18  Gimesalot DH (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/26/18  Aegishjalmur (at 35)
02/28/18  Caoineag (at 36)
02/28/18  PKate and DH
03/01/18  Clean Shaven (at 45) Going Part Time
03/02/18  brooklynguy (at 37)
03/16/18  Cherry Lane
03/30/18  Moxie (at 58)
03/30/18  Mrs. Honeyfill
03/31/18  DavidAnnArbor (at 52) (Won't renew my office lease)
03/31/18  homestead neohio
03/31/18  ZiziPB (at 50)
03/??/18  Acastus
03/??/18  Badblackgirl
03/??/18  Sofa King
04/04/18  OzBeach (at 54)
04/02/18  Honeyfill  (at 60)
04/19/18  NinetyFour (at 56)
04/25/18  Modernaimend DH (at 39)
04/27/18  poppydog and DW
04/??/18  Calvin
04/??/18  FernFree
04/??/18  Gooki
04/??/18  lostformars
~04/??/18 HappyMargo
~04/??/18 Mother Fussbudget
05/01/18  SwordGuy (at 60)
05/04/18  step_away
05/04/18  wordnerd and DH (at 30 and 36)
05/08/18  SwordGuy DW (SwordGuy isn't saying.   He wants to live.)
05/10/18  Modernaimend (at 35)
05/15/18  Markbike528CBX (at 53.5)
05/25/18  CheapskateWife (at 42) and CheapskateHubs (at 49)
05/25/18  Gyosho (at 55)
05/??/18  Alim Nassor
05/??/18  msilenus
06/03/18  moneytaichi
06/15/18  DavisGang90 (at 49)
06/25/18  MaybeBabyMustache (at 42)
06/29/18  aperture
06/??/18  Agent Rosenflower
06/??/18  dbtx
06/??/18  Omalley
06/??/18  randomgiraffe
06/??/18  SwissMiss
07/??/18  AussieGirl
07/??/18  ChasesFish
07/??/18  Mr Griz
~07/??/18 BackAndForth
~07/??/18 cerat0n1a
~07/??/18 Fresh Bread
~07/??/18 SnidelyWhiplashStache
08/01/18  SugarMountain
08/24/18  sol (at 41)
08/31/18  JerseyGrrrl
08/??/18  Mr Mark
08/??/18  NorCalistache
08/??/18  RunningWithScissors
09/01/18  Vegasgirl (at 49)
09/21/18  Ottawa
09/30/18  SwissMiss
10/05/18  JumboShrimp
10/25/18  PhilB (at 52)
10/??/18  Fire1018
10/??/18  Happy
10/??/18  Irishtache
11/??/18  DeSteeg
11/??/18  Kris
12/21/18  LateStarter
12/??/18  EnjoyIt
12/??/18  yoda34
??/??/18  Blindsquirrel
??/??/18  FLStache
??/??/18  Michread
??/??/18  Minnesota_mom
??/??/18  MiserlyMiser
??/??/18  pecunia
??/??/18  Mogadishu

HenryDavid

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1369 on: March 02, 2018, 11:41:46 AM »
June 2018.
Official notice is in.

wordnerd

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1370 on: March 02, 2018, 12:08:03 PM »
45 working days left until maternity leave (which I'm counting as my FIRE date, but I'll give notice during ML). I have to elect how to take my annual bonus--one option is more advantageous if I stay; the other is more advantageous if I leave. I'm hesitating on putting it into the system, but I think it will feel more official once I do.

happy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1371 on: March 02, 2018, 12:35:32 PM »
Congratulations everyone, its so exciting to hear how close you are getting.

For me, its now less than 8 months to go,  until at the least a mini retirement of 3 months. My exact date of complete retirement eludes me still, but once I get to October and take that leave, work will scale back dramatically. I will take as much leave as possible, and drop work days from 3 to 2 if I have to work much of 2019. Unless something unforeseen happens I'll be fully FIRED no later than 30/9/19. Optimistically I still haven't joined 2019 cohort.

I might also need to move to 2019... We're about 5 months behind where we should be. I'm still optimistic but it's likely that I will be starting 2019 still working 12-15hrs a week.

We're leading parallel lives!

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1372 on: March 02, 2018, 01:43:53 PM »
Welcome, HenryDavid!

@Aegishjalmur, @Caoineag, @PKate ,@Clean Shaven and @brooklynguy: Are you guys confirmed?


01/01/18  CowboyAndIndian (at 59) CONFIRMED
01/04/18  Gimesalot (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/06/18  Monkey Uncle (at 49) CONFIRMED
01/26/18  PizzaSteve (at 53) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  patches (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  Wintergreen78 CONFIRMED
01/31/18  MomCPA  CONFIRMED
02/01/18  DTaggart (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/05/18  Mrbeardedbigbucks CONFIRMED
02/09/18  JLTinVA (at 42) CONFIRMED
02/14/18  Gimesalot DH (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/26/18  Aegishjalmur (at 35)
02/28/18  Caoineag (at 36)
02/28/18  PKate and DH
03/01/18  Clean Shaven (at 45) Going Part Time
03/02/18  brooklynguy (at 37)
03/16/18  Cherry Lane
03/30/18  Moxie (at 58)
03/30/18  Mrs. Honeyfill
03/31/18  DavidAnnArbor (at 52) (Won't renew my office lease)
03/31/18  homestead neohio
03/31/18  ZiziPB (at 50)
03/??/18  Acastus
03/??/18  Badblackgirl
03/??/18  Sofa King
04/04/18  OzBeach (at 54)
04/02/18  Honeyfill  (at 60)
04/19/18  NinetyFour (at 56)
04/25/18  Modernaimend DH (at 39)
04/27/18  poppydog and DW
04/??/18  Calvin
04/??/18  FernFree
04/??/18  Gooki
04/??/18  lostformars
~04/??/18 HappyMargo
~04/??/18 Mother Fussbudget
05/01/18  SwordGuy (at 60)
05/04/18  step_away
05/04/18  wordnerd and DH (at 30 and 36)
05/08/18  SwordGuy DW (SwordGuy isn't saying.   He wants to live.)
05/10/18  Modernaimend (at 35)
05/15/18  Markbike528CBX (at 53.5)
05/25/18  CheapskateWife (at 42) and CheapskateHubs (at 49)
05/25/18  Gyosho (at 55)
05/??/18  Alim Nassor
05/??/18  msilenus
06/03/18  moneytaichi
06/15/18  DavisGang90 (at 49)
06/25/18  MaybeBabyMustache (at 42)
06/29/18  aperture
06/??/18  Agent Rosenflower
06/??/18  dbtx
06/??/18  Omalley
06/??/18  randomgiraffe
06/??/18  SwissMiss
06/??/18  HenryDavid
07/??/18  AussieGirl
07/??/18  ChasesFish
07/??/18  Mr Griz
~07/??/18 BackAndForth
~07/??/18 cerat0n1a
~07/??/18 Fresh Bread
~07/??/18 SnidelyWhiplashStache
08/01/18  SugarMountain
08/24/18  sol (at 41)
08/31/18  JerseyGrrrl
08/??/18  Mr Mark
08/??/18  NorCalistache
08/??/18  RunningWithScissors
09/01/18  Vegasgirl (at 49)
09/21/18  Ottawa
09/30/18  SwissMiss
10/05/18  JumboShrimp
10/25/18  PhilB (at 52)
10/??/18  Fire1018
10/??/18  Happy
10/??/18  Irishtache
11/??/18  DeSteeg
11/??/18  Kris
12/21/18  LateStarter
12/??/18  EnjoyIt
12/??/18  yoda34
??/??/18  Blindsquirrel
??/??/18  FLStache
??/??/18  Michread
??/??/18  Minnesota_mom
??/??/18  MiserlyMiser
??/??/18  pecunia
??/??/18  Mogadishu
« Last Edit: March 02, 2018, 01:47:52 PM by CowboyAndIndian »

brooklynguy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1373 on: March 02, 2018, 03:38:56 PM »
Are you guys confirmed?

In my case, the deed is done.  I am now retired.

Clean Shaven

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1374 on: March 02, 2018, 03:44:47 PM »
I'm part time. Surprisingly, coworkers are very supportive. I expected some resentment, but nothing I've seen.

I think several are envious. I have rubbed off on a couple of them in getting them to spend less money - got one to switch from a cell phone plan costing $280/mo (3 people) to one about $80/mo.

RunningWithScissors

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1375 on: March 02, 2018, 05:31:38 PM »
It's been a busy few weeks:  big re-org at work which makes heaps more pointless work, new executive manager who comes with a less than encouraging reputation, the creation of a new manager position for my group which I pointedly did not apply for, and lots of ideas from my boss about new initiatives that I'm expected to lead in the next year.  My boss is now on a three week holiday and I'm planning to give informal notice about a week after her return.  'Welcome Back!  BOOM!'  However, my last day will likely be early August, then about three weeks of using up vacation days and a symbolic last day at the very end of August.

Hubby and I are busily finishing up projects in the house we're turning into an investment property and planning our celebratory post-FIRE vacation.  Lots to do!

SwordGuy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1376 on: March 02, 2018, 05:32:51 PM »

01/01/18  CowboyAndIndian (at 59) CONFIRMED
01/04/18  Gimesalot (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/06/18  Monkey Uncle (at 49) CONFIRMED
01/26/18  PizzaSteve (at 53) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  patches (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  Wintergreen78 CONFIRMED
01/31/18  MomCPA  CONFIRMED6
02/01/18  DTaggart (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/05/18  Mrbeardedbigbucks CONFIRMED
02/09/18  JLTinVA (at 42) CONFIRMED
02/14/18  Gimesalot DH (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/26/18  Aegishjalmur (at 35)
02/28/18  Caoineag (at 36)
02/28/18  PKate and DH
03/01/18  Clean Shaven (at 45) CONFIRMED Part Time
03/02/18  brooklynguy (at 37) CONFIRMED
03/16/18  Cherry Lane
03/30/18  Moxie (at 58)
03/27/18  Mrs. Honeyfill
03/31/18  DavidAnnArbor (at 52) (Won't renew my office lease)
03/31/18  homestead neohio
03/31/18  ZiziPB (at 50)
03/??/18  Acastus
03/??/18  Badblackgirl
03/??/18  Sofa King
04/04/18  OzBeach (at 54)
04/02/18  Honeyfill  (at 60)
04/19/18  NinetyFour (at 56)
04/25/18  Modernaimend DH (at 39)
04/27/18  poppydog and DW
04/??/18  Calvin
04/??/18  FernFree
04/??/18  Gooki
04/??/18  lostformars
~04/??/18 HappyMargo
~04/??/18 Mother Fussbudget
05/01/18  SwordGuy (at 60)
05/04/18  step_away
05/04/18  wordnerd and DH (at 30 and 36)
05/08/18  SwordGuy DW (SwordGuy isn't saying.   He wants to live.)
05/10/18  Modernaimend (at 35)
05/15/18  Markbike528CBX (at 53.5)
05/25/18  CheapskateWife (at 42) and CheapskateHubs (at 49)
05/25/18  Gyosho (at 55)
05/??/18  Alim Nassor
05/??/18  msilenus
06/03/18  moneytaichi
06/15/18  DavisGang90 (at 49)
06/25/18  MaybeBabyMustache (at 42)
06/29/18  aperture
06/??/18  Agent Rosenflower
06/??/18  dbtx
06/??/18  Omalley
06/??/18  randomgiraffe
06/??/18  SwissMiss
06/??/18  HenryDavid
07/??/18  AussieGirl
07/??/18  ChasesFish
07/??/18  Mr Griz
~07/??/18 BackAndForth
~07/??/18 cerat0n1a
~07/??/18 Fresh Bread
~07/??/18 SnidelyWhiplashStache
08/01/18  SugarMountain
08/24/18  sol (at 41)
08/31/18  JerseyGrrrl
08/??/18  Mr Mark
08/??/18  NorCalistache
08/??/18  RunningWithScissors
09/01/18  Vegasgirl (at 49)
09/21/18  Ottawa
09/30/18  SwissMiss
10/05/18  JumboShrimp
10/25/18  PhilB (at 52)
10/??/18  Fire1018
10/??/18  Happy
10/??/18  Irishtache
11/??/18  DeSteeg
11/??/18  Kris
12/21/18  LateStarter
12/??/18  EnjoyIt
12/??/18  yoda34
??/??/18  Blindsquirrel
??/??/18  FLStache
??/??/18  Michread
??/??/18  Minnesota_mom
??/??/18  MiserlyMiser
??/??/18  pecunia
??/??/18  Mogadishu


« Last Edit: March 03, 2018, 11:35:37 AM by SwordGuy »

rpr

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1377 on: March 02, 2018, 06:28:58 PM »
It's Friday afternoon, and I'm still at the factory. It is so amazing to read this thread. I would have loved to ER this year or at least be FI, but still have a few more years to go. Living vicariously. Keep it going!!

Vegasgirl

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1378 on: March 03, 2018, 08:01:44 AM »
Congrats to Brooklynguy & Clean Shaven !!!

honeyfill

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1379 on: March 03, 2018, 10:32:25 AM »
big week for Mrs HF and I.  She moved her day up to March 27. The day after the big yearly fund raiser for her non profit. 
I got an ego boost during my trip to Puerto Rico.  One of the women engineers in another department who has been on loan to my department pulled me aside and said she wanted to transfer into my group permanently because it is such a  better place to work and all my people love working for me.  I had to tell her that all I could do is recommend her transfer to my boss because I am leaving.  One of the few things I enjoy about my job is the mentoring and career development that I do for my engineers.  As I have gotten older and my engineers have gotten younger, My paternal instincts are starting to come out.
I took my entire Puerto Rican staff to lunch on Friday and gave them Friday afternoon off.   I made the official announcement at the lunch.  I swore them all to secrecy because I am not telling my boss the official date until Tuesday and my Staff in the states the official date until Wed. 

Caoineag

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1380 on: March 03, 2018, 02:05:26 PM »
Checking in to confirm that my last day was indeed 2/28/18. Aegishjalmur's work decided to keep him the full notice period so his new date is 03/09/18.

Monkey Uncle

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1381 on: March 03, 2018, 02:18:16 PM »
I took my entire Puerto Rican staff to lunch on Friday and gave them Friday afternoon off.   I made the official announcement at the lunch.  I swore them all to secrecy because I am not telling my boss the official date until Tuesday and my Staff in the states the official date until Wed.

Now there's a guy who really trusts his staff.  Where I worked, that news would have stayed secret for about 30 seconds. ;)

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1382 on: March 03, 2018, 02:47:30 PM »
Congratulations Caoineag!! Sympathies to Aegishjalmur...
I was guessing that you were already on the road and did not have time to confirm :-)

01/01/18  CowboyAndIndian (at 59) CONFIRMED
01/04/18  Gimesalot (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/06/18  Monkey Uncle (at 49) CONFIRMED
01/26/18  PizzaSteve (at 53) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  patches (at 33) CONFIRMED
01/31/18  Wintergreen78 CONFIRMED
01/31/18  MomCPA  CONFIRMED
02/01/18  DTaggart (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/05/18  Mrbeardedbigbucks CONFIRMED
02/09/18  JLTinVA (at 42) CONFIRMED
02/14/18  Gimesalot DH (at 40) CONFIRMED
02/28/18  Caoineag (at 36) CONFIRMED
02/28/18  PKate and DH
03/01/18  Clean Shaven (at 45) CONFIRMED Part Time
03/02/18  brooklynguy (at 37) CONFIRMED
03/09/18  Aegishjalmur (at 35)
03/16/18  Cherry Lane
03/30/18  Moxie (at 58)
03/27/18  Mrs. Honeyfill
03/31/18  DavidAnnArbor (at 52) (Won't renew my office lease)
03/31/18  homestead neohio
03/31/18  ZiziPB (at 50)
03/??/18  Acastus
03/??/18  Badblackgirl
03/??/18  Sofa King
04/04/18  OzBeach (at 54)
04/02/18  Honeyfill  (at 60)
04/19/18  NinetyFour (at 56)
04/25/18  Modernaimend DH (at 39)
04/27/18  poppydog and DW
04/??/18  Calvin
04/??/18  FernFree
04/??/18  Gooki
04/??/18  lostformars
~04/??/18 HappyMargo
~04/??/18 Mother Fussbudget
05/01/18  SwordGuy (at 60)
05/04/18  step_away
05/04/18  wordnerd and DH (at 30 and 36)
05/08/18  SwordGuy DW (SwordGuy isn't saying.   He wants to live.)
05/10/18  Modernaimend (at 35)
05/15/18  Markbike528CBX (at 53.5)
05/25/18  CheapskateWife (at 42) and CheapskateHubs (at 49)
05/25/18  Gyosho (at 55)
05/??/18  Alim Nassor
05/??/18  msilenus
06/03/18  moneytaichi
06/15/18  DavisGang90 (at 49)
06/25/18  MaybeBabyMustache (at 42)
06/29/18  aperture
06/??/18  Agent Rosenflower
06/??/18  dbtx
06/??/18  Omalley
06/??/18  randomgiraffe
06/??/18  SwissMiss
06/??/18  HenryDavid
07/??/18  AussieGirl
07/??/18  ChasesFish
07/??/18  Mr Griz
~07/??/18 BackAndForth
~07/??/18 cerat0n1a
~07/??/18 Fresh Bread
~07/??/18 SnidelyWhiplashStache
08/01/18  SugarMountain
08/24/18  sol (at 41)
08/31/18  JerseyGrrrl
08/??/18  Mr Mark
08/??/18  NorCalistache
08/??/18  RunningWithScissors
09/01/18  Vegasgirl (at 49)
09/21/18  Ottawa
09/30/18  SwissMiss
10/05/18  JumboShrimp
10/25/18  PhilB (at 52)
10/??/18  Fire1018
10/??/18  Happy
10/??/18  Irishtache
11/??/18  DeSteeg
11/??/18  Kris
12/21/18  LateStarter
12/??/18  EnjoyIt
12/??/18  yoda34
??/??/18  Blindsquirrel
??/??/18  FLStache
??/??/18  Michread
??/??/18  Minnesota_mom
??/??/18  MiserlyMiser
??/??/18  pecunia
??/??/18  Mogadishu

« Last Edit: March 03, 2018, 02:51:17 PM by CowboyAndIndian »

honeyfill

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1383 on: March 03, 2018, 03:48:07 PM »
I took my entire Puerto Rican staff to lunch on Friday and gave them Friday afternoon off.   I made the official announcement at the lunch.  I swore them all to secrecy because I am not telling my boss the official date until Tuesday and my Staff in the states the official date until Wed.

Now there's a guy who really trusts his staff.  Where I worked, that news would have stayed secret for about 30 seconds. ;)
Yea I know that by
the time I get back to work on Monday everyone will probably know but it's only a couple days.  It's too late for them to screw up my bonus so the only thing they can do is offer me some stupid amount of money to stay.  I doubt that happens but I'm always open to stupid amounts of money!

Blindsquirrel

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1384 on: March 03, 2018, 05:58:58 PM »
   Ahh, the lure of large amounts of money. The DW will hopefully be eligible for company plan retiree healthcare in 49 months. The fine company that I work for decided that they should not offer such a thing anymore and thus have been thrown to the wolves of being on her plan in retirement, if it exists in 49 months or ACA. I may well fall into the OMY trap and not call it until next year or beyond.  Am I a pansy? We are FI, pulling the trigger to RE is a big step. A really big step. SWAMI for a while I think is my path for now. Perhaps I will sprout a pair shortly.

Cherry Lane

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1385 on: March 03, 2018, 06:04:08 PM »
Checking in to confirm that my last day was indeed 2/28/18. Aegishjalmur's work decided to keep him the full notice period so his new date is 03/09/18.

Congratulations!  Sorry Aegishjalmur has a few more days of work, but that will keep this group from going a week without a FIREing!

msilenus

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1386 on: March 06, 2018, 10:42:27 AM »
On Sunday I was talking to my wife about giving notice and said "You know what's weird?  It doesn't feel weird."  She said that that's how I know it's the right thing to do.  She isn't formally a member of our cult, but is about a year ahead of me in all this.  It felt very fucking weird the moment I walked back into work, though.

Told my boss I'm leaving.  Had a great exit/please-stay discussion with skip-level boss.  I think I may have opened his eyes to why some of the things around here work the way they do.  Unfortunately, they're really hard to fix if you don't want to go around putting heads on pikes and he's not the type.  Maybe over time, if he starts thinking hard about what messages he's sending when making decisions.  He's very anti-conflict, but that leads to being anti-change.  Damn.  Which I'd told him that.

"What are you going to do?" he asked me.  "Anything." I said.

I'm casting it as a radical life experiment that I want to do and whose time has come.  I think that's truer for me than the 'retirement' label.  The more I roll the word 'retirement' over in my head, the less I like it, honestly.  Besides all the obvious problems of connotation: there's an overshare about your financial position. 

The way I explained it to my Dad, with whom I do talk about money pretty freely, is that if we're making so much money relative to our spending that we're already set for retirement, then we probably aren't hitting the right balance of work and life anymore by continuing that pace.  It's not for him, but I think he respects it.  We both think Mom's gonna freak out.

Between notice and vacation, I think I formally separate in May.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2018, 10:46:52 AM by msilenus »

honeyfill

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1387 on: March 06, 2018, 04:38:37 PM »
Just wanted to share some good news.  My daughter got her first "real" job since her illness last summer.  I've  been subsidizing her rent and health care and to be honest I did  not feel comfortable retiring until she  was on her own.  There goes my last excuse!  The amount of money it would take to get me to stay just went up from "stupid" to "absolutely ridiculous" !

SwordGuy

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1388 on: March 06, 2018, 05:30:20 PM »
Just wanted to share some good news.  My daughter got her first "real" job since her illness last summer.  I've  been subsidizing her rent and health care and to be honest I did  not feel comfortable retiring until she  was on her own.  There goes my last excuse!  The amount of money it would take to get me to stay just went up from "stupid" to "absolutely ridiculous" !

Yeah you and double-yeah her!

Caoineag

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1389 on: March 07, 2018, 07:47:57 AM »
Congratulations Caoineag!! Sympathies to Aegishjalmur...
I was guessing that you were already on the road and did not have time to confirm :-)
...

Nope not on the road yet. I think we have about a month of final preparations before that. On a more positive note, Aegishjalmur should be able to come on this thread this afternoon and confirm it as his last day. They told him yesterday they would so we will see. Keep your fingers crossed.

CowboyAndIndian

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1390 on: March 07, 2018, 09:59:33 AM »
Congratulations Caoineag!! Sympathies to Aegishjalmur...
I was guessing that you were already on the road and did not have time to confirm :-)
...

Nope not on the road yet. I think we have about a month of final preparations before that. On a more positive note, Aegishjalmur should be able to come on this thread this afternoon and confirm it as his last day. They told him yesterday they would so we will see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Great news! We need pictures from your time on the road!!

davisgang90

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1391 on: March 07, 2018, 01:58:28 PM »
My retirement orders came in and I've been approved for all my TDY and terminal leave so it's getting real!

Ceremony/last day of work is June 15th, officially retired from Uncle Sugar's Navy 1 September.

JerseyGrrrl

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1392 on: March 07, 2018, 03:05:04 PM »
So last week the head of my department, who is retiring soon, and another bigwig take me into the conference room and offer me the opportunity to head a committee at work. I am currently on the committee, but since the department head is leaving, they need a new committee chair.

I had been anticipating and dreading this because I’m not quite ready to quit, but don’t want to accept if I’m planning to leave. I really thought I had dodged a bullet because they waited so long, but no. Luckily, they said at the outset that they wanted me to think about it for a while before accepting, so it was easy to say “yes, I’ll think about it” without saying more.

At the same time, I admit I am flattered. It is a big responsibility and important. This could be a big feather in my cap. For a day or two I had a lot of inner turmoil and reconsidered whether I was ready to retire yet. Should I really FIRE when I have this opportunity? It seems crazy to quit just when the bigwigs are seeing my value.

But after a couple days, I realized that actually performing that job was not a burning desire. Also, I think I just liked the idea of being seen as a leader. I would be seen as important! Ugh. I need to work on my view of my own self-worth.

So after a few more days of boredom on the job, I think I am actually more sure about quitting. Of course, it’s not a done deal until it happens.

Congrats to all those who have recently quit or given notice!! I’m working on the courage.

CheapskateWife

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1393 on: March 07, 2018, 03:46:30 PM »
Great Grandboss now knows what my plan is, and at every opportunity, he keeps telling me "you should stick around longer" to do this and that.
I finally told him yesterday, that it was a good thing for me that he didn't get to make those decisions, with a big smile on my face.

It was super uncomfortable :)

msilenus

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1394 on: March 07, 2018, 04:24:48 PM »
Congrats to all those who have recently quit or given notice!! I’m working on the courage.

Try taking a week or two off without going on vacation.  I found that unplugging from the work routine (without replacing it with other distractions) helped me find a lot of clarity on what I wanted and why.

sol

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1395 on: March 07, 2018, 07:01:10 PM »
I've recently completed my mid-year performance review, where I get to talk to my immediate supervisor about my career plans.  I expressed my dissatisfaction with my current arrangements, without actually giving notice.  He tried to offer me alternatives for improving my situation, which is wholly appropriate in his situation, but I had to try to not laugh at how stupendously inadequate every suggestion was, compared to just retiring.

He's retiring later this year, too.  It's going to be awkward.

Acastus

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1396 on: March 08, 2018, 10:36:42 AM »
Anyone else feeling the letdown from stock market roiling? I had my nest egg at the number I wanted in early February, and figured I would just let it ride until earnings season in April-May, then quit. Now it has deflated back below the end of 2017. I only need a 5% return. I am pretty sure earning under the new tax plan will pump up stocks a bit when the new earning hit, but it is hard to look away and just let it happen. Not really looking for a solution, just a shoulder to cry on.
« Last Edit: March 09, 2018, 07:40:12 AM by Acastus »

sol

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1397 on: March 08, 2018, 10:50:38 AM »
Anyone else feeling the letdown from stock market roiling? I had my nest egg at the number I wanted in early February, and figured I would just let it ride until earnings season in April-May, then quit. Now it has deflated back below the end of 2017.

No, I'm having the opposite problem.  I had already hit my target number and then the stock market spiked 10% in January (!) and I was having a hard time accepting that returns like that were real and not a short term bubble.  I was thrilled to see things normalize a little in February without causing a major crash.

I'd rather see the market stay plus or minus 1% for the remainder of 2018 than go up another 20% like last year.  Big spikes lead to big drops.  I'm staying invested either way, but my partner sleeps better when things are more stable. 

marty998

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1398 on: March 08, 2018, 01:46:47 PM »
I haven't really looked at this thread too closely, but I'm impressed to see the length of that list of names posted above.

And some of the ages are very young too :)

Well done guys, all very inspiring.

PKate

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Re: 2018 FIRE cohort
« Reply #1399 on: March 08, 2018, 02:28:16 PM »
My DH left the house this morning smiling saying only 27 more days.   He has had a few awkward conversations when coworkers have asked him what he plans on doing when he leaves.  He hasn't told them he is FI.  He has mentioned he wants to completely switch careers and take time to do that. This is something he has always wanted to do so he thought it would be an easier explanation than retiring.   The next question from the coworkers is what do I do for work.  I don't work and this baffles the coworkers since they know I have a bunch of health issues.  I am sure some of this is due to my DH being under 40 years old.   

I know one of of his old friends and current project manager knows our situation and is impressed, slightly jealous, very happy for us, and not surprised that we are FI at this point. 

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!