Another reason to want FI

[katie]

Granted I work for a large company, but so far this year, two coworkers of mine have died unexpectedly.  One was early 60's, one I am not sure, but I think late 50's.  Neither one had retired or had even announced when they would be retiring.  Both have kids and grandkids.   I know things happen in this world we live in, but it is situations like these that make me sad.  It also motivates me to make sure I don't have to work for other people the rest of my life and get to enjoy the time I have here on this really amazing planet.

[DoubleDown]

Indeed!

[CarDude]

I've written up so many cases of individuals who've left their loved ones in the blink of an eye due to the inattentiveness, drunkenness, druggedness, or otherwise recklessness of other drivers. Not a single moment we spend is guaranteed.

This guy lost his wife and 4 of his kids in a single car crash because a lady didn't stop at a stop sign. The only reason he lived was because he was two cars back. I'm not saying early retirement would have saved them, but...it makes you think sometimes.

[kkbmustang]

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

[Bookworm]

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

I read this and had to laugh.  You must have teenagers!  Someday, long after you are gone, all that love you told them about every day is going to surround them all the time, and it will fill them with warm memories and quiet happiness.

[katie]

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

That is awesome!  Mine are still itty bitty and now the oldest can say "Love you" and it  just will melt you into a puddle. 

[HappierAtHome]

Three people in my organisation committed suicide last year.

That was pretty damn sobering.

[kkbmustang]

Three people in my organisation committed suicide last year.

That was pretty damn sobering.

Horrible. I got myself out of a firm that was not good for my mental, physical or emotional health. I've never regretted it.

[kkbmustang]

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

I read this and had to laugh.  You must have teenagers!  Someday, long after you are gone, all that love you told them about every day is going to surround them all the time, and it will fill them with warm memories and quiet happiness.

He is 11 and my girl is 9. They are full on tween right now. I cringe at the thought of the teen years and they're not far away.

[HappierAtHome]

Three people in my organisation committed suicide last year.

That was pretty damn sobering.

Horrible. I got myself out of a firm that was not good for my mental, physical or emotional health. I've never regretted it.

I don't think my workplace is all that bad. There are toxic people for sure, but I don't think it's a toxic environment over all. But I do have to wonder, if those three poor souls had been FI, would that have been something that would make a difference and help them to get through their issues? I don't know if it's sadder for the answer to that to be yes or no.

[Zamboni]

One of my favorite co-workers just had a major health issue (one year before his planned retirement) and after a scare thinking he would die I am now worried he will end up permanently disabled.

I will admit that it got me looking at my FI spreadsheet. 

[C. K.]

I tell my kids every day that I love them.

Frank Abagnale, Jr., the crooked young genius who stole millions [author of the autobiography Catch Me if You Can], says that people have called him a gifted child. He agrees that he was gifted - gifted with a father who never failed to say "I love you" every night.

It was the kind of thing he remembered while serving his time, naked, alone and wallowing in his own filth in a French prison. He now gives lectures (among other things) and sometimes ends his speeches with these remembrances.


Keep up the good work.

[Jamesqf]

Granted I work for a large company, but so far this year, two coworkers of mine have died unexpectedly.  One was early 60's, one I am not sure, but I think late 50's.  Neither one had retired or had even announced when they would be retiring.

Sad, but I think that if you look at actual numbers, people are more likely to die as a result of retiring than not.

[Cassie]

That is true if they retire & do nothing. The key is to plan for the next phase of life. Or is your plan ends up not being enjoyable to change that plan to something that is right for you.  If someone commits suicide there are many complex things going on in their lives-really very sad. 

[Khan]

Granted I work for a large company, but so far this year, two coworkers of mine have died unexpectedly.  One was early 60's, one I am not sure, but I think late 50's.  Neither one had retired or had even announced when they would be retiring.

Sad, but I think that if you look at actual numbers, people are more likely to die as a result of retiring than not.

That's retiring with a capital 'R', the one in which you veg out and stair at the wall wondering how much longer until you're dead.

I don't want that retirement. But equally important, I don't want the shitty wage-slave middle class existence. The politics and the bullshit. The "please sir, can I have another" as another 10% of the jobs get slashed, either through outsourcing, automation, or just to try and improve the bottom line. The 2 day weekends and the 2 week vacations.

I don't want to Retire.

I want to be independent of that bullshit.

[Cassie]

Absolutely f-cking right on!

[Jamesqf]

I don't want to Retire.

I want to be independent of that bullshit.

Yes.  This is called a career change, something made much easier by financial independence :-)

[soccerluvof4]

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

I read this and had to laugh.  You must have teenagers!  Someday, long after you are gone, all that love you told them about every day is going to surround them all the time, and it will fill them with warm memories and quiet happiness.

He is 11 and my girl is 9. They are full on tween right now. I cringe at the thought of the teen years and they're not far away.

I tell my kids every day that I love them. This afternoon my son told me how annoying it was. I asked him if he'd rather be annoyed that his mom told him every day how much he was loved or never hear how much he means to me. He paused then said, "Yeah, well, it's still annoying." I just smiled. Should something happen to me I don't want them to doubt for one second that their mother loved them more than life itself.

I read this and had to laugh.  You must have teenagers!  Someday, long after you are gone, all that love you told them about every day is going to surround them all the time, and it will fill them with warm memories and quiet happiness.

I have two teens and 2 on the way. I cannot recommend enough to read the book  " Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy by Micheal J. Bradley.  It really opens your eyes to why they are the way they are and things to look for etc.. Very Very good book!


To the OP statements...As I am in my 50th year with 4 kids I hear stories everyday of so and so at age ? dropping over dead.  This hits home with me only because I dont want to work my life and just die or before that. Fortunately I am in ER but my wife still is working for a max 3.5 years.  I want to enjoy my years I have left watching my family grow and spending time with my wife. So I totally see where your coming from. And I want to push the 3.5 years up even more. You just never know.

[Dr. Doom]

Three people in my organisation committed suicide last year.

That was pretty damn sobering.

Horrible. I got myself out of a firm that was not good for my mental, physical or emotional health. I've never regretted it.

Same here.  IT work for a big disgusting financial company.  Put in 3 years total, and left 2.5 years later than I should have.  They broke people like it was their job.  It sucks to be working, but it's terrific to not be working there.

[NV Teacher]

I work with a teacher that is retiring at the end of this year after 36 years of teaching.  He walks into school stooped, bent over, and dragging his feet.  I worry that he won't make it the last two months.  He has stayed this long to max out his pension.  That's not how I want to go out.  It spurs me on to make smart money decisions now so that when I've had enough I can hold my head up and walk away healthy and smiling.

[Cottonswab]

My father died in his 70's.  His quality of life decreased drastically after age 70, due to health problems. 

However, he was happy with the life that he led, largely because he had made enough money to become a self-employed consultant / stay-at-home father, while his children were growing up.       

[Zamboni]

That's retiring with a capital 'R', the one in which you veg out and stair at the wall wondering how much longer until you're dead.

I don't want that retirement. But equally important, I don't want the shitty wage-slave middle class existence. The politics and the bullshit. The "please sir, can I have another" as another 10% of the jobs get slashed, either through outsourcing, automation, or just to try and improve the bottom line. The 2 day weekends and the 2 week vacations.

I don't want to Retire.

I want to be independent of that bullshit.

Word.

[Dr. Doom]

That's retiring with a capital 'R', the one in which you veg out and stair at the wall wondering how much longer until you're dead.

I don't want that retirement. But equally important, I don't want the shitty wage-slave middle class existence. The politics and the bullshit. The "please sir, can I have another" as another 10% of the jobs get slashed, either through outsourcing, automation, or just to try and improve the bottom line. The 2 day weekends and the 2 week vacations.

I don't want to Retire.

I want to be independent of that bullshit.

Word.

To the mother.

[CarDude]

That's retiring with a capital 'R', the one in which you veg out and stair at the wall wondering how much longer until you're dead.

I don't want that retirement. But equally important, I don't want the shitty wage-slave middle class existence. The politics and the bullshit. The "please sir, can I have another" as another 10% of the jobs get slashed, either through outsourcing, automation, or just to try and improve the bottom line. The 2 day weekends and the 2 week vacations.

I don't want to Retire.

I want to be independent of that bullshit.

Word.

To the mother.

Especially the bit about the 2 day weekends and the 2 week vacations. I left that life a while ago and don't miss it.

[NeverWasACornflakeGirl]

Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.  You all have given me great happiness today.  I am putting in another two months and then I'm done at age 43!  I plan to move on to a "retirement career" that will help people and make me happy.  I also plan to spend this summer with my 9 year old daughter.  Two of my uncles have died in the last couple of years, one at 59 and one at 71.  Life is too short!

[Cassie]

That is wonderful!!

[CarDude]

Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.  You all have given me great happiness today.  I am putting in another two months and then I'm done at age 43!  I plan to move on to a "retirement career" that will help people and make me happy.  I also plan to spend this summer with my 9 year old daughter.  Two of my uncles have died in the last couple of years, one at 59 and one at 71.  Life is too short!

Great that you got that inspiration; take it from me; the 40s and 50s pass quickly!

[luigi49]

Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.  You all have given me great happiness today.  I am putting in another two months and then I'm done at age 43!  I plan to move on to a "retirement career" that will help people and make me happy.  I also plan to spend this summer with my 9 year old daughter.  Two of my uncles have died in the last couple of years, one at 59 and one at 71.  Life is too short!

Badass and congrats