definition of financial independence?

[sailor-bob]

Many seem to go be Pete's canonical post and aim for full early retirement as the definition of FI. I wonder if anyone has a different take on it?!

For example, I like to say that

Financial Freedom is when the first thing you do after being fired from a job is to go on a nice cheap vacation. And then you go back to working whenever you feel ready for it.

Of course this requires that your current job+employer combination is not the only one in your town (or anywhere you'd like to move to) which you are qualified and eager to take. But this seems like a very light requirement after one has already worked a few years and learned the ropes of at least one trade.

Your thoughts?

[Davids]

Financial independence means never needing to work again because you have enough to cover your expenses for the rest of your life. Now just because you are FI does not mean you stop working but at the point of FI you do not NEED to work for money. If you are working it is because you want to, not because you have to.