Hitting, then missing "my number"

[Random]

A week ago, I logged into my mint account to see that I had hit "my number" in my investment accounts.  Showed my wife.  We high-fived.  This past few days with the markets slipping a bit, we slipped below the magic number.  I moped.  Of course it was not a big fluctuation either up or down and intellectually I know it was just variation around an arbitrary number, but still...

Time for a little Buddhist detachment from outcomes, I guess.

[Emilyngh]

It just means that you can celebrate hitting it again! (and then maybe again, and again, and again ;) )

[Random]

Once more would be just fine, thank you.

[Rezdent]

Yeah
The first hit is awesome but I've learned to temper my excitement.  Now I look at the number in relative terms, as in "Ok.  I am now 30% above that number",  meaning I should be able to weather most downturns (and start working toward next number!) :).

[TomTX]

Watch out for "one more year syndrome" ....

[Bateaux]

Watch out for "one more year syndrome" ....

I'm in r more years syndrome.   I could FIRE today but, April 1, 2018 is my goal date. It's when I feel I've worked enough.  I turn 50 that year.

[Workinghard]

Ha! I hit my year end number the end of June. That gives me a 6 month head start on next year's number!

[Gray Matter]

I've had a similar reaction recently.  I haven't hit THE number (not even sure what it is), but I hit a significant number and found myself subsequently reluctant to check my balances.  I just don't want to see it go below that number, even though I know it will and I know it's normal and I know it'll come back up (and go back down).  I think I'll be a mess when I get closer to retirement, and am not sure how I'll handle it.  Perhaps I'll aim for a 3% withdrawal to feel "safe?"  When you don't have a lot of fat in your budget, it's harder to flex your spending from year to year.  And though, in theory, going back to work is always an option, I worry about not being able to find a job after having been out of the market for a long period of time.

So, yeah, I think I will be vulnerable to OMY syndrome.  I suffered from TMY syndrome in my corporate job--thought I'd work there 2-3 years when I took the job, and said countless times over the years, "I just need two more bonuses."  Finally, after 12 years I got the courage to leave and move to the non-profit world. 

[TomTX]

Well, I'll be an outlier at work if I just retire as soon as I am eligible for a (reduced) pension and don't go work somewhere else. We have one fellow who has worked there for 55 years - he retired in 1996, stayed away 3 months and came back to work at the same job.

If I buy 3 years of service (out of 401k money) I'll be eligible at 53 with a ~60% pension with healthcare mostly paid. I'll feel comfortable living on that - and we'll likely have enough stashed to live on the SWR in addition...

Intellectually, I know this is a very conservative approach. Emotionally - it would be very hard giving up (or significantly delaying) that pension.

[Random]

Thanks folks.  Yes, I am a bit in one-more-year syndrome.  It's OK, Wife is just getting on board with the concept of slight ER and I have a very cool project at work.  This time next year either the project at work has really taken off and it will be hard to drag me away from it....or it hasn't and I am ready for the next phase, which won't involve an office.