Agreed, community is very important. My career as a paramedic has me working 8 days a month, these are 24 hr shifts. So it's full time but doesn't seem that way to me. I used to also work extra shifts either at one job or a second job, usually 80 - 90 hours per week. Learning of coast FI (from your channel) and a careful look at how I wanted retirement to look I realized working only the 8 shifts gives me the flexibility and time off I would want if I retired. So I slowed down. Now I'm looking for people to play with on my weekdays off. At 55 most of my sphere is still working 5 days a week. I have found some retired people in their 60's who are quite active. Thanks for reminder to enjoy now too.
Amazing! I’m glad to hear you have embraced slowing down. Finding others who have a similar schedule can be a challenge, but definitely possible. Thanks for sharing your story!
I came to the conclusion a while ago that what I was searching for was not RE, rather, it was control. The ability to comfortably find my purpose, passion, and lasting community without the worry that I'm losing out on "career strength" as a result. As of today, my wife and I are roughly 1 year from coast FI, which doesn't mean much to her as a lifelong teacher who is passionate about it, but is huge for me.
@Fioneers absolutely. I promised to give up the 7 day weeks, unless I have specific cause, like being out to sea or similar. TBH, I already haven't worked OT since maybe April? It's felt pretty good.
Like many I started fire by reading mmm, cutting down on everything and realizing this isn't for me or my partner. Now on our path to coast fire it gives so much freedom already, especially knowing you have your money working for you, savings enough for a big emergency and somehow found a stable job that I actually enjoy which takes the 'pressure' off even more. My motto is, I like my job today but would I like it in 10 years from now? The answer is still 'probably no'. So we just keep working towards our goals.
one huge shift in the past dozen years is that basically nobody talks about an environmental component from living with less resource consumption any more
Thanks for jumping in here and adding to the conversation. Are there people you have in mind that used to talk about this? I’d be curious to identify the voices that have talked about the environmental impact. I still see some people talking about the environmental impact, but there’s definitely some more opportunities to incorporate it.
I came across FIRE back in the early Mr. Money Mustache days but I thought all of Pete’s punching people in the face seemed pretentious so I stopped reading it. Wish I could have gotten past that because now I love most of his posts. I didn’t get serious about FIRE until about 2015 many years later.
Agreed, community is very important. My career as a paramedic has me working 8 days a month, these are 24 hr shifts. So it's full time but doesn't seem that way to me. I used to also work extra shifts either at one job or a second job, usually 80 - 90 hours per week. Learning of coast FI (from your channel) and a careful look at how I wanted retirement to look I realized working only the 8 shifts gives me the flexibility and time off I would want if I retired. So I slowed down. Now I'm looking for people to play with on my weekdays off. At 55 most of my sphere is still working 5 days a week. I have found some retired people in their 60's who are quite active. Thanks for reminder to enjoy now too.
Amazing! I’m glad to hear you have embraced slowing down. Finding others who have a similar schedule can be a challenge, but definitely possible. Thanks for sharing your story!
I came to the conclusion a while ago that what I was searching for was not RE, rather, it was control. The ability to comfortably find my purpose, passion, and lasting community without the worry that I'm losing out on "career strength" as a result.
As of today, my wife and I are roughly 1 year from coast FI, which doesn't mean much to her as a lifelong teacher who is passionate about it, but is huge for me.
So exciting to be so close to Coast FI! Do you have any plans to slow down once you reach it?
@Fioneers absolutely. I promised to give up the 7 day weeks, unless I have specific cause, like being out to sea or similar. TBH, I already haven't worked OT since maybe April? It's felt pretty good.
Like many I started fire by reading mmm, cutting down on everything and realizing this isn't for me or my partner. Now on our path to coast fire it gives so much freedom already, especially knowing you have your money working for you, savings enough for a big emergency and somehow found a stable job that I actually enjoy which takes the 'pressure' off even more.
My motto is, I like my job today but would I like it in 10 years from now? The answer is still 'probably no'. So we just keep working towards our goals.
Your story is all too common and relatable. Thanks for sharing. Theres something important about balance
Thanks for this breakdown. Very nicely edited and thought through!
Thank you! I really appreciate it.
Came to the same conclusion as you. Extreme frugality to cut down years to FI is too much for me. I want both the cake and the cherry on the cake.
I like the way you put that. 😋 🍰 one can only push yourselves for so long. But it doesn’t have to be that way
What FIRE taught me, is you can have both, just not at same time.
Retired early at 48 yo, now 74 and thriving. It can happen if u commit.
one huge shift in the past dozen years is that basically nobody talks about an environmental component from living with less resource consumption any more
Thanks for jumping in here and adding to the conversation. Are there people you have in mind that used to talk about this? I’d be curious to identify the voices that have talked about the environmental impact. I still see some people talking about the environmental impact, but there’s definitely some more opportunities to incorporate it.
I came across FIRE back in the early Mr. Money Mustache days but I thought all of Pete’s punching people in the face seemed pretentious so I stopped reading it. Wish I could have gotten past that because now I love most of his posts. I didn’t get serious about FIRE until about 2015 many years later.
I get it. His style of writing was unique and didn’t resonate with everyone. You’ve come full circle now