FIRE: Financial Independence, Retire Early (or whenever)
I have been on the FIRE path for years. It has defined major decisions in my life and a plethora of choices ranging from jobs to travel to relationships. (Checkout the blog for all I have said on the matter.)
The times be a-changin’, my passions cooled… I may be ready to put out the FIRE.
Where FIRE Got Us
FIRE has fit me for how it answered the life question “what makes all else easier or unnecessary?” Financial Independence – breaking the shackles of debt from living – is the key, is the ’42’, for me. Looking around, it is the key for so many in the world.
Cutting costs has led me to an objectively better life of freedom, flexibility, and self-knowledge of what materials and activities are actually important:
- Through a life of minimalism I can move all I own in a single personal vehicle.
- I know the foods that both fuel and bring me joy day in and out.
- Without little things to distract me, I have more time for friends, physical health, learning, and creating.
- To optimize my net worth, I understand how to manage my psyche along with the “game” of society and finance as a whole.
- Discipline is a lifelong practice, yet I can take a sense of pride in how far I have come in regards to my impulses and expectations and growth.
- I fear virtually no ill or ailment – the bed I have made for myself can take very severe falls.
Being on fire for FIRE, I look towards hitting the milestones of FI *soon*.
Dowsing the Flames
But that “Retire Early” piece… One of the best suggestions on the FIRE scene is to take mini-retirements – from a month to a year or so – to try out that life. Find something to retire towards rather than retire from corporate work life.
See, I have tried that. In a way. A few ways.
Whether over times of unemployment or taking long vacations, I find myself hitting the same patterns:
- Start projects again: Writing, roleplaying games, game mods, reconnect with friends, hike, travel, get involved in extracurriculars, playing a video game or two (the least likely activity to happen), and a few other things.
- Rebalance finances and calculate how long a hiatus I can take in.
- Experiment with alt income sources; these ultimately fizzle as I realize it is more optimal to either work “for the Man” or to take the time off.
- Make great strides in the projects, but stop before crossing the finish line. (I suck in bringing things to market – I clearly am no entrepreneur.)
- Experience encroaching loneliness as no-one else seems to be at the “leisure” time of their life.
- Chastise myself for working even longer hours for myself rather than learn how to rest.
- Begin to go stir-crazy as I repeat the patterns above, battling with a sense of FOMO as salaried income would further cut chunks out from under the ol’ FIRE milestone dates.
This can last up to six months.
Then the applications begin, the entertaining of inquisitive software recruiters, the prioritizing of coding and refreshing social-manipulation skills (i.e. interview performances).
And the cycle continues.
It makes me feel I will not retire anytime soon. That I am not ready for it without some serious self-work. In the meantime, it would be unfair to claim I am on FIRE.
–
FIRE has been a useful guide. A maker of the person typing this out now. Yet just as a useful hiking stick no longer matches the terrain ahead – has not for a while – I can let to down with the sincerest of “thank yous” for getting me this far. I may find something else that sparks joy.
As I have grown over the years to come to better understand the world and myself, I can only expect that spark will return.
As I am ready to put out the FIRE of my life, how about you? Where have you pivoted in life, either from experience or necessity? Any learnings for the guy who is looking to replace his rudder?
Lemme know. Wherever your path goes, take care. Cheers to our journeys crossing in fair weather ~
Jimmy Chattin 