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Found this posting online.
This woman was able to retire at 39, and now is dealing with some regret and loneliness as a result.
I officially pulled the trigger about thirteen months ago at 35. I spent nearly a decade grinding in tech living way below my means and obsessively tracking every single cent. My NW hit my target and I really thought I was ready for the endless freedom. The first few months were incredible I just slept in went hiking and finally cooked all the elaborate meals I never had time for. But lately the isolation is becoming a major issue.
Almost all of my girlfriends are still deep in the 9 to 5 grind. When I want to go on a trip or even just grab a long lunch on a Tuesday afternoon nobody is ever available. They are all too exhausted to do anything but watch TV after work. The only other person I see is my partner when he gets home. I tried joining some local groups but the women there are either much older or just fitting it in around their work schedules and kid stuff. It is weirdly isolating to be the only person in your social circle who doesn’t have a boss or a deadline.
I find myself walking around the house or reading yet another book and the silence is starting to feel deafening on a Wednesday. I know I worked so hard for this but I didn’t realize how much of my identity and my day-to-day interactions were tied to having a job and coworkers. Sometimes I even find myself missing the office drama which is completely insane because I hated that environment. I love the freedom but I wish I had someone to share it with.
This woman was able to retire at 39, and now is dealing with some regret and loneliness as a result.
I officially pulled the trigger about thirteen months ago at 35. I spent nearly a decade grinding in tech living way below my means and obsessively tracking every single cent. My NW hit my target and I really thought I was ready for the endless freedom. The first few months were incredible I just slept in went hiking and finally cooked all the elaborate meals I never had time for. But lately the isolation is becoming a major issue.
Almost all of my girlfriends are still deep in the 9 to 5 grind. When I want to go on a trip or even just grab a long lunch on a Tuesday afternoon nobody is ever available. They are all too exhausted to do anything but watch TV after work. The only other person I see is my partner when he gets home. I tried joining some local groups but the women there are either much older or just fitting it in around their work schedules and kid stuff. It is weirdly isolating to be the only person in your social circle who doesn’t have a boss or a deadline.
I find myself walking around the house or reading yet another book and the silence is starting to feel deafening on a Wednesday. I know I worked so hard for this but I didn’t realize how much of my identity and my day-to-day interactions were tied to having a job and coworkers. Sometimes I even find myself missing the office drama which is completely insane because I hated that environment. I love the freedom but I wish I had someone to share it with.
I do think this is a great example of when people say you need to have hobbies and that if they aren't a priority when you're working, they won't be a priority when you retire. If I were offering advice to this person, I'd encourage them to join a book club, go to the gym, find a walking group, and then during the solo hours of the day they longed for, to get comfortable with solo hobbies or find a place to volunteer that feels meaningful. They could even start some kind of side hustle which should be more about the interaction and joy of the work than making money.
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