We’ve been retired for over 4.5 years now and I find myself surprised that it has been that long. People still say I seem too young to be retired, but when you consider it’s almost been 50 months since I went to work at MegaCorp … it feels ridiculous.

Where has all the time gone?

I find myself really unable to account for the last 4.5 years in a succinct way when people ask “what have you been doing?” It’s hard to think of or track. Other than reciting some of the far-flung places we’ve traveled to (trips to Tokyo, Jerusalem, Edinburgh, Venice, San Francisco, Miami, and New Orleans), I usually just say I’ve been “goofing off”.

4.5 years of retirement particularly feels like a lot when I compare it to family, friends, or MegaCorp colleagues who are still working everyday. I don’t know anyone else who also ‘pulled the trigger’ so early.

I’m ‘baby brother’ of 4 in our family and 6.5 years younger than my oldest brother. He’s got a great job he enjoys a lot, but add the time I’ve already been retired and our age difference and that means he’s already worked 11 years longer than I have.

While I can’t easily tell you what I have/will be using that 11 years for, I’m committed to making the most of it and not just whiling away my time daydreaming in a hammock.

Related: What Does 10 Years of Early Retirement Cost?

If anything, my early exit from work has been a call-to-action to make the most of my early retirement with a lot of fun, learning, adventures, and volunteer activities. I share a lot of “Life After FIRE’ stories here and in social media so people get a sense of what they are working for and so they won’t think retirement is “boring”.

How do you track / think of your ‘years in retirement’?

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