A quick post on April Fool’s Day today. I saw this post in a FIRE group recently and thought I’d share the person’s question and my response …

POST: I am very close to retiring. I am 56, married, and have four kids. Three are adults and one nearly out of high school. I have planned well and can retire and seek freedom and flexibility with what I do from here on.

I am wondering if anyone else has felt this way: I get an occasional feeling of guilt because so many of my friends and family and peers did not prepare and are not able to be in my situation. I know it is based on making sound decisions but I feel weird that I can go and do whatever I want and they are still chained to their work life. Anyone have similar feelings?

RESPONSE: No, I really don’t feel guilty. I FIRE’d about 8 years ago at age 49 and couldn’t be happier with my decision.

We all know that life isn’t fair. Some get breaks and some don’t. We also know that not everyone makes the same decisions or puts in the same effort. You could sit at home and feel guilty, but that won’t help them retire sooner and will just waste your day.

In fact, even if they are working, I know my friends & family are busy living their own lives – and reaching their own dreams. Some of those dreams are work-related.

One benefit I’ve found in early retirement is being able to spend more time helping others. I’ve been involved with non-profit board work, helped out small companies,helped grad students at a Big Ten university, and done a variety of different civic activities.

Those activities make me feel like I’m using my early retirement time wisely, so I don’t feel guilty for my lifestyle. Besides, I doubt many of my friends are spending their time thinking about me!

Are your friends still working? Do you feel guilty if you are not?

Image: Pixabay