We just got back from a week at our vacation place near Walt Disney World and had an odd vibe about early retirement that hadn’t hit me before. It made me doubly appreciative for the FIRE lifestyle we were able to achieve. 

We had our Florida handyman working on a few projects – at the same time our Minnesota handyman (and painter) were doing projects at our house there.  We were texting and on the phone with all of them on and off during the day.  

At the same time, we weren’t at either address.  While they worked, we were relaxing – walking around EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.  Now I’ve been retired so long now (8+ years) that the incongruity of goofing off off while others do our work doesn’t phase me too much.  What made this moment odd is where we were – the “Happiest Place on Earth” – and what everyone else was doing there. 

Walt Disney World is a place that many families save their money for many years for the chance to spend a week there.  We used to save our money for that every-few-years chance.  But now, with an annual pass in our pockets, it’s just a place we go for a nice walk.  To have a treat.  To stroll the beautiful grounds.  Just 10 minutes from our condo.

So it’s a beautiful day. We’re casually strolling. Others are working hard on OUR projects.  Others are enjoying one of the biggest vacation days of their year.  There’s a weird vibe to that contrast.  It’s like a double-incongruity that I haven’t felt before.  

It really made me feel a bit separate from the world’s reality, in a way.  An absolute privilege, of course – one that we feel very thankful & blessed to be able to enjoy every day.  In fact, it was such a rare circumstance that it had a surreal feel to it.  Not bad – just really out of place.  

As I said, I’ve never had that odd experience before.  The feeling that I had the best of both worlds – at the same time – was truly surreal (a word that is often overused, but in this situation, perfectly fitting).  

I guess the FIRE lesson here is that even after this long, the feeling of early retirement is still very special and still very appreciated.  The “honeymoon” of early retirement just doesn’t seem to wear off.  At times, in fact, it seems more special.

What surreal experiences have you had from being retired?

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