5 Things I’ve Learned From My 1st Month of Retirement
I officially retired in early November of 2021. However, since we moved from Silicon Valley, California to Dallas, Texas in December, most of my time in November and December was spent packing, coordinating with movers, and actually moving right before Christmas. We then unpacked, cleaned, and settled in just 3 days. On Christmas Eve, we finally had time to put up our Christmas tree in our apartment. The rest of the winter break was spent with family at home and doing a little exploring in the new area.
Although I technically retired 3 months ago, I didn’t experience true retirement until the 2nd week of January. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on how my life has changed, both personally and financially, as an (early) retiree!
1. Daily routine is constantly in flux
Having a routine is important for productivity. And without productivity, I’d lose my sanity. Because I no longer have a 9-to-5, my routine is up to me to decide. While that sounds great (and it definitely has its perks), it’s also a negative. Having a routine was definitely a perk of working a 9-to-5; what I needed to do for 5 days of the week was basically a given.
While it’s only been a couple of weeks since my 1st real week of retirement, I have not established a daily routine yet. To be fair to myself, my partner and I have had a lot of randomly scheduled appointments and errands lately because we’re still getting acquainted with the area and need to meet with contractors to build a pool at our future home. We’ll then need to meet with other vendors for shades, closet organization systems, and much more.
So for now, those appointments are my excuse for not establishing a solid routine. I did anticipate struggling to establish a routine once I retired, so it’s just something I need to work hard at to establish.
2. 2022 personal goals are off to a slow start
While it’s only been a month into 2022, without a routine, managing my time has been difficult. That means some of my 2022 goals, like exercising 3x per week and improving my flexibility, have already slipped. There’s still plenty of time left in the year, though, so it’s important for me to reprioritize and get those goals back to the top of my to-do list!
My cooking goal of introducing 3 new recipes into my family’s go-to meals has not yet started. I’ve done a little experimenting as part of cooking existing staple meals, like making homemade garlic bread with our pesto pasta dish. And I think experimenting in the kitchen is part of the journey to becoming a better cook. Last but certainly not least, I’m happy that I’m able to cook my family fresh, healthy meals at least 5 times a week!
Again, because I have not fully established a routine, finding me-time is not easy. My partner and I are trying to find ways to balance out my schedule a bit more so I don’t burn out. So finding me-time is currently a work in progress, but I am positive I’ll find a way to establish a routine that works for the whole family soon enough!
3. Stock market corrections are scarier as a retiree
Starting 2022 off with a massive stock market correction is not an ideal way to begin my early retirement. Since we have a lot invested in stocks, our net worth has dipped with the rest of the market. Fortunately, our investment portfolio isn’t 100% stocks; we also own real estate to keep our portfolio diversified and weather stock market storms such as this one.
Additionally, because I have no 9-to-5 job, this stock market correction (and probably future ones) feel a little scarier than previous ones. Fortunately, my partner is still working a high-paying job, which brings a huge sense of stability to my family. I also see downturns like these as buying opportunities. After all, a true long-term investor doesn’t panic during short-term dips in the market.
4. Going against the grain
Most people don’t understand that a 31-year-old can retire. More often than not, they scoff at the idea. Because of this, when someone asks me what I do for a living, I will likely just tell them that I run a real estate business. While I’d love to educate people on the FI/RE movement and how retirement is a number, not an age, it’s just a lot easier to avoid telling people the “real answer.” I don’t need the negativity and unsolicited judgment. Plus, it’s true that I do run a real estate business; they don’t need to know that it’s a passion project and not a full-time job.
While it’s not easy to go against the grain, I find that my partner and I are always doing things in unique ways. We are not your average couple. We tend to mind our own business, work together to accomplish specific goals, and do things on our own timelines. We’re rarely dependent on others. Doing things whenever we want is what we do best! So, retiring early fits perfectly into that and is just yet another thing I’ve done that’s out of the norm.
That said, the awkward questions and societal judgments are only a tiny fraction of what’s happened in my early retirement. Most of my experience has been very positive!
5. Enjoying early retirement
My partner and I both agree that it’s so nice to be able to coordinate our schedules now that I’m retired. Why? Well, there’s basically nothing on mine! We really only need to check my partner’s and voila! Everything from booking appointments, driving and picking up our child from school and other activities, and future family vacations are now so much easier to coordinate.
Being a stay-at-home dad in the afternoons is very rewarding but also requires lots of patience. Entertaining a child at home for hours, coupled with cooking a full family meal every weeknight is not easy. Usually, going out to a park or wandering through a mall helps with entertainment. But because we are very COVID safety conscious, we’ve been avoiding large crowds for quite some time. Yes, we’ll even avoid outdoor areas, like a park, if it looks too crowded. And in Dallas, masks aren’t as ubiquitous as they are in Silicon Valley. That means we’re at home more than usual. Plus, freezing cold temperatures force us to stay home more days than we’re used to in California.
On the plus side, I love the time I get to spend with my child. While it can be tiring at times, most of the time it’s not. It’s fun! I get to watch them grow, learn, and play. I won’t have to be a parent that sits on the sideline and just hears from others what their child has been up to. So my goal is to practice more patience and gratitude that I have this amazing opportunity with my child.
Conclusion
Overall, I can’t complain. Early retirement has been terrific so far! The flexibility is both a blessing and a curse. I have to actively create a routine for myself, but I also get to do what I want on my own schedule.
Society can be very judgmental at times, but in order to be successful, you have to take the reins and do things that aren’t necessarily the societal norm. Being able to cut out the noise and focus on your goals is certainly a skill, but it will have long-term benefits over the years.
While this stock market correction has taken at least $500K off my net worth so far, I see this as an opportunity to invest at a much lower price point. My plan is to continue to auto-invest and dollar-cost average over time. Soon enough, this correction will be history and we’ll be at all-time highs once again!
