Today marks two months since I finished work.
Almost half way into a 10-week trip in Greece, and I have to say that nothing feels more natural.
This is the first time life is basically filled with things to look forward to. Previously there was only sporadic things that sparked some glimmer, while the prospect freedom was what really gave hope. Work was the dark void in between.
Have a trip to Cairns later this year; and a trip to Vietnam as well. In the process of booking a 10-week trip to Italy, Malta, Cyprus and Thailand for early-to-mid 2026... And waiting to book a trip to Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and Oman (if everything lines up logically, that is) for later next year.
My wife was asking me a couple of days ago about some of the volunteer stuff I do - to mark in her calendar when I'll be away for those. Between personal travel I barely have a free weekend before December.
Early retirement was a joint plan over a dozen years; both on the financial side, and the time side. It's still early days, but so far it's amazing. I'm young enough to do active things that younger me would want to do - just not quite as quickly as I might have 20 years ago. But I feel fitter and healthier already than I have for years. Just before this trip, I finished 2nd in my age in a Parkrun - a few months ago I could barely jog 2km without keeling over.
I have a window to do things before I properly slow down, and live life without regrets.
To anyone umming and ahhing over it, I'd just ask you to think what you'd have preferred to do with your life when you're 80 and looking back at what you did, and maybe what you could have done instead.
Deserves a trip away, don’t you think?
