Wow, today is my 11th early retirement anniversary from when I walked away from a long telecom career. It has been quite a ride, although I would be fibbing to say year eleven was a stellar year of early retirement living. I hope to soon look back and say at least I survived the pandemic of 2020. Not just the virus, but also the numerous other assaults on reason and humanity over the year. I will also look back knowing we did what we could to help others so it might be a little better. No, my 11th year of early retirement has nothing to brag about. There was a lot given up even within our frugal early retirement lifestyle. But with all of that, there are still some 11th year blessings to celebrate.

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It Wasn’t Great But I’m Still Celebrating My 11th Year Of Early Retirement

There are things that were cancelled or I had to stop doing this year. 

Hiking – 

We would hike the trails near our home 5 days a week. Just pick a path and go out for an hour or two. Normally we would see a handful of other hikers. But with lockdowns and the fortunate who could work from home, the trails were packed with people. Many without masks huffing and puffing. We grew tired of trying to avoid being too close to people and gave it up. 

Library – 

I really enjoy spending a little time at our library once a week. I had a routine to browse the DVD section for new movie releases and score a few for the week’s entertainment. First they were shut down and then once opened under restrictions I decided not to go back until vaccination. 

Social life – 

I missed my daily trip to the local coffee shop for a cup and social interaction. Once socially distanced indoor service opened up during the summer I would mask up and have a seat when there were few inside. A small taste of pre-pandemic life. But many times that meant going when nobody else was there for a break out of the house but not so social. Still, I wanted to continue supporting the business and when crowded I would simply settle for take out. 

Events – 

Our community has many free events. Concerts, car shows, Oktoberfest, art festivals, county fair, etc. I attend many and volunteer at some of them. It is one of the special things that make early retirement fun and a bonus for living here. This year they were all cancelled and a couple that went ahead were heavily limited and restricted.

Travel –

All of our travel was cancelled. Our yearly travel includes seeing extended family to stay connected. That really hurt. We did a few day trips June through September. Mostly to the mountains or small town destinations where we could sightsee and avoid crowds. For the most part we avoided going out and about anywhere public on these outings. 

Sit down restaurant eating, movies, and shopping –

Our last sit down restaurant meal was Valentine’s Day. Although we don’t typically eat out or go to movies all that much, we miss being able to freely do it. Occasional takeout was a less eventful substitute. Although we aren’t big shoppers, being able to just drop into grocery without much thought was missed. We’ve relied on online order and pickup and every trip into grocery for small needs took crowd analysis and run-ins with the infectious undead, I mean unmasked.

Lost friends –

I did lose people I knew or who were friends through death or beliefs. There were a couple of people who couldn’t accept my mask. My thought is that they were free to believe what they believe and to risk it all by having-at-it. But somehow my decisions to mask in public and heavily limit my social interactions were an affront to their existence, worth verbal attack and shunning. They at least gesture that I’m number 1 when they see me in town. 

There are plenty of reasons for me to celebrate early retirement year number eleven

No forced dangerous work –

I can imagine how things would have been had I still been in my first long career. A dark corporate mindset that loved to pick winners and losers based on measures other than performance or even job responsibility. Seemed I was constantly chosen for all the dangerous or less savorable duties. Sometimes under threat when challenged. I felt fortunate that I didn’t have to endure what many had to during this past year. Deciding between risking their health or losing their income. I feel for anyone whose work wouldn’t or couldn’t protect them from this plague. 

No threats to shelter and food –

Because of FIRE I never had to worry about making ends meet, unlike far too many others. Being debt free, frugal living, and having a long-term sustainable early retirement budget aligned with my savings meant uninterrupted sufficient income. 

Saved a lot in spending that allowed us to help our kids – 

Without travel or recreation this year we had extra room in our budget to help our kid’s families. They took income reductions and had added expenses when food and some service needs costs went up.

A couple of months working at my daughter’s new place –

My youngest daughter spent the lockdown with a teenager and two hounds in a 2 bedroom rented condo. That was enough for her to decide she wanted a home of her own. She was fortunate her lease was up and she jumped early after restrictions were eased to find a house. She scored an older home that needed some maintenance for a price within her budget. I was able to spend 2 or 3 days a week during August and September getting reacquainted with my tools, ladder, and old guy homeowner skills. It broke up the mononanty of pandemic life and helped her get to a good place. I also won the approval of her neighbors who were happy to see the place being fixed up. 

The ability to donate –

With so many in need we were able to up our donations for the socially oppressed and needy this year beyond our normal church and supported charities. We feel the unfairness of the power dynamics and the pandemic’s impacts. I’m still trying to grasp this crazy situation where those that work for a living get hit worse than the stock market. I get that the market looks ahead, but that doesn’t help those in the now. I don’t celebrate the situation but that we had the ability to do what we could. 

Freedom to believe in God, medical professionals, science, and decency –

This 11th year taught me a lot in how much freedom is within our own minds. I consider myself financially free but it means nothing without health, love, and life. How different my 11th year would have been had I been mentally imprisoned by conspiracy theories and idol worship. I’ve the freedom to not worry about what others do or believe, nor feel I’m a victim of “the others”. I’m the master of my own domain and don’t require anyone’s approval, acceptance, or membership. 

My 12th year early retirement planning

I don’t know what the future will bring. There is a lot quickly changing both near and far. I do know what I plan on doing at the most basic level. The rest will be a let’s see what happens first. If I’ve learned anything in these 11 years of retirement it’s the importance of embracing flexibility.

Vaccine –

I will freely choose to get the vaccine as soon as my number is called. I believe the rest of my year will bank on accomplishing that first. 

Masks –

Even after being vaccinated I plan that I will be wearing a mask until the 4th quarter when enough people have been vaccinated and COVID-19 trends look good. I’m hopeful events will start up again and I will happily attend them while being masked. The same goes with hiking, going to the library, shopping, and all the other little things that I enjoy doing. 

Limited travel to see extended family –

I am hopeful that I and my family will be vaccinated by this summer so that we can get together once again. Other than that I think we will wait for any other travel plans. I suspect as things safely open up that the overwhelming pent up travel demand will make things tough to get a decent deal anywhere. If I’m wrong about that then I will reconsider.

Hair –

I haven’t had a haircut since last February. It has gone far beyond shaggy to long and I’m reintroduced to my mid-1970s teenage long hair life. I fully embraced the bandanna headband, channeling my inner Tommy Chong while open top convertible cruising all summer. I see this next year going with more of a Viking look. Half up ponytail and maybe some micro braids. That is as long as my wife keeps her sense of humor. 

4th quarter normalcy – 

I am hoping for, thus planning for, pandemic numbers and facts to be great by 4th quarter 2021. Then full maskless life can once again safely make sense.

Continue my same asset allocation –

My portfolio asset allocation has been maintained through rebalancing and will continue doing so as needed. The market has escalated in hopes of a rebounding post vaccine economy, pent up demand, and a new presidential administration. Let’s hope it’s right.

Yes, my 11th year of early retirement was nothing fantastic. But I still feel blessed. I’m not planning on a fantastic 12th year either because of Rona and its damaging impacts are far from over. When I look back at this 11th year I will think about a mentality parallel between people ignoring pandemic safety recommendations and the basic FIRE principles that would better their lives. Basically you just can’t save everyone. And that’s OK. We all should have the freedom to choose our own path as long as we don’t drag others down with us if things don’t go our way or later cry about it. 

My early retirement journey was born of both crucible and hope. Something that this past year offered in abundance. Perhaps this pandemic and everything that has happened will cause us all to rethink our future and plan for a better life. Then do something to make it happen.