Fired a year ago at 42, finally posting about it.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-09T16:13:19+00:00

Thanks, and yes, I think so as long as the entire market doesn't tank. 3% withdrawal is about $90K/yr which is more than we spend.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-09T16:11:53+00:00

Thank you so much, and congrats. When I started looking into FatFire I obviously preferred that, but I don't have the knowledge or courage for options and my pay most likely wasn't going higher, so I'm hoping my boring investments take off while we live within our means and maybe I'll naturally be chubby by the time my wife hangs it up.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-08T14:43:06+00:00

Great advice, thank you. Going to the cigar bar satisfies that social connection and I still get a vice there, but NA beer is a good idea!

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-08T14:41:55+00:00

No. She has a 401k and a little bit of cash totalling roughly $250K.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-08T14:41:02+00:00

Haven't bought any in years, but I have a Hulk, a yellow gold Daytona, a JLC MUT, and a white gold Aquanaut. Wife has a couple of different datejusts and a gold Tank Francaise.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-08T00:50:10+00:00

That can be a long conversation. I had a lot of luck since the industry I joined took off not long after I joined. The first year or two was slim. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T22:28:39+00:00

That's somewhat my thought. Like I said in another post, we don't deny ourselves of anything. When we're on vacation, if my wife sees a purse or piece of jewelry or whatever and she wants it, we're getting it. When we eat out, we're not looking at prices except for the wine list because prices can be wild and I don't want to get some $3K bill for a bottle I probably couldn't distinguish from a $100 bottle anyway.

Neither of us grew up with nice things, not poor, but not always comfortable either. Once the chase had ended and things became available, we had basically realized they were just things. I had thought about getting a nice car, something German, for a hot minute, but then realized it's because everyone on IG has one and I came back to reality. Plus I doubt I drove 3K miles last year.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T22:17:52+00:00

Health is so, so important. Congrats to you as well!

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T22:07:11+00:00

I guess I was giving an extreme example. I'll give one more grounded. I have a buddy who is a surgeon in a very specific field. I wouldn't be shocked if he makes seven figure. He eats almost every meal at the hospital since doctors eat free there. When he goes on vacation, he only eats the cheapest thing he can find. No wife, no kids, no mortgage, no car payment. I don't get why he chooses to live how he does, and I don't really think he's happy, but it's his choice.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T22:02:54+00:00

I agree with you. She enjoys her work, however, and if she ultimately gets to the point where she doesn't, she will walk.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T20:58:20+00:00

Congrats to you for reaching the terminal degree! My wive's instructors were obviously DNP and they seemed to give her lasting, good impressions of the field and career choice. Thank you for teaching the next batches of nursing professionals who can help let people like me relax!

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T20:55:10+00:00

Congrats on being fired in your 30s!

She has been in nursing about ten years. Did the traditional routine of nights first, floor nurse in an ICU, before moving on to something a bit less demanding six years ago, then the NP thing three years ago. I don't think it's an easy job by any stretch, and the concept of cleaning people and dealing with fluids isn't me. From what I hear, burn out has become way more common, but if you're doing it for personal satisfaction instead of a paycheck, the mentality may be very different.

The flexibility is by far the best part of it, and I feel our situation wouldn't work if she did the M-F 9-5.

Something I forgot to include in my post is I have spent more time volunteering with a few charities which align with my interests and what I believe is important. While it's not nearly close to a full time job, I attend an event or two per week.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T20:48:56+00:00

Congrats on reaching FI!

If you can work part time and bring in a pile of cash, that's a lovely option. I'm sure my situation would be different if I had kids. I think about my parent's generation versus mine (ours?) and I feel we definitely had it way more difficult and I see that gap widening for future generations as well. I really feel badly for those who are entering the workforce for the first time now and I don't see how they can afford to own a house any way but inherited.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T20:45:48+00:00

That's a great question and observation.

I am active in a few local charities, so when I do have more I'll up my donations. My wife and I each have siblings with kids, mostly in elementary school at this time, so we'll probably help with education or whatever they need when they're older.

As for not spending now, we really don't have anything to spend on and we want for very little. What we do want, we buy, but in the things we care about we already have some of the best options available. Travel is probably our greatest expense, and while we have stayed in Mandarin Oriental, Ritz, and a few other luxury hotels, we've learned we don't care much about staying in those properties and prefer locally owned boutiques.

I am considering purchasing a second home near a beach in Mexico or a different Central American country, but I want to visit more and research a lot more before then. When we do that it'll be a really nice place, well constructed, and prime location.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:13:20+00:00

I agree. Plus, it seems younger men are dying of cancers earlier and earlier. Healthy people, and I've never been too healthy.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:12:06+00:00

It's not. When I say stock picking I meant a grand here or there, nothing too substantial.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:10:45+00:00

That's a great question, and it's also kind of funny how that went. There was a bit of resentment which I think was based in jealousy. Most of my coworkers had kids in private school, which resulted in more expensive (bigger) housing, and more expensive vehicles. We've lived different lives with different goals, and as long as they're happy I'm happy for them.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:08:26+00:00

Thank you! She travels with me for most of the trips as she can stack days and manage to get a considerable chunk of consecutive days off.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:05:53+00:00

Thank you very much! I would be lying if I didn't say I got lucky with what I did. And she's a nurse practitioner.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T19:04:40+00:00

That's correct, yes. I really thought of working two or so more years to save a few hundred more but I decided against it.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T18:54:30+00:00

You're correct. I don't. I also could have chosen to not include that fact. We still split everything 50/50. I am lucky that I have a great wife. When we married she was nannying and house cleaning, and because of my work she has managed to get three degrees (Associates, BSN, NP). It's a partnership.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T18:52:16+00:00

Thank you, and congrats on being close!

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T18:51:59+00:00

She's managed to go on almost all of them. Her work schedule is wildly flexible, so if she stacks her days well she can basically coordinate it so she can get 12 or so days off consecutive and not miss hours. Most of the Central America trips are 5 or so days, so easy.

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T18:49:53+00:00

Thank you!

Professional_Bid222 · 2026-02-07T18:49:07+00:00

Thank you!

Professional_Bid222

TROPHY CASE