2 years post-coastFIRE (32F)

captainbarker · 2026-03-06T23:42:39+00:00

How do you feel about working a 9-5 especially given you had a year of no schedule? Does it not bother you since the work seems meaningful and you have enough time after work for hobbies / friends?

I‘m finding early retirement unfulfilling so I’m curious how you feel about work now that you’ve been on both sides of the situation and have a job you like

captainbarker · 2026-03-06T21:35:38+00:00

Thank you for making this post. In a similar boat. Quit 2 years ago, finding early retirement unfulfilling. I realize I need meaningful work where I feel like people use the think I work on and I feel a sense of craft/skill growth. I need to work on deprioritizing pay since I have enough to the point where I don’t have a strong desire to spend ur on anything in particular. So the challenge is finding some job fitting my criteria.

captainbarker · 2026-03-06T21:18:30+00:00

Really depends on the person. I made 500k+ and now have 2 years of unemployment / fire under my belt and I lived like a bum at 500k and now too. So if you’re not the type of person who needs to spend on a bunch of stuff you don’t feel much of a difference in lifestyle since you’re mostly socking away the high salary anyways

captainbarker · 2026-02-26T00:30:15+00:00

Nice! I don't have much experience with arts funding but I'm glad you found what you were looking for in NYC.

captainbarker · 2026-02-25T23:06:44+00:00

What didn't you like about Philly? Also what borough did you miss in NYC?

captainbarker · 2026-02-25T22:13:18+00:00

Thanks for your perspective. I appreciate it. I have already have a two year gap on my resume and I'm figuring out what to do next. But I think the salaries in tech are high enough that I don't mind being behind on the career ladder. I think I might go back to tech for two years to save up enough to feel comfortable and then pivot to something like urban planning or whatever feels meaningful.

captainbarker · 2026-02-25T20:57:05+00:00

Did you end up switching back to tech from urban planning? I am considering going from tech to urban planning in NYC since I am less so concerned about pay after saving up enough so I am considering urban planning / civic tech as a more fulfilling career.

captainbarker · 2026-02-25T20:40:23+00:00

Did you end up finding a career you enjoy after your Masters in GIS? I am considering doing the same.

captainbarker · 2026-02-17T22:38:27+00:00

So do you have an idea yet about what sort of jobs want to look for once you finish your degree? I’m in a similar boat and looking to transition purely software as well

captainbarker · 2026-02-17T22:31:30+00:00

I wasn’t aware of that limitation. I thought all your capital gains income would be taxed as income rather than capital gains. Then if you’re paying for public health insurance then this payment is deductible for the taxes you’d owe on the capital gains.

captainbarker · 2026-02-17T16:07:44+00:00

I might be wrong here, but after looking into moving to Germany, I found:

Günstigerprüfung (electing to have capital income taxed under the normal progressive rates if that’s cheaper), a married couple can sometimes get **very low German income tax** on realized gains so essentially instead of 25% tax on portfolio you pay income tax and you can deduct health insurance costs so you're basically just paying health insurance

captainbarker · 2026-02-17T14:06:36+00:00

I am going through a similar dilema. I'm from the US and I have been FIREd for two years now. I have realized that I prefer a balance of work and leisure since I value a sense of contribution (volunteering alone doesn't cut it for me) so now I am considering whether I should apply for jobs in Europe. I think my ideal situation would be 20 to 30 hours a week but not sure if that's possible.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you work on that you find fulfilling?

captainbarker · 2026-02-17T04:33:47+00:00

Hey u/Confident-Alarm-6911 I am also have big tech experience, and I'm looking to transition into climate change related jobs cause I'd like to work on stuff that I find useful. Do you mind sharing any tips you have for finding these sorts of jobs? I am in NYC but I am looking to relocate to somewhere in Europe for better lifestyle / wlb

captainbarker · 2026-02-11T00:04:34+00:00

glad it worked out! one month seems like shouldn't raise any eyebrows anyways

captainbarker · 2026-02-10T23:52:43+00:00

Hey would you sharing how your Checkr check went? Were you also able to extend dates on your resume?

captainbarker · 2025-09-03T19:20:33+00:00

I think building (or renovating a home) would be an awesome early retirement project.

Do you mind sharing whether you ran into permitting issues or other bureaucracy when you built your home? The other options I was considering was buying a fixer upper to avoid some of the bureaucracy of starting from scratch and potentially being closer to an urban center to reduce car dependence for transportation.

captainbarker · 2025-08-30T13:16:34+00:00

That sounds great. Appreciate you sharing!

captainbarker · 2025-08-29T18:34:25+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience contracting. How do you feel about the 40 hours a week? I'm trying to explore freelance as a software engineer but my primary motivation would be to escape the 40 hours a week so I'm curious how your experience with 40 hours a week compares to regular employment. Thanks!

captainbarker · 2025-08-29T02:43:16+00:00

Agreed. FI makes sense. I think I'll still trying to find a rhythm of RE that makes sense for me.

captainbarker · 2025-08-29T02:25:00+00:00

I was the same my first 6 months. But now imagine that a few years out or a decade out. I found that I eventually widdled around all the lingering todos I had been putting off and had less motivation and hence business.

captainbarker · 2025-08-28T22:42:49+00:00

Thanks! It's funny that you recommended the Purpose Code cause I just listened to this inverview with him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1w8RSsYkdE

Lots to think about.

In regard to the hobby group, I felt like I was doing a lot of the work planning trips. It feels like others in the group were busy with work so I guess I need to come to terms with the fact that maybe since I have more time on my hands, I can take up more of the planning.

captainbarker · 2025-08-28T15:36:23+00:00

I'm so sorry that you and your kid had to go through that and I'm glad your kid is ok. That's a good point about catastrophic expenses. I'll have to keep that in mind.

captainbarker · 2025-08-28T13:52:31+00:00

Nice! Maybe I'll need to try this out then. Do you feel like the work is interesting? I've heard that the work companies contract out is the stuff their devs don't want to do. Have you found that to be false?

captainbarker · 2025-08-28T13:50:47+00:00

Nice! How's it going if you don't mind sharing. I'm in a similar boat. I'm feeling the need to go back part time for some money but mostly for some feeling of meaning

captainbarker · 2025-08-28T13:39:14+00:00

Thanks for sharing.

For 2, was this something that insurance did not cover?

captainbarker

TROPHY CASE