Now that I’m not working in a corporation anymore, I feel great! That whole environment was toxic for me. Since handing in my two weeks notice, I am carefree and can think clearly again. Some readers questioned – Is this retirement or a career change? I would say it’s a reprieve. My goal is to never go back to work for a corporation again. This is enough of a retirement for me. I will explore self employment opportunities more when baby RB40 goes off to school. Ideally, I can build a small business that can mostly run itself. That way, I can spend a minimal amount of time each day supervising and then work on my own projects the rest of the day.
Cog – Leaving a work place is never easy especially if you’ve been there for a long time. I cleaned out my cubicle a little bit at a time and got all of my personal stuff out, but there was still tons of stuff left. They already have a new employee going into that cubicle on Monday so I hope the clean up crew worked over the weekend. I knew I was a replaceable cog in the corporate machine, but they sure are quick.
Payroll – I also received my last paycheck, but they only paid me one week instead of two weeks. I called payroll and they opened a case for me and hopefully this can be resolve without lawyers. One good news is that I’m eligible for the midyear bonus since I was still on the payroll on June 30th. That bonus check is equivalent to about two weeks pay and it will come in handy.
Now that I’m retired, I can post more pictures and personal info.
Bebe RB40 – I’m reading Bringing Up Bebe
As for bebe RB40, he is doing quite well out of daycare. He’s been out since the end of May and he hasn’t been sick once. In daycare, he was constantly ill and never had a chance to gain much weight. (He didn’t want to eat much when he was sick.) I liked the daycare in general, but the constant illness was just a pain, especially when Mrs. RB40 got sick, too.
Now that summer is here, we have been listening to free concerts, visiting the playgrounds, and enjoying the beautiful weather in Portland. Today we got stuck on the light rail though. President Obama was in town and all the trains were stopped until he reached the convention center. We got out and walked around until the trains started moving again, but it was a bit annoying since the president wasn’t even on our side of the river.
Health Insurance – I also went to see my dentist today. At first I thought my health insurance would terminate on my last day, but I found out that the coverage will continue until the end of the month. So I took advantage of that and got my teeth cleaned.
Anyway, I am still feeling great about quitting my job. I’ll check in again after a few months of having no paychecks. Some people feel an emptiness when they retire, but I don’t miss work at all. Baby RB40 and the blog are keeping me very busy every day. Summer is also a great time of the year to be in Portland. There are so many free events to enjoy and we’ll go to as many of them as we can. It was always such a big deal to take time off to go when I was gainfully employed. Hope you are having a great summer too!
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations on your transition Joe. Enjoy every minute with Little RB40, they really do grow up in the blink of an eye. Welcome to the network.
Thanks Hunter. He is growing up so quickly and learning more every day. It’s amazing. I met a stay at home dad/writer at story so hopefully he’ll be able to introduce me to some playgroups.
You look so happy! You both do.
Who wouldn’t be happy on a swing?
Actually it took him quite a few visits before he will try the swing, but now he likes it.
Congrats. Sometimes it is hard to realize you were just a cog but that is also part of the reason it feels so good to escape. I’ve noticed this in the two jobs I have left. Glad things are going well for you! Do you plan on spending more time on the blog now and trying to monerize more?
I have been at my employer for long enough that I know anyone is replaceable. It’s not a big deal to find a new employee. I am working on the blog more, but it’s tough with a kid. I’ve been staying up late to work.
Niki’s right, that photo says it all. What a memorable summer you and baby RB40 are having. Best of luck.
Thanks Kurt. It’s great to spend time with the little guy.
Hey Joe! You’re Asian! What the hell?! I thought you were Jamaican!
Good stuff getting your teeth cleaned. I went to the dentist last week as well, and will do so again before my Cobra runs out from my separation package. Might as well do another physical check up too!
S
I got a total health check up too. Clean teeth is nice.
I’m glad you are happier and feel more relaxed! Can’t wait to read more!
Congratulations!
I am very jealous of you as I sit here in my office (still at work).
Good for you!
Finally a picture! Nice to “meet” you… Can’t wait until FinCon. Sounds like you are enjoying retirement. Congrats!
See you in Denver. It will be a blast.
Congratulations! The photo is lovely.
I wish I were outside instead of sitting in my office!
Thanks! Summer is a great time to be unemployed. It’s not too hot here in the Northwest.
I’m glad that you can post pictures now! Love it, very cute.
I won’t post pictures too often, but I don’t have to avoid it anymore.
Hi
With all do respect, how is this “Retire by 40″ vs. unemployed at 39 with my wife being the breadwinner? It’s not what I would envision when you look at this from what the majority of folks perspective is of “retirement” at 40. You’ve simply shifted what were perceived formerly as traditional roles in a family.
I have had an offer from a young lady to basically stay home and be her man about the house because I’m very handy, while she worked and supported both of us with a high paying job in health care. That is almost the same without a child in the picture. Personally I wouldn’t call that retirement. I can’t really feel celebratory like some of the other posters here. What would happen if your wife had a cutback at her job and she was given 2 weeks notice out of the blue. There are so many surprises in life…
Sorry I don’t want to sound mean here – I’m just looking for an explanation?
Sure. If my wife leave her job, that’s ok too. We’ll move to a cheaper location and our monthly expense will be cut by half. Our passive income will cover most of that and I’m starting to make some money from online sources so they will help too. I’m sure my wife wants to work a little and bring in a some income too. We can also draw on our retirement funds if worse come to worse, but I want to delay that until we’re both in our 60s.
Paul, I believe that his wife’s income provides around 50-60% of the household income. The rest is from investments, this blog and rentals. So its not as if his wife is paying 100% of everything while RB40 sits by the pool. I guess it also depends on what people think qualifies as ‘retirement’. If you have a part time job or run rentals can you still call yourself retired? I’d think so.
Thanks for your comments and your opinions. I still tend to disagree. It’s just a matter of optics.
For example I could sell my house today, move in with my mom or go for that offer above and coupled with my investments I would have a seven figure nest egg to draw on. I feel I’m still relying partially on someone else to enable me to “retire”.
For me the definition of retirement would to have my own home paid for, and something like dividends or real estate rental income (managed by maybe one tenant) fully replacing my normal working salary. If I have to sit 2 hours a day as a routine and write blogs and another two hours doing something else, rather than just continue to sit at my desk in my nice cushy office, it’s really no different, I just make less money work fewer hours, but still have some work responsibility. I feel this is stretching things.
Many people have the same opinion as you do and that’s fine. Everyone will have to find their own path.
Like I said in the previous comment – all the retired people I know are pretty busy doing all kind of stuff. If you like your nice cushy office, then of course enjoy it.
I could sell my house and move to my paid for place in Thailand today. Our rental and investment income will enable us to live a pretty comfortable life oversea. The problem is my wife isn’t ready to quit her job yet. Also, I’d prefer our son to be educated in the US…
Have a great weekend!
All the retired people I know are quite busy. They are working on their house, work part time, or run their business. It just depend on what your vision of retirement is. Personally, I think sitting by the pool all day is pretty boring.
That’s exactly the point. I wouldn’t sit by the pool all day. I would do whatever I wanted, whenever I feel like it. Also go wherever I would want to, if and when I wanted to. That is true “findependance”. The other vision is a different job with reduced work hours, not retirement. Maybe you could call that semi-retirement at 40.
How many times can you walk to the park and push your kid on a swing before your bored of that too? Depends on each persons vision of whats fun in life.
I like raising my kid. We have a lot of fun together, but if you’re not into kids, then it’s not a good option. We went to a bunch of free concerts and events this months. Raising a kid doesn’t mean going to the playground everyday. Good luck with your financial independence.
Stay At Home Men Of The World, UNITE!
You look like you are smiling ear to ear, why not, you’re free! I would go see the doctor too, get a physical. Now you will have time to work on more things. Start a routine as soon as you can because otherwise your productivity will go down.
I got a complete health check earlier this year.
I’m staying up late every night to work on my blog and other online ventures. My blog productivity is actually up a bit from when I was working full time.
Congrats! Check meetup.com for play date people — that’s how my friends found friends in their own neighborhoods.
I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Good for you!!! Retired at the age of 40! Now what are your plans? I like how you snuck in a final teeth cleaning….why not?
-Nurse Frugal
I’ll be a full time stay at home dad and work on my blog at night.
Thanks.
What a great first week!
Enjoy your new found freedom!
I hope the luster doesn’t wear out too soon.
Thanks!
His smile is so cute!!! I’m at SAHM and I feel so lucky to be able to spend my days with my kids. I don’t feel “empty” at all….I’m with you! Congrats again on your awesomeness! You are in such a tiny percentile of people that are able to retire so ridiculously early!
Thanks! It’s great to spend time with the little guy. We’re having only one kid and it’s really nice to get to know him well.
That picture is amazing! So glad your bebe will get plenty of time to spend with his dad. Congrats on retiring!
Thanks! That picture is one out of 20 that wasn’t a big blur.
You guys look so happy! Nice job using your insurance before it runs out in a month. I was in between jobs and went to the dentist too, haha. If you have insurance, use it before you loose it, right? Excited for you and congrats again!
Thanks Buck! I had a total health check up including the eyes too. It was essential to do before the health insurance change. I’ll jump on Mrs. RB40′s insurance and there shouldn’t be any problem.
KC has a good point. I would also squeeze in an eye exam if time permits!
Joe…congrats on your decision. Perhaps you can share how the cash flow adjustments in the rb40 household evolve over time. I think you will make a great case study in that at least by my reading, you are pretty reliant on your passive income and do not have a huge “cash savings cushion” to fall back on.
Thanks! Sure, I will work on a post about our spending plan. We do have a good size nest egg, but I will avoid drawing down on that until we are in our 60s. Over the next 20 years, we’ll rely on being frugal and our passive income to fill the gap.
Congratulations on your retirement! That would certainly be a load off my mind. I’m glad that you’re enjoying more time at home.
Thanks! Being a stay at home dad is a good fit for me.
What a transition! I am so happy for you and your family. Im looking forward to seeing your journey through retirement.
Congrats again!
Thanks Dave! Hopefully I don’t have to go back to a corporate job ever.
Not that I’d call being a stay-at-home Dad retirement. More like a full-time job. In any event, that’s pretty huge. Congratulations, Joe.
It’s just the first few weeks, but being a stay at home dad is a lot easier than being stressed out all the time at work.
I guess it depends on your personality. Thanks Andrew!
wow feeling like I also got relieved from job. Mrs OCAAT doesn’t work…. I will check back with you a few months later. Also, can’t wait to hear about your multiple blog and book ventures, hope they are coming soon.
Congratulations!! SO Happy for you – and especially for your little guy. Being a DAD is THE MOST important job you’ll ever have in life, and your little guy is so so lucky that he’ll have you around until he starts school! My brother is a college professor, but he honestly loves being a dad more than his job – he would stay home and be a full-time dad if he could (although he does get the summers off and has a rather flexible schedule during the school year). He has passed up numerous promotions – and people are always amazed that he does. He says, “my children are young, and they are too important to me and need me at this time in their lives! I can work on my career later, but THEY are my priority!” He absolutely loves being a dad – and he’s such a great one – very patient and fair, but those kids know “actions have consequences” and he follows through consistently. They are better kids for having their dad around so much! (mom is a teacher, too). All the best to you and your family – enjoy this time off and take care of yourself!
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