In 2020, I took an early retirement package that paid out more than if I was laid off. I was able to be in husband's health insurance for a reasonable cost and thought I might actually retire, just work part-time low stress until I could take early social security. But I got bored after 3 weeks and started consulting which was really lucrative but super high stress and basically 24/7. I bought outright an inhabitable doublewide in a 55+ park in 2021 with some of the proceeds, thinking I'd definitely get out of consulting when I hit 62. We'd get by okay on SS and my okay level of savings. I'd cashed out all my previous 401ks a dozen years before to fund a solo venture (not recommended if you have to pay penalties). Suddenly found a job I really really wanted to do, for 1/4 of what I was making consulting. It's a different kind of stress, a better kind. I got a wild hair to buy unimproved land in 2023 and cashed out another chunk of 401k for that. So now I've got low/moderate savings, a place to live I can afford that's okay, 20 acres to do something with eventually. Whatever gets thrown at us, I figure we'll adapt.
― Jaq, Saturday, 11 May 2024 18:38 (two weeks ago) link