I was thinking.  You know, as I often, always do.  Just random thoughts.  Random thoughts in my LifeInFIRE.

I realized in fIre, the I was the key (for me).

RE

I’ve heard and read SO many times how “retiring” early is “not the goal.”  So many of the “content creators” say something like, “Most of the early retired people I know still work and make money.” 

Could that simply be the self-selected group of who content creators surround themselves with?  “You’re the average of the FI people you surround yourself with.”

I’m not saying that overall, this is not a true theory.  It seems quite feasible that high achievers, super planners, and diligent, determined people are sought out for their nature, skills, knowledge, and abilities.  It is also extremely possible that these FIRE people don’t shift out of Drive mode in some way.

But it may not be totally accurate to say the money smart community as a whole creates—or joins—new work for themselves.

I say this so ironically, as I do get a small side income (playcheck) working as a Retirementor in the Rock Retirement Club.  That was not my fault.  I just happened to support Roger Whitney’s vision of building a retirement club at the very beginning.  Early on, I suggested member-to-member-driven activities and took the lead as a volunteer.  I’ve since added more club activities for myself.  I also added more knowledge and an actual retirement certification to provide more trusted visioning (not advice).

So, it seems inconsistent that I take this position overall on early retirees working.  But I think opportunities happen to good people.

FI

Working in reverse on the acronym, I thought about Financial Independence. 

Yes, the power of having managed your income resources against your outgoing payments over many years or decades could really pay off for you.

During the process management period, many people control or cut their outflow (expenses), and some drive an increased incoming amount.  Or a differing strategy is increasing your incoming and maintaining your outflow, which in turn increases the gap, your wealth, your financial strength.

Money is a huge part of life.  It determines where you sleep at night, what you eat, what you drink, and often how you manage your health, etc.

Finances and Financial strength are somewhat imaginary.  You can surely have tangible items from your finances.  I think of the Lambo and McMansion photos we see in the press.  Some of these people have the items without the finances.  (The bank owns the items and the person is on a rent/rent-to-own plan).

On the opposite social media site, you may have the Camry-driving, 3-bedroom home people, who live next door to the Jones’, but have a LOT of money in the bank/investments.  Or in a (technical) scarier perspective, LOTS of numbers on a screen/printed statement.  Your statement is almost like an imaginary IOU.

Let’s get back to the positive.

I

Yes, Financial Independence is great. 

Yes, Retire Early has been great for me (and so many friends).

But when I think about what matters to me, in my core, I have to think Independence is the most unimaginable position to be in at any time.

Independence for yourself.  Independence for your time.  Independence for your actions.

Having the resources to decide what and when you want to do life is so powerful to me.

Back When

I think about when retirement planners/coaches mention “what did you love doing as a child?”  What were  your favorite times on summer break?

I remember being a child and having rules and roles from my parents.

I remember being a child and having school looming and being caged in classrooms and given extra work to have to do once freed from the daily cages at school.

I was so happy to start my career and be rid of most home work.  I did have many long days, some weekend work, and some educational stuff on weekends.  Yet, there wasn’t a constant grind every night pushing a pencil or keyboard for practice (though I created keyboard commitments with my blog, WTF?).

So, Act 2 working was much better than Act 1 school.

Act 2 working had another nice foundational bonus; there was a paycheck every two weeks.  Based on our life structure, the required outflow left remaining income for other activities.  Super great,

Act 3

Having transitioned from School to Career and now Freedom, I was thinking about how the money allowed Freedom & Independence.

I like how my FI is Freedom & Independence.

I think, for me, that Independence is the letter in fIre that should be capitalized.

Just my random thought.

*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice.  I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be.  You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.