The Early Retirement Vacuum

The Early Retirement Vacuum

The emails went back and forth. We kept trying to jockey for a time. A perspective tenant wanted to get in to see one of my properties and every date and time he offered were suboptimal. Although I would never have thought it, backing off my W2 job has left me with a busier schedule than ever. There is an early retirement vacuum. All extra free time is quickly sucked up with other activities.

So much so, that it is hard to find a spare moment to drive downtown and show one of my properties. I never remember having this much trouble when I was working full time.

What gives?

Joy Versus Pain

My life couldn’t be any more different in half retirement than it was before. But it is not for lack of things to do. Nope. The early retirement vacuum has taken care of that. Every hard earned free extra moment has already been filled. In fact, I was so exhausted when working full time that I often scheduled a few moments down to rest and relax. I no longer do that.

Part of the reason is that although busy, I am no longer exhausted. When working full time, I often dreaded my daily schedule. My days were filled with one loathsome task after another. I felt pulled in a thousand directions, and it was hard to resurface to get a breath of air.

Now, on the other hand, I look forward to my busy days. I have no less to do (possibly more), but there is one main difference. Almost everything I get involved with today is of my own choosing. I spend my time engaged in activities I feel passionate about.

It’s not exhausting, it’s invigorating.

Volunteer vs Volunteered

It happens to almost any successful professional. The more they are liked and respected, the more committees and projects they are asked to take on. They are continuously volunteered by bosses and colleagues for new responsibilities.

Often it feels like there is no choice. In the past, if I wanted to move into an administrative position, build better relationships with nursing homes. or create more buzz about my services in the community, I had to put in the time.

I was forced to engage in the more painful aspects of my career to earn the benefits that would push me forward economically as well as politically.

The early retirement vacuum, conversely, is a whole different monster. Now I volunteer to take on new projects because I am excited about them. I offer to keynote meetings that I want to attend. I’ve developed a healthy fear of missing out on all the great opportunities that keep popping up around me.

Vacation From Vacation

One benefit of the early retirement vacuum is that I have complete control of turning it off. Vacation is a prime example. In my previous life, work followed me on vacation and interrupted almost all of my “off” hours. And when I returned after a week, I knew I was going to get walloped for the next month catching up on what I missed.

It was miserable.

Now, I just schedule beginnings and endings around vacation time. It is easy to turn projects off, or not accept anything for those precious weeks. There is no one to twist my arm. No phone call that has to be returned when I am “out of the office”.

Ultimately, I have complete control.

Final Thoughts

There definitely is an early retirement vacuum. I may be even busier than before I half retired. The difference though, is that my time is now filled with joyful activities that I have volunteered for. And for once in my adult life, vacation truly feels carefree.

This is what financial independence has bought me.

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