[...] An Early Retirement update From QCash at milliondollarjourney.com. I really wanted to pick up posts that inspire me. This one is [...]

Thanks for letting me do the update. When I return from vacation (I know, vacation from retirement :-) I will try to send you more info on my strategies (what little there is to them) and maybe more of my history, which may explain why I do things the way I do (probably more relevant).

FourPillars – I appreciate it, but I don’t think I could stretch what may be a one or two blog entry into a book :-) (although I understand Derek Foster has his own publishing company now, maybe I could shop it to him for a big advance :-)

Telly – I love being able to do things around the community. I think I may have mentioned either on the CB forums or here in the original interview that local politics intrigues me. Our next municipal election is in 2010 and I expect to be a candidate, so the communtiy work, while rewarding, is also possible selfish on my part (getting my name/rep out there).

WealthyCanadian – I have come to understand that I like a challenge. Often when I start something, I have to learn or plan or take on a challenge. My job became routine with nothing exciting to challenge me. At that point, I knew it was time to move on. If I hadn’t decided to “retire” early, I would certainly have been looking for something new.

GatesVP – I plan to show your comment to my wife :-) Her point is that I haven’t completely balanced my family life with my volunteer commitments (her way of saying too much time away from the kids). We used the tools in Smart Couples Finish Rich to discuss our values and how we each see this “retirement” unfolding. She is on board for the political run in 2010, but the trade off is spending more time at home while the kids are not at school full time. By Sept 2010, both kids will be in school full time and as she said, come Labour Day 2010, she will be the first to come knock on doors from 9:30 to 2:30 each day :-)

Thanks for all the great comments.

I promised FT a more detailed analysis (just waiting for all my Sept statements so I can plug in the numbers).

Q

PS FT/Gates – not quite 2 Million. FT estimated that because I list my properties at their purchase value, not their current value.

Hey you gotta be “busy”, otherwise what are you doing? It’s very common to have people talk about “retirement” as if it were some self-fulfilling goal. Meanwhile “retirement” is really just about “doing something else”.

I’m tempted to say that you’re not actually having trouble “winding down”, you’re just living your life. You’re always “doing stuff”, you’re just doing less stuff to earn money and more stuff to help in the community. This is perfectly normal and healthy, if you’re not “doing stuff”, then what are you doing? Rotting in front of the TV?

Being busy is what it’s all about, it’s all about doing stuff you love, so don’t fret. I wouldn’t be any different with 2 million in the bank :)

Thanks for the update.

Thanks for the update and congrats again Q!

I think qcash could write a good book – not sure what the hook would be but I’d buy it.

Mike