Three Years Ago, He Stopped Ironing Shirts

It’s always good to hear stories and reflections of those who have embraced early retirement, reached financial independence, and pulled the plug on their careers.

Today we hear from Stop Ironing Shirts, who ironed his shirt for the final time a little over three years ago, and shares some reflections and updates on his early retirement journey thus far.

March 17th, 2022 marks three years since I turned in my retirement notice.  My last day of W2 earnings was April 19th, 2019, and then I took the actual and proverbial ride down the corporate elevator.

Three Years Ago, He Stopped Ironing Shirts

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Some things have gone according to how I thought, and other things have not! The most surprising part about all of this is how unrecognizable my old life looks.

Life Updates

I don’t recognize the old me, always being in a rush to go from place to place, well-versed in corporate speak, and trying to meet 25 or so different and conflicting goals as a sales manager.  Most weeks were a constant state of stress.

I can’t say I would have predicted just how the first three years of early retirement would have gone. Travel has been far less due to a virus that showed up in March 2020 and created additional friction for much of the past two years.

Travel and Moving

We are happy to have moved near the beach in the Southeast. It’s the best place we’ve lived thus far, but I’m getting the nomadic itch again. This itch hits hard once things turn cold from November through March, then dies down until October, and the process repeats itself.

The last three years have involved going from 37 to 40 and suddenly having more time than I’ve ever had. I’m exercising 6+ days a week and enjoy the feeling, to the point where I feel bad on days I don’t exercise.

Physical Health

I was beyond burned out at work prior to retirement. Much of that burnout came from a constant state of rushing, poor management, and working for a company that was deteriorating into mediocrity.

Mental Health

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