How to Take a Mini-Retirement Every Year
Retire Often
Dr. Corey Allen and his wife embarked on a month-long mini-retirement, traveling in an RV and exploring national parks. The idea originated in 2010 when they considered taking their kids out of school and traveling full-time. However, they decided to wait and eventually started taking one month off every summer. Corey is a marriage and family therapist, while his wife is a CPA. Learn how Corey’s wife negotiated a month off every summer as part of her contract. Cory maintained his work responsibilities while traveling, and his wife took occasional days off to catch up on work. In...
info_outline
Reinventing Yourself Post-Divorce with Travel
Retire Often
In this conversation, Brooke Thayer shares her experiences with taking multiple mini retirements and traveling the world. She discusses the inspiration behind her mini retirements, including a difficult divorce that led her to reevaluate her life. Brooke shares the challenges and benefits of open-ended travel, staying in hostels, and finding connections in the travel community. She also talks about the financial aspects of long-term travel and offers tips for affordable travel. Brooke highlights the importance of transitioning from saving to spending mode and gaining agency in making...
info_outline
Road Trip Across Canada
Retire Often
Brent and his wife were on the path to financial independence, planning to retire early at 40. However, they realized that their plan wasn't serving them well and decided to take a mini-retirement. The challenges of asking for unpaid leave and shifting from saving to spending were overcome by their desire for change. Brent's mini-retirement involved a two-month road trip with his wife and eight-month-old son, inspired by Canadian hero Terry Fox. The trip had its challenges, but it allowed Brent to fully enjoy time with his family and sparked a desire for a more flexible and lifestyle-friendly...
info_outline
Negotiating Time Off to Hike the Camino Trail
Retire Often
Diania shares her experience of negotiating a mini-retirement to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. She initially planned to support her uncle on the journey but ended up going alone. Diania discusses the financial preparation she made, including paying off debt and learning about financial independence. The time off was full of self-discovery and awareness, including recognizing her weak internal compass and susceptibility to external influences. She emphasized the importance of community and in-person connections, which led her to create the Economy Conference. She is a great example of...
info_outline
Redefining Work-Life Balance Through World Travel
Retire Often
In this episode, we accompany Cosmin on his remarkable journey from the brink of burnout in his career to embracing a life of nomadic adventure. After years of high-intensity work, he took his first month-long mini-retirement. Cosmin returned with a new perspective: continue on a path of stress and exhaustion or forge a new way of living. He chose the latter, setting off on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and global exploration. Cosmin shares the challenges and triumphs of transitioning to nomadism, the insights gained from diverse cultures, and how he redefined his notions of success...
info_outline
From Early Retirement to Flexible Work and Mini-Retirements
Retire Often
In this conversation with Darlene, we delve deep into the journey of early retirement and the surprises it holds beyond the workplace. Darlene's story goes from her demanding corporate career to a retirement decision spurred by an enticing severance package. This episode is not just about the transition into early retirement; it's about the unexpected emotional roller coaster that followed. Darlene candidly shares the challenges of filling days once packed with responsibilities, the struggles of maintaining friendships outside the office, and the enlightening process of rediscovering her...
info_outline
The Art of the Sabbatical: Navigating Career Gaps with JL Collins
Retire Often
In this conversation with my friend, JL Collins, we take a look at a professional journey that defies convention, punctuated by career breaks and the power of 'F.U. money.' His career began marked by intense work periods that eventually led to inevitable burnout. But through these experiences, JL began taking mini-retirements, illustrating that stepping away can often add more meaning in life. This episode isn’t just a look into JL's path of financial independence; it explores his philosophical pivot from earner to explorer. We chart his transition from a traditional careerist to an...
info_outline
Outdoor Adventures and a Path to FI
Retire Often
In college, Joe fell in love with hiking and climbing. He loved the community and time in nature. He tried pursuing a corporate life, but a mini-retirement where he hiked the Appalachian Trail shifted his path. He realized that corporate life wasn’t how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. But he also wasn’t drawn to the “dirt bag” life of taking odd jobs to pay the bills between adventures. So he rapidly saved money from the corporate job to pursue financial independence. After taking another long mini-retirement to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, he made an even more...
info_outline
Multiple Mini-retirements as a Medical Professional
Retire Often
Getting diagnosed with a brain tumor during her residency helped Dawn refocus on who she wanted to be as a person and what she wanted her life to look like. Instead of losing herself in her profession, she consistently course corrected by using mini-retirements. The medical profession, like many others, can become an all consuming identity. Instead of accepting the prescribed narrative to what her life should look like based on her job, Dawn carved out a whole new path.
info_outline
From School Teacher to Living in France for Two Years
Retire Often
Eric was a schoolteacher in Boston. Along with his wife and two kids, they moved to France for two years. This seems like an impossible step for many people. But it was after years of practice taking smaller trips and spending time abroad. His wife is originally from France, and she used that time to complete a master's program. Eric shares the financials behind a massive move like this, showing how much more affordable France was than their life in Boston. His story shows how much can happen in life when you create some space for new things.
info_outlineBrent and his wife were on the path to financial independence, planning to retire early at 40. However, they realized that their plan wasn't serving them well and decided to take a mini-retirement. The challenges of asking for unpaid leave and shifting from saving to spending were overcome by their desire for change. Brent's mini-retirement involved a two-month road trip with his wife and eight-month-old son, inspired by Canadian hero Terry Fox. The trip had its challenges, but it allowed Brent to fully enjoy time with his family and sparked a desire for a more flexible and lifestyle-friendly career. The mini retirement provided the space for Brent to reimagine his path to financial independence and prioritize quality time with his family. He now embraces the idea of retiring often and being open to different seasons of work and rest. Brent encourages others to take the leap and try something new to get unstuck and gain clarity.