Peeps, Besties, Gladys and Brutus – It’s been a wild ride for the past nine months since I retired from the federal government.
Last May, I made the decision to take advantage of an early retirement program. That’s still a little crazy to say out loud because I always assumed I would work for 35 years and retire at age 57.
I thought I knew what retirement would look and feel like. I knew it would be an adjustment.
But whew.
Retirement has been many things over the past nine months — exciting, challenging, rewarding, heartbreaking, exhausting, and occasionally hilarious.
Some parts were exactly what I expected.
Many parts were not.
Looking back, there are a few things retirement has taught me that I didn’t fully appreciate before I took the leap.
Lesson #1: Retirement Doesn’t Mean Doing Nothing
I knew I’d be working full-time after retiring from Uncle Sam, but I wasn’t anticipating what it would be like to revive my photography business after losing both of my parents in 2025.
Then, on top of that, I started this blog after having success with a similar blog at work.
While I knew I wouldn’t be lying around eating bon bons all day, I also wasn’t prepared for the Level 5 time management skills I’d need for this next chapter of my life.
I landed a job with Markon as a Senior Associate supporting program planning and budget execution for a government customer. At the same time, I actively pursued photography opportunities during the week and on weekends and launched another LLC to see what I could do with the Budget Bee.
With less time off than I had in government, balancing these three pursuits has become a pretty significant undertaking.
But here’s the funny thing: I’m thriving.
I’m challenged. I’m learning. I’m creating. I’m helping people.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Lesson #2: Financial Planning was Easier than Life Planning
I felt pretty good about our financial preparation. Hubby and I have always practiced solid financial discipline, and while transitioning from a secure government career into the private sector felt risky, our financial habits helped buoy us through a major life change.
What I wasn’t fully prepared for was navigating such a significant transition years earlier than I had planned. At the same time I was retiring, I was also dealing with the devastating loss of both of my parents.
As I worked through all of that, it became clear that I needed to figure out what I actually wanted to do next.
Over the course of my career, I had served as a Chief of Staff, Executive Officer, Program Manager, and resource management professional. When I started my job search, my attitude was pretty simple: I could probably do any of those things.
The problem was that I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
I didn’t want to manage people anymore. And the more I thought about it, the less interested I was in managing large programs.
Instead, I realized that what I genuinely enjoy is helping organizations make smart decisions with taxpayer dollars. That’s the work that energizes me.
Once I figured that out, my job search became much easier.
My role at Markon has turned out to be an incredible fit, and I’m grateful every day that the opportunity worked out the way it did.
Retirement has taught me that work doesn’t have to be just one thing. These days, I get to combine meaningful work at Markon with creative pursuits like photography and the Budget Bee, and that combination has been surprisingly fulfilling.
Lesson #3: Life Doesn’t Pause for Retirement
Many people imagine retirement as a season of relaxation and freedom. While there has certainly been more flexibility in my life, retirement didn’t put the rest of life on hold.
In many ways, some of the hardest moments I’ve faced happened after I retired.
Losing both of my parents last year meant navigating estate matters, settling financial affairs, and working through the grief that comes with losing the two people who raised you.
At the same time, life continued moving forward. Hubby changed jobs. My son continued his journey through college. My photography business began growing again. The Budget Bee took flight.
Some days felt joyful. Some felt overwhelming. Most felt like a little bit of both.
What retirement gave me wasn’t an escape from life’s challenges. It gave me more flexibility to handle them.
And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Lesson #4: Having Choices is the Real Goal
As hubby and I contemplate “full” retirement in the next few years (read: independence from needing a full-time job), we’re both realizing that doesn’t mean we’ll stop all forms of work. It simply means we’ll have the choice.
Hubby loves running ultramarathons (anything more than 26.2 miles) and is incredibly passionate about it. Having completed a couple of 100-mile races, I want him to have the freedom to pursue that passion as much as he’d like and enjoy the journey. (Maybe also get some sleep . . .)
For me, having choices means being able to step away from full-time work when the time is right so I can focus on my photography business and continue exploring where the Budget Bee might go.
It also means prioritizing my health and wellness. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a fierce advocate for taking care of both my physical and mental health, and I want the time and flexibility to continue doing that.
There’s nothing in sight where I imagine sitting around doing nothing. Ditto for hubs. That’s just not who we are.
What financial independence gives us isn’t the opportunity to do nothing.
It gives us the opportunity to choose.
When I retired from the federal government, I thought I knew what retirement would look like.
Nine months later, I’ve learned that retirement isn’t really about stopping. It’s about building the next chapter of your life with intention.
And if you’re fortunate enough to have choices along the way, that’s a pretty wonderful way to live.
🐝 That’s the buzz for today – go forth and make good financial decisions so you have the most choices possible!