I reached financial independence in my mid-thirties through a concentrated bet on Bitcoin. Working-class background, former police officer, obsessive self-education, right place at the right time. Net worth somewhere north of $5 million depending on what Bitcoin did this morning.
I live in Southeast Asia. No job, no boss, no fixed address. I can do almost anything, which quietly turns into nothing I must do.
This blog exists because the FIRE internet lies by omission.
The accumulation phase is well documented. The mechanics are solved. Save aggressively, invest consistently, let compound growth do the work. Hundreds of blogs will walk you through it.
What happens after is barely discussed. The goalpost that keeps moving. The drawdowns without income to replenish them. The slow creep of purposelessness when nobody needs you for anything. The strange pull back toward structure and obligation after you spent years escaping them.
I write about that.
Some posts are introspective to the point of self-indulgence. Others are technical breakdowns of portfolio construction. Occasionally I vent about British politics like a gammon at the pub. It’s all me.
If you want polished content from someone who has it figured out, look elsewhere. If you want honest documentation from someone navigating this in real time, stick around.
Where to start:
The Number — the goalpost that keeps moving
Freedom To vs Freedom From — the tension at the heart of FIRE
What It Feels Like to Be Retired When Your Portfolio Is Down 30% — drawdowns without income
The Call to Serve — what happens when nobody needs you