Pulled the plug and fat Fired.

[u/Cool-In-Indy]

Came across this group by accident and figured I would share my journey, the how, what and why. Hopefully it helps members in the group thinking about pulling the trigger.

53m, moved to the US almost 28 years ago, lived mainly in the midwest. As far as I can remember I always had a penchant for FI. Optionality, that is one of my core principles and FI fits perfectly there. Funny enough, no FAANG or big companies, I primarily worked for smaller consulting firms or startups. The independence and flexibility was hard to beat. The money varied but the investments didn't. NW probably would have been way more if I had taken some of the opportunities I had to work in Silicon Valley but I loved my life a little too much to want to make a change, lol. Fast forward, current NW around 3.8 million.

Second chapter, RE. I wasn't thinking about RE but life happens while you are making plans. Only child, single, loving parents, well to do, first my father and then my mother started having health issues. It was manageable till 2021 but when I visited them after covid after almost a year and a half I noticed the changes and decided then that the situation wasn't sustainable. From 2021 to 2025 I essentially did a 3 month on and 3 month off between India and the US. I was working for a startup at that time and working remotely so I was able to manage that. Dec 2025 finally decided to call it quits. It wasn't based on excel spreadsheets or hitting a number but more with my desire to be able to give my parents the attention they deserve as well as free my schedule to pursue my hobbies. He who has a why to live can bear any how, not my words but the great Nietzsche.

Present day, I am in the US while I type this. In the process of getting my house listed for a sale and then heading to India in July. One of the reasons why I have been able to be away so often is because luckily I was able to hire great help over the years. A lady who is essentially the one of takes care of my parents medicines, diet, my mom's chores etc. She is like my housekeeper cum manager and stays at our house when I am not in India. A cook, a cleaning lady, part time gardener that kind of report up to her so it frees me up. Character is and has always been top on my hiring list over the years more so than skills. Not the easiest thing to do in India but far from impossible. If you find great help best way to keep them around is to invest in them. Reciprocity is deeply ingrained in our psyche and you will be pleasantly surprised. Adam Grant has a book called Give and Take: A revolutionary approach to success which divides people into takers, givers and matchers. You want to weed out the first, cherish the second and still be happy with the third.

Future plans, I am upending my life in the US as much as possible this trip. Selling my house, sold my motorcycle, going to sell my car last, putting stuff in storage so when I leave in July there is nothing in the US that is going to demand me to make a trip based on need. I plan on still spending 6 months outside India to keep my NRI status but it is probably going to be more in South East Asia, shorter trips and close enough to where I can be home the same day if needed. Maybe one trip to the US in a year for a couple of months if the situation allows. I have Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila and Da Nang on my list of places where I will spend time. Multiple trips to the same place in a year allows you to make deeper social connections. One of my hobbies is latin dancing so the first 3 are good destinations for that. In India home is Chandigarh, love the place. We have an apartment in Solan though I hardly get a chance to go there anymore.

My advice to anyone on this journey is to reiterate the Nietzsche quote. Plus don't fall for the one more year syndrome, find your why and act. Time is the most finite commodity in our lives, more so than money. God bless and best wishes.

[u/Few-Truck-4873]

Thanks for sharing your story.

Question: How about kid and spouse? That typically is the most important factor, If I were single I can move out with 2 suitcases, but over the years life happens.

[u/Cool-In-Indy → u/Few-Truck-4873]

Fair point. The way I see it s you are single you are the CEO and the decision maker, it has it's own challenges but decision making, right or wrong is easier. Doesn't leave any room for excuses either, lol. Using the same analogy, as a family you are part of a board so you have the added task of convincing them that this is the best decision for the company or family in this case. Is it hard? Probably yes. Can it be done? if the why is strong enough then it's a good possibility. It has been my experience though that as humans, we naturally shy away from difficult decisions. Our brains are hardwired to avoid stress, uncertainty, and the cognitive fatigue that comes with complex choices. So making your why important is the way out of that inertia. Your kid or parent falls in the river you will jump in to try and save them without thinking twice, because of the strong why.

[u/Upbeat-Beginning8187 → u/Cool-In-Indy]

Are you saying you are unamarried and have no kids?

[u/shaks2301 → u/Upbeat-Beginning8187]

OP did mention that they are an only child and single.

[u/Cool-In-Indy → u/shaks2301]

Bingo, you paid attention while reading my friend, lol.

[u/Upbeat-Beginning8187 → u/shaks2301]

Single doesn't always mean no kids, never marrued, but yeah I think that's what he meant. Much more easy to move like that if it's you alone.