It's amazing how many people simply want to tear others down, I think, deep down, many wish they could do the same as this man.
This is of course unfair to him and he shouldn't be beholden to other people using him as an exemplar, nor is it likely that he's done nothing since retiring, but it's an understandable reaction.
Most family and friends I’ve spoken to are completely fine and generally supportive.
Even when I quit my $1m/yr job, people were like - “if it feels like prison and is making you miserable - do it. Life is too short.” I took up another job at a 60% paycut. That turned out to be terrible too. So now I’ve not been working since June and traveling and living in different areas. They’re all supportive cause they’re like, “you’re living the dream. No responsibilities. You have money to live off of. Do it!”
It’s hard to imagine finding anyone who isn’t supportive of retiring early and is actually your friend.
My job was great. I was working from home (precovid), my manager always did his best to unblock me if I was blocked and let me go if I was going. My biggest fear was not liking being retired and having to come back to a worse job somewhere else.
Also, my friends and family are not in tech. My income to them was very significant.
> It’s hard to imagine finding anyone who isn’t supportive of retiring early and is actually your friend.
They do love me, that I know, but we've been indoctrinated with what success is in the u.s..
That said - I had absolutely terrible (toxic) jobs that most people couldn’t last even half the time I was at.