I will retire on Sep 02, 2027. People often ask me if I’m crazy and wonder what I’ll do after retiring. I have a long list of meaningful things I plan to do. I have described some of them here. This will be a retirement from the corporate world, not from work altogether. There will be work, but for the things that are important to me, like charity or providing access to knowledge.

Music

I’ll probably be decent at piano, guitar and singing when I retire, but I plan to master all of them. I should be able to play anything I hear on the spot; that’s the goal. Retiring would help me spend more time with the instruments.

Finance

I am trading options right now and will continue doing so to generate income. I also have a plan to invest in early-stage startups after retiring. That would mean constant interaction with driven and intelligent people which would help me stay in touch with technology. I can focus my attention on any of the companies in my portfolio and leverage my software engineering experience. Financial rewards are a bonus; I’m more interested in the experience.

Travel

Of course, I’ll spend the first couple of years travelling and making memories. There will be a point when I get tired of travelling, and everything will start to look the same. It’ll be a time when I’ll look for a purpose and try to get back into technology. That is when I’ll start focussing on investing and cutting down on travel.

Books

I have left aside dozens of books due to lack of time or not having the mindset to enjoy them. Retirement will be a perfect time to get back into my reading habit more intensely. It’ll be a time to read all those books that I put off for years. I’m pretty sure this will keep me busy for a while.

Charity

Charity is another thing I’m incredibly passionate about. $10 is nothing for you and me, but it would mean a world of difference for some people out there. I don’t need to know a person to help them, but if my money/time/attention can make a difference in their life, I will make it happen. I have donated $100 this year, and my goal is to keep doubling the donation each year. Money can indeed buy happiness, not for us but others.