re: What's the closest you've ever felt to complete freedom

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Now. Just retired at 62 in June, touring the Southwest in my Jeep since then. NM, now Co. Got a few more weeks out here before some foosball game. See you in Vegas!

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Hell yeah. Glad to see some folks are embracing their time here rather than getting sucked into all the negativity that is pushed on us from every side. Looks like a badass start to retirement!

The day I got discharged from the Navy.

I was under 50, making good money, kids completed college with no loans, house and cars paid for, wife working and liked it. So what did I do? I quit my career job and start my own company in a completely different field.

Good times.

When my divorce was final

Piloting an airplane solo for the first time

My first few thoughts were about times I was riding a motorcycle, dirt or street, out in the middle of nowhere

Every time I check out on this place in my head, hop on my motorcycle and get lost on some backroads I get this recurring thought that I could actually just keep riding and not turn back. All I have to really do is keep riding and keep filling up. Like Forest said when he got to one ocean, turned around and said he might as well keep on going.

Crossing the gulf stream at night alone. Not exactly circumnavigating the globe but its about as in the moment as I have ever gotten. I have done it numerous times and it has always been the same. The only thing that mattered every time was the weather, the steady sound of the twin outboards and the electronics functioning. Again, not exactly circumnavigating the globe. with few exceptions the glow of Florida can be seen as soon as the glow of the Bahamas is dim, but plenty of freedom for me.

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Hiked to the highest point of Breckenridge solo. I was completely alone and the snow makes everything so quiet. It was the most peaceful moment I've ever had I'll never forget it.

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I spent 4 days duck hunting and camping alone in a blizzard in New Mexico in 2015. Not a soul around other than my old flatulent lab. Solid gray and white landscape...sun did not come out the entire time. Slept on an air mattress in the back of my old Tahoe. Spent the evenings staring into a fire and sipping 18 year old single malt. Not a care in the world because I was stuck and had no options other than duck hunting and staring at a fire. It was fantastic. Not the best idea, it was extremely dangerous as temps were in the single digits or lower the entire time....but I would not have missed it for anything in the world.

Was between jobs for a couple of months and had severance.

I had a list everyday to stay busy, mostly yard work and light landscaping. But going to bed every night with no work issue or deadline looming made for great sleep.