The Arizona Trial!

      The aspect that initially attracted me to early retirement is the freedom it brings, which remains the most rewarding part of the experience.

      In 2005, my motivation for seeking freedom was to dedicate my best hours to being a Dad. I sensed that my tech career would likely be too demanding to manage alongside the full-time responsibilities of raising children.

      Now, eighteen years later, it’s clear that my intuition was spot on. Early retirement has turned out to be an incredible and fulfilling journey that’s still unfolding. Thirteen years have passed since I shared with you about Little MM starting kindergarten, and now he has graduated from high school.

      This phase of my life has allowed me to embrace a multitude of new experiences. I’ve been able to work hard and play hard at times, while also taking a step back when necessary to navigate and learn from significant challenges.

      With the child-rearing chapter nearly complete, I’m making a significant change: relocating to a warm sunny place for the winter, where I’ll be trying out a new life in the walkable, bikeable, car-free community that I’ve previously praised: Culdesac Tempe.

      On December 1st, I’ll be loading up essential clothing, tools, and gadgets, and taking my favorite mountain bike with me on the Model Y for an epic road trip across the mountains, just in time to escape the harsh Colorado winter. My son will be accompanying me for the journey!

      For updates, I’ve created a separate tracker page here.

      Heading West…

      We've secured a spacious two-bedroom apartment there for four full months. Little MM will roughly alternate his time between Arizona and Colorado, allowing him to spend time with both parents while I remain in Arizona the whole time.

      A key part of this adventure is that it will compel me to create an entirely new life for myself, away from the conveniences of my large community and the numerous construction sites that keep me busy here. This shift will present both substantial change and a noteworthy challenge, which is essential for sustaining meaning and joy in life.

      So What Are You Going to Do in Arizona?

      I’m looking forward to swapping this with a *real* Arizona mountain biking photo soon.

      The specifics are still being finalized, and I welcome your ideas and feedback (see the “get in touch” note below). So far, here’s my plan:

      Meet as many new people as I can, and address the intriguing question we all ponder: what kind of individuals choose to relocate to a car-free neighborhood in the heart of a car-centric metropolis?

      Naturally, I’ll reconnect with existing friends in the area—did you know that our own Coverage Critic (aka Chris Smith) already resides in Culdesac?

      I’ll share my experiences, whether good or bad, here on MMM as well as on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, so you can vicariously enjoy this journey.

      I aim to utilize my newfound free time to visit their fantastic on-site gym and get into excellent shape.

      I plan to spend additional free time writing more blog posts and revitalizing this neglected online presence of mine.

      I’ll periodically check the weather app on my phone to chuckle at the blizzards I’m dodging in Colorado and appreciate my good fortune in comparison (the typical “winter” day in Tempe tends to be in the mid-70s, allowing for sandals, palm trees, and outdoor dining all season).

      I’ll host a few meetups in the outdoor plazas at Culdesac, just like we did last March.

      I might even start a quirky free handyman service to help new residents assemble their IKEA furniture, move heavy items, and hang artwork—this will be a fun way to meet people, be helpful, and satisfy my urge to build.

      I’ll ride bikes, a lot! I plan to explore the far reaches of the Phoenix metro area along with the nearby desert valley and mountain trails using mountain bikes, regular bikes, and the e-bike provided with the first 200 Culdesac apartments.

      Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, I want to help my almost-adult son gain new experiences during his visits by living in a brand new city for the first time since he was born back in the early days of my retirement.

      One of Culdesac’s main “parking lots,” adjacent to a restaurant patio.

      My future gym (specifically the items in the background).

      Is There a Bigger Picture To All This?

      Alright, you caught me. If I’m going to put in the effort to type this out and share it with you, there’s typically a purpose beyond merely journaling my life, and this is another such instance.

      First and foremost, I have my own selfish goals: I want to experience the best winter ever, meet a lot of smart new people, and I want Culdesac to thrive so they can create more neighborhoods like this across the country, setting an example that positively influences urban development in the U.S. moving forward.

      Much Better than Parking Lots

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