I want to talk honestly about what financial independence actually felt like after reaching it, because the motivational posts don't capture the full picture.

The positive side: the anxiety about money that had been background noise in my life for 20 years largely disappeared. I can take career risks, say no to bad clients, and make decisions based on what I actually want rather than what I need financially. That freedom is real and it is significant.

The less-discussed side: arriving at a number doesn't fix unrelated life problems. Work problems I attributed to needing to keep working didn't disappear when I didn't need to work. The 'what comes next' question is real and worth thinking about before you get there.

The overall verdict: financial independence is as good as advertised as a financial goal. It's not a complete life plan. The two things are worth keeping separate.