What Retirement Really Means: It’s Not Quitting — It’s Freedom
- Silivere Bakomeza
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Most people think retirement means you stop working.
But for me, retirement means one thing: I own my time.
I’m not waiting until I’m 65. I’m building freedom every single day — with $50, a keyboard, and a 20-year plan.
What I Used to Think Retirement Was About
Growing up, I thought retirement was the finish line.
You work for 40+ years, maybe get a pension or some dusty 401(k), and finally at age 65 — you’re done. You quit. You travel. You play golf. You sit on a porch somewhere and hope your knees still work.
That’s what they told us: “Work hard now so you can live later.”
But that idea never sat right with me. It felt like survival wrapped in a promise that might never come. And for most people, it never does. They either run out of time, money, or health before they get to enjoy anything.
I didn’t want that kind of life.
And I sure as hell didn’t want that kind of retirement.
The Hard Truth They Don’t Teach You
Retirement isn’t a reward.
It’s a delay tactic sold to workers so they stay obedient.
The truth? You don’t have to wait to retire.
You just need to redefine what retirement means.
Because retirement isn’t about quitting your job.
It’s about not being forced to stay at one.
It’s not about never working again.
It’s about having the power to choose how and why you work.
Most people think the goal is to stop.
But the real goal is to take back your time.
I’m Not Chasing Retirement — I’m Building Freedom
I’m not sitting around hoping someone hands me a pension.
Instead, I:
Drive a bus to fund my investments
Put $50/day into MicroStrategy (MSTR) — every market day, no matter what
Publish 3 blog posts a day on BakoInvest.com
Build my platform like it’s a business, not a hobby
Track every step of the journey publicly so others can follow (or challenge) it
This isn’t retirement in the traditional sense.
This is freedom in motion.
Every dollar I invest, every blog I publish — it’s another step toward owning my time forever.
Why Most People Will Never Feel Free — Even If They Retire
Let’s be honest:
Most people retire broke, stressed, and bored.
They didn’t build anything that makes money without them.
They don’t know what to do with themselves after quitting.
They spent their prime years chasing status instead of leverage.
Retirement isn’t freedom if your bills still control you.
It’s not freedom if you’re scared to open your bank app.
It’s not freedom if you still depend on a job — just a different one.
That’s not the life I’m building.
And if you’re reading this, I don’t think it’s the life you want either.
How I’m Building My Version of Retirement — One System at a Time
Let me show you what retirement really looks like for me:
✔ Daily Investing
I put $50/day into $MSTR — no matter what the market’s doing.
That’s not just DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging).
That’s discipline in public.
It’s how I buy back future freedom one share at a time.
✔ Daily Creation
I publish multiple blog posts per day — 2,500+ words, evergreen content.
That’s not just SEO.
That’s digital real estate.
Each post is a soldier working for me 24/7 — even while I’m sleeping.
✔ A Clear 20-Year Plan
I’m not playing for next week.
I’m playing for legacy.
Every system I build today is part of a machine that will run without me.
That’s what freedom really means.
Not hoping to stop working — but designing work that multiplies without needing me in it.
Freedom Isn’t a Finish Line — It’s a Formula
Here’s the formula I’m living by:
Retirement = Systems + Ownership + Time Control
Let me break it down:
Systems
→ Automated investing, scheduled posts, optimized funnels
→ I build things once that work repeatedly
Ownership
→ I own my content. I own my investment plan. I don’t depend on algorithms, bosses, or trends
Time Control
→ I choose when to work, what to build, and how to scale. That’s what retirement should feel like
You don’t need millions to retire.
You need a system that protects your time and multiplies your efforts.
What My Version of Freedom Looks Like (It’s Not What You Think)
Here’s what I’m working for — and what I’m already tasting:
Waking up without an alarm clock on my off days
Writing because I want to, not because I have to
Driving buses for now — but never being owned by it
Watching MSTR grow while I do literally nothing
Knowing I can walk away from any paycheck and still be fine
That’s what I call “quiet retirement” —
It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful.
It’s building something quietly, consistently, and intentionally — until one day, people call you lucky.
If You Want Real Retirement, Build This Instead
Forget the fake freedom Instagram sells you.
If you want to retire early, don’t just save — create.
Create systems.
Create cash flow.
Create control.
Start now — even if it’s $1/day.
Start small — even if it’s just one post.
But start building something that can work without you.
Because that’s the real difference between retirement and freedom:
Retirement is what they give you.
Freedom is what you build.
What This Means for You
If you’re waiting for some magic number to retire, you’re on the wrong path.
If you think retirement is a break, it won’t last.
If you think retirement is an escape, you’ll still be running.
But if you see retirement the way I do —
As a life where you control your time, your money, and your mind —
Then you can start building it right now.
Today. Not someday.
🔁 Related Posts You Might Like:
🛠 Want to Start Your Own Freedom Journey?
Start saving automatically with Acorns
Buy your first crypto with Coinbase
Use Crypto.com to diversify globally
👆 I use every tool I recommend.
None of this is theory — I’m doing it in public.
🧠 Final Thought
Most people are trying to escape work.
I’m just trying to own it.
That’s what retirement means to me.
And I’ll keep building until I can say this one truth with my whole chest:
“I don’t work because I have to.
I work because I want to.”
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