Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Her Closing Gift

Billy Kaderli

Fake it

A few weeks ago I went down to the Havana Club, and my good friend Mr. Bacardi was there. Latin jazz was playing in the background. As we were sipping some fine rum and swapping tales, Mary Jane walked in.

The conversation quickly grew deeper, and the next thing I knew, Akaisha was joining in.

She repeated her closing gift to me: Fake it.

Wait, what?

As I’ve been sitting in our quiet apartment with a deep void in my heart well past sunset, it hit me.

While Akaisha was struggling to keep things together mentally, I started noticing a trend.

When friends and family came to visit, she seemed “normal” to me, while others picked up the subtle changes. Hmm.

So I asked her: why, when people come to visit, can you carry on a conversation, yet when we are alone in the evening you struggle?

I was constantly trying to understand the process happening to her body and mind. Remember, I am a curious guy. I made it a point not to pressure her for answers and to give her time.

She would get lost putting sentences together, then simply say, “I don’t know.” I would tell her that was okay, I understood. Her innocence was touching.

When I asked how she kept it together when visitors were here, she told me she faked it — and showed me her beautiful smile.

That’s when it hit me.

She was telling me that no one wants to be around a 73-year-old man moping around.

Get your ass out and live life. Fake it until you are no longer grieving at this level.

That’s when I went from a very, very dark place to sunshine, and my world changed.

Soon after that night, my friend Ploy came to my place to pick up some things I had brought her from Arizona — items that were originally from Thailand. Ploy is the only Thai woman living in Chapala and is married to a U.S. citizen. The first time I met her, I knew she had a good heart. I don’t say that about many people, especially on a first meeting. The fact that she asked to visit Akaisha and pray with her — and that it was not her only visit — made me smile.

Ploy arrived and told me to sit down. “Before you give me anything, I have something for you” Okay???

As she told me about a revelation that had come to her the night before, I was in awe.

She wanted to introduce me to a Thai lady from the same town Ploy is from — and where I am traveling. They have known each other for decades.

The lady in Chiang Mai had a list of things she was looking for in a man to spend the rest of her life with.

I checked those boxes. What???? Ploy accepted the gifts, gave me her Thai smile, and left.

Well… I contacted the lady in Chiang Mai. What did I have to lose?

Since then, my life has turned from darkness to light, optimism, and hope. We have been getting along very well, video chatting daily.

She is age-appropriate, has no children, and lost her husband and only brother in an auto accident 11 years ago. She has owned her business for 17 years. She has a passport and traveled to India for seven months to study yoga, as well as to Bali and Oman.

My head is spinning, and my world is being changed.

I know I’m a hopeless romantic. Either I am setting myself up for a big fall, or I am about to embark on another adventure.

Either way, I’ll have stories to tell.

Billy

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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