Returning to one’s home country often brings mixed emotions, nostalgia, relief, and sometimes a sense of rediscovery. But for one NRI who recently moved back to India after years abroad, the experience has taken an unexpected turn.
In a Reddit post, he described how settling back into Indian life has become almost too comfortable.
Coming from a modest middle-class background, he worked his way from a services job to core tech, then eventually to the United States. Over the years, he invested wisely and built a strong financial cushion.
As he put it, “The last few years have been phenomenal for our stock portfolio and we are at $12m++/ INR 100Cr++ now – a number I never thought I would see!”
Now back in India, he lives in a plush gated community where daily life runs like a well-oiled machine. He explained how his routine revolves around long hours of sports, gym sessions, reading, TV shows and spending time with his family.
Many days pass without him stepping outside the gates into the crowds and chaos of the city. With household help available instantly and comforts easily accessible, he finds himself retreating further from the outside world.
How was his life before?
Before settling into a routine, he spent months indulging in everything he’d missed. He rewatched classic TV shows and movies, from The Sopranos and Breaking Bad to The Godfather trilogy. He gamed for hours on titles like Age of Empires, God of War and Elden Ring.
He also travelled across Asia and Europe, hiked and biked for days, and disconnected from the world whenever he wanted. Regardless of all this freedom, he admits that boredom still sneaks in, but the thought of returning to a demanding tech job feels impossible.
He considered using this phase of life to contribute to society. But after volunteering with a few nonprofits, he says he was shocked by how widespread the dishonesty and corruption felt. It drained him. He decided his peace and health weren’t worth the fight.
‘You don’t owe anyone’
“You’re doing exactly what I’d do if I were in your situation. Good of you for having given a real shot at non-profits & making a difference. All things said & done, you don’t owe anyone apart from your family anything. More inward looking view seems justified given what you shared,” wrote a user.
“The bored part comes quickly . Sometimes i think work is almost daycare for adults when you have achieved everything else,” added another netizen.
“Congrats on reaching FI and becoming retired. Two cents – pick up something you think you care about, don’t worry about changing the world or even making impact. Learn it, do it, get better at it, and write about it, put it out there. Focus on the process, if someone is interested and want to learn they will naturally gravitate towards you. If nothing, you get to do what you think you like, and actually like it. Echo the sentiment of loving spending time with family. Good for you, keep at it,” added a user.