Transition - A 49-year-old AI professional, after three decades of grinding and family responsibilities, is facing an unplanned exit. With $5.4M in equities, $1.7M in rental properties, $2M in their primary home, and historic earnings as high as $620K (plus $400K from their spouse), they find themselves unexpectedly weighing a layoff package and RE at a VHCOL lifestyle (~$300K spend). Despite having dreamt of this day, the emotion is bittersweet: relief at escaping a toxic career but unexpected sadness and loss of identity now that the reality of “being unwanted” by a company has hit. Support from family helps, but there’s a sense of needing to process feelings and design the next phase of life with intention.