There is this belief that once retired you cannot do another day of work…forever. It would be blasphemy. You can’t be retired and have a side job, that would be too much for the extreme early retirement disciples to handle.
I see people blasted on blogs and forums for taking a part-time job or starting a business after retirement. How dare they?!
The way I see it is if you have reached financial independence and then crossed the bridge to cut ties from mandatory work, then you can do whatever you want. If this means volunteering or working a day or two a week then so be it. The underlying fact is that you don’t have to do anything and can stop at any time without any impact on your finances.
This freedom is the purpose of financial independence and early retirement. The line between the two is blurry, but I don’t believe that the two are mutually exclusive. Achieving financial independence means you can leave whatever job you have. Your financial situation allows you to retire, but you choose not to. Upon early retirement, you officially cut the ties and your time is spent doing things you want to do opposed to have to do.
So while this seems like a silly question, “Is working allowed in retirement?” is not a question anyone can answer, but you. If you picture a side gig or small consulting business in your retirement, then go for it. If you refuse to work another day after early retirement, focusing your time spending not earning, then do it.