I noticed even with myself over the years I've flip flopped. At first I thought I can do lean FIRE, because I was never a big spender in the first place. As I

I noticed even with myself over the years I've flip flopped. At first I thought I can do lean FIRE, because I was never a big spender in the first place. As I get older I started to gradually spend more on things and frankly enjoy the ability to do so as I earned more. For example, not having to take the crappiest flight to get some where. Recently as I get older, I question if I want to even retire early at all. Now I'm shifting more towards "I want to be financially independent so I'm not reliant on a job, but I still want to work". So things change, and things change more and faster than we anticipate. And this isn't even accounting for externalities outside of our control.