[jimbokun]

> Even if they did retire early with financial independence, it's never been their goal and they never actively worked toward it.

He did work toward it by saving and living frugally.

[Xirdus]

But not actively. At best, they passively worked toward it. They never consciously took any steps to ensure they have FI or can ever RE. It just happened to them while they were working on other goals.