Comment by senbrow
I went through the exact same thing as you, and I needed some time to explore different ways of living. I tried being a drone pilot, a kayak guide, and a paddleboard instructor and learned a lot in the process.
After those forays I designed and built a trailered coffee from scratch and now I run it on a public park that overlooks the ocean.
I am more fulfilled than ever, I can pay my bills, and I get to do WAY more "real" engineering than the bureaucracy of my past life at FAANG ever allowed for.
Thanks for your positive story. How were your finances before you got off the rat race? Were you quite comfortable for a risky situation or you just risked it and it worked out?