I have to be pretty bummed out to play the lottery.
I know the odds of winning are infinitesimal and the lottery is essentially a self-imposed tax. Yet, sometimes I just need the fantasy of quick riches to infuse some hope into a crappy week.
With that said, I’ve only bought a couple tickets over the last several years. I guess I’m generally happy.
But what if I did win? I joke that I’d quit my job if I won 10 grand. Of course, that’s not realistic. To be honest, I’ve thought a lot about this and I’m still not sure how much I’d need to feel like it’s time to quit my job.
I am working towards financial independence, but it’s a moving target. I do set goals, but every time I approach my goal I stretch it. Over the short run I’m fortifying my finances. Over the long run I’m trading my finite time for money.
Most of us are only on this planet for about 80 years, so there comes a point at which you must choose to live life your way. That’s easy to write but hard to do.
Although I moan about it sometimes, I have a great job and I have worked hard for the equity in my career. I have to admit, I’m scared to walk away from a career that many would gun for. Partly, my fear is that I’d quit and discover that I didn’t have enough money. My other fear is that people would think I’m stupid for walking away from a great job. I shouldn’t care, but that’s human nature I suppose.
However, eventually one must prioritize what they truly want out of life. The fact that you are alive to read this is a fluke of magnificent proportions. Life is a gift that can’t be wasted on committee meetings and the general circle-jerk of corporate nonsense.
“Walking away” isn’t about abandoning work completely. Instead, we need to seek fulfillment, whether that comes from painting pictures, teaching children or renovating kitchens. This could also mean de-prioritizing money.
Fulfillment comes from making a meaningful impact, seeing the fruits of your labor and helping people. Fulfillment doesn’t come from leasing a new BMW every five years.
Building wealth and financial freedom isn’t just about chasing money. It’s about having what you need to live an interesting and productive life - a life that will be remembered.
I still don’t know when enough is enough. However, when walking away from something it’s important to have something to walk towards. Without first discovering what you find fulfilling you’ll never be able to walk away - no matter how much money you have.
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Knowing when to quit can be tricky. For me, the primary consideration was financial. Could I sustain my life with the amount of money that I have invested? Once I realized that the answer was “yes”, quitting was easy. That’s because I had grown to detest my job, the company, the commute, most of the people, the culture, the corporate nonsense, and the soul sucking pointlessness of it all. I also felt that, at 57, time was running out. There was so much that I wanted to see (travel) and do. So, I gave my notice and retired.
Life became immediately great. For over 2 years I travelled, spent more time with my grown family, and did a ton of household improvement and renovation projects. I squeezed in an epic trip and arrived back home literally the day before the mass Covid lockdown. That was mid March, so things have been a bit weird since then. Although, I have to admit that the lockdown didn’t change my lifestyle that much - other than curtailing international travel. I’ve become a bit more lethargic and lazy, and since most of the necessary projects at home have been completed, I’ve taken to helping out a couple of my kids with their home improvements in cities a fair distance away from where I live. It has helped fill the time, that’s for sure. I also help my daughter in her business by doing regular grunt work like deliveries and picking up supplies.
I’m trying to exercise more, but joint soreness, muscle aches, and chronic laziness prevents me from excelling on that front. I’m 61 now, so I sure am glad I pulled the plug on the rat race sooner than later. I don’t know that I would have had the energy that I did even 3 years ago.
The dilemma now, however, is where do I go from here?
There is only so much time one can spend reading, walking, listening to podcasts, and cooking meals. Booze has its limits too. One needs to be careful with that stuff - especially knowing that you don’t have to get up for work the next day.
So, I’ve been pondering what the next phase of retirement should be. I’m satisfied with the “me time” I’ve had so far. What’s next?
Volunteering? Some no-brainer part time job? Flying lessons? Get a commercial truckers license?
Maybe I’ll sell the house and buy a hobby ranch and pretend to raise cattle, ride horses, and raise me up a crop of dental floss.
I’ll figure it out, I suppose.
Like I said earlier, though, you need the funds (through a lifetime of investing), and the abhorrence of your corporate slavery thankless job to make it happen.
My favourite thing is to wake up in the morning knowing that I don’t have to go to the office, and the only task immediately at hand is to make a fresh pot of coffee!
Life ain’t so bad after all.