Tonight on GeekNights, we consider the concept of retirement. I know what my plan is. In the news, James Bond is captured by an evil megacorporation, and supplements will destroy your liver.
This is a topic I have been focused on quite a bit over the past couple of years. I have thought about pretty much all the things that were discussed in the episode.
I am really pushing to be able to retire at a much younger age than is typical, I technically could do it now except for the the biggest uncertainty - will society, the economy, and the stock market continue to operate in a way that is close enough to the manner as they have or are the actions being taken and still desired by the RWNJ’s in charge of not just our national but also State governments push things too far and bring about a significant change of cascading events of unintended (but entirely foreseeable) consequences that upends the tenuous “stability” (predictability based on the norms of the post-war era) of the world?
Why would I like to be able to retire younger than normal? Because I want to be able to enjoy the things that I am curtailed or limited from being able to do while I have a M-F job, even if that job is above average on pay, duties, flexibility, benefits, and vacation policy - it is still a job that I have to meet expectations of and dedicate my time and brain power to constantly. If I could work 2-3 days a week and then multiple times a year ignore it for 3-6 weeks at a time, I would be willing to meaningfully contribute my effort and talents to it for many years to come. I don’t want to have the freedom when I am at a more typical retirement age when I am statistically less likely to have the energy, health, and overall quality of life that I do now. And most of all, there is no guarantee that I don’t get hit by a car or suffer a catastrophic health condition between now and then and never get to enjoy the freedom I want to do the endless things on my list.
I agree with the sentiment that I do not understand people who say that they do not know what they would do with their days if they didn’t have a job. To each their own, but for me that is a sad indictment of a life poorly lived, and not something I suffer from.