There’s definitely something appealing about FIRE in theory and I think Fiskers book is excellent but FIRE often seems to be a way of deferring living life. It boils over into an obsession with The Number in many cases.
I've been self-employed via my online creative businesses since 2010.
I've said this for many years now - I don't ever plan to 'retire'. I work 4 days a week, for maybe 4-5 hours a day. I have all the leisure time I could ever want, plus work that gives back to the world and keeps me engaged - why would I want to stop?
I'm in my early 40s now, own my own home outright, have no debt, plenty of investment (not enough to say FU to working just yet, but we'll get there), and my husband also works full-time in the business, so we have complete family flexibility with our time for things like travel.
I know it's not possible for everyone, there are, after all, many necessary jobs that don't work like this, but for me, this was they way to live happy and free.
Every time I talk to my friends in 'normal' jobs (not career callings that are meaningful), they are miserable, and living for 'retirement'.
That's not the path for me. I want to enjoy my life NOW, every single day.
Sounds like you are truly living life, Jess. Meaningful work, and not too much of it, is a core component of that.
And the unspoken truth about conventional retirement is that we are in no way guaranteed to even get to 65. Which is why enjoyment of life now is so crucial, as you say.
I’m surprised you think the same as me on retirement, but I’ve definitely always thought this way. I wonder if it’s something to do with humble working class beginnings and our obsessions with work that are passed down.
I honestly think once we give into the idea of “retirement”, is when we start to atrophy and lose our faculties.
I think the working class aspect means that we will have both seen people work crap jobs out or duty and necessity and then be killed by those jobs before they could even enjoy the fruits of retirement.
It’s a mugs game as well as a bad bet.
Working part time forever seems to be the best of both worlds- some income, some on the job socialisation, a sense of contribution but also enough free time. Plus there would be more hours to go around for everyone.
Crazy to me how people either work 50 hour weeks or else they struggle to get more than 2 shifts on a zero hour contract. Surely there’s a better way.
Great essay. As someone who went down the "FIRE" path, I definitely agree with your take on it.
There’s definitely something appealing about FIRE in theory and I think Fiskers book is excellent but FIRE often seems to be a way of deferring living life. It boils over into an obsession with The Number in many cases.
I've been self-employed via my online creative businesses since 2010.
I've said this for many years now - I don't ever plan to 'retire'. I work 4 days a week, for maybe 4-5 hours a day. I have all the leisure time I could ever want, plus work that gives back to the world and keeps me engaged - why would I want to stop?
I'm in my early 40s now, own my own home outright, have no debt, plenty of investment (not enough to say FU to working just yet, but we'll get there), and my husband also works full-time in the business, so we have complete family flexibility with our time for things like travel.
I know it's not possible for everyone, there are, after all, many necessary jobs that don't work like this, but for me, this was they way to live happy and free.
Every time I talk to my friends in 'normal' jobs (not career callings that are meaningful), they are miserable, and living for 'retirement'.
That's not the path for me. I want to enjoy my life NOW, every single day.
Another great essay, Tom.
Sounds like you are truly living life, Jess. Meaningful work, and not too much of it, is a core component of that.
And the unspoken truth about conventional retirement is that we are in no way guaranteed to even get to 65. Which is why enjoyment of life now is so crucial, as you say.
Thanks for this great comment.
I’m surprised you think the same as me on retirement, but I’ve definitely always thought this way. I wonder if it’s something to do with humble working class beginnings and our obsessions with work that are passed down.
I honestly think once we give into the idea of “retirement”, is when we start to atrophy and lose our faculties.
I think the working class aspect means that we will have both seen people work crap jobs out or duty and necessity and then be killed by those jobs before they could even enjoy the fruits of retirement.
It’s a mugs game as well as a bad bet.
Working part time forever seems to be the best of both worlds- some income, some on the job socialisation, a sense of contribution but also enough free time. Plus there would be more hours to go around for everyone.
Crazy to me how people either work 50 hour weeks or else they struggle to get more than 2 shifts on a zero hour contract. Surely there’s a better way.