Its a multiple choice question. You don't have to go to Europe in a : bus, train, kombi, bicycle, taxi either, but if you had to choose one, which would it be.
Ok then, I would say "current standard of Living" would be the easiest to give up. I could grind it out at a lower one if I had to to pursue my dreams, in fact I am doing that right now. ;-)
I could not give up family and friends or a spouse if I had one (she would probably be coming with)
What would you pick Kimmy?
Posts: 1438 | Location: Portland, Oregon, USA | Registered: 14 December 2000
What do you mean by "retirement?" Generally it means that after working somewhere for 20 yrs or so you get to stop working and still be paid. You'd have less money than when you were working, but of course you could supplement that by freelancing or whatever.
Some of us have not worked in the same field, let alone the same job, all of our lives. Some of us have no pension, benefits, 401k or anything but SSI which will be obsolete when we need it. I figure I will always supposrt myself somehow. I freelance and probably always will. I make enough to live on and travel a bit. Maybe I'm a fool not to worry about the future, but did you read the posts from the beaurocrats?
I am retiring in 445 days according to my retirement clock that one of my kids gave me. Its a couple of years earlier than most but I have paid my dues and am going to do things while I can. I hope I have prepared, but, if I haven't, so what. I have quit trying to grow up and impress people. I am beginning to answer only to myself and my spouse. The sad part is that I should have been answering to only those two all along.
Posts: 23 | Location: Nashville, TN 37205, USA | Registered: 08 February 2001
How about an alternative definition of 'early retirement'...instead of working away your youth and hoping you can eventually have some time and the good health to enjoy yourself for a few years before you die, I'd rather do it all now while I know I have those things. Work can wait until later, and if that means I have to keep working right up to the end, at least I know I've been able to experience life a bit first. There are no guarantees that 'later' will come.
That's my plan. I've travelled around a fair amount and never wanted a career. A lot of the things / situations I've gotten into wouldn't be available if I tried doing them when I'm 60.
I think there is a trend that will become stronger as time goes on. Eventually social security will not be able to pay people and we will have to work right up to the end. Also I think many people enjoy their work, especially if they are self employed, or have some cool avenue to bring in extra cash. I have friends who bred Alpacas, small lamas and they just love doing it.
There's no easy answer to the question of working for retirement or living in the now - it's like insurance - will you need it/won't you? Who knows? I'm trying to do both, 'cos I'm awkward like that! I spent 5 years travelling on and off, and am now doing the career and pension type thing, but there's no reason why you can't enjoy yourself even then. I got myself a job where I travel a bit with work, and they're flexible enough to give me a bit of time off here and there to see a bit of where I am. I save up leave time and money for extended holidays when I can. I spend a lot of weekends camping round my own country. In some ways I've possibly dropped my standard of living already to have these things, so I don't have a lot of the material posessions that aren't important to me - no expensive car, stereo, gadgets or clothes, but this is no great loss. I didn't have them when I was travelling (try fitting a stereo into a backpack!), so why do I need them now? It's all about priorities and what you want to spend your money on - I just want it all!
Now, if only I could find that inccredibly well paying job with a built in pension that gave me, oh, 3 months or so off a year to travel...
Posts: 28 | Location: Oxfordshire, UK | Registered: 17 August 2001
Sarah - when you find the aforementioned job, will you need an assistant?? I agree with so many of the above posts. I also work for myself (only have a PT 'real' job) mostly, and have taken the vow of poverty to do so. But my way of thinking about it is this: How many times has the regular-type employee thought to themselves as the alarm is blaring "I'd give $100 right now to NOT go into work today!!"? Well, I just have that idea automatically deducted from my paycheck everyday, and can choose when and how hard to work. :-D I will never amass tons, but I am enjoying the PROCESS of life, of being able to piss off to who-knows-where without asking permission and having a time limit on how long I can be gone. I liked what someone at the top said, that one never knows what will happen in the future, so why not enjoy what you can now, and just work to the end. Seen on a billboard once: "Life is what happens when you are making plans for the future"
Posts: 38 | Location: Snohomish, WA USA | Registered: 07 July 2001
