Thank you!!

I love that plan – save up a nice cushion of money to give you the flexibility to pursue a different path, a different industry, start your own small biz, or whatever else! There’s no need to wait until retirement to start doing work you love. Best of luck with your financial journey 🙂

Time-independent (and location-independent) side hustles and small businesses are a fantastic way to gain both time and freedom while still earning money. I agree with you, I think the whole idea of retirement has been distorted into “working full time” or “not working at all”, which is ironic because neither of those choices necessarily result in the most happiness. Work allows for connection and contribution, both of which are necessary to live a fulfilled life.

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it!

You bring up a ton of great points. Another interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed is that when people do achieve F.I. and no longer need their current job for income, they actually begin to enjoy the job far more. I think many people would benefit from realizing that “not working” is not the main ingredient for living a good life. It’s about having freedom and flexibility to do what you want when you want, whether that means working or not.

Thanks for the feedback 🙂

i.e. Retirement doesn’t have to be binary. The choices don’t have to be 1) working 40hrs/wk or 2) retired = zero work.

I know of a financial advisor who runs his own firm with 2-3 support people. He takes off 80+ days every year. He’s designed it that way.

He still makes a net $500k+. He’s putting a good chunk of that into passive investments.

But he doesn’t NEED to . He’s basically semi-retired. He only does the work he enjoys. He travels A LOT.

That’s the beauty of getting a time-independent side hustle or small biz going. (or a couple of them)

You can get all three of your areas covered: connection, competence and autonomy.

Keep up the great writing!

Excellent perspective on what I feel FIRE is really about. The word ” retirement ” has unfortunately become synonumus with “unemployment”, conjuring up visions of sandy beaches and tall frosted drinks without a cell phone or deadline in sight. However, its perfectly possible to be actively employed and at the same time retired. All it requires is 1) a true passion for and enjoyment in what you do and 2) the financial ability to walk away when you no longer have that passion. I know many physician friends who continue to practice well beyond the point where they reach FI. They are still employed, but essentially are mentally retired.