Comment by jib | Hacker News Reader

Comment by jib | Hacker News Reader

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I don't think I would enjoy not working. Sure there is 20% crap or so, but 80% of the time I am doing moderately enjoyable things, or at least neutral things.

I think that it is certainly true for some people that they would be happier retired early, and doing volunteer work or so, or working with random things (I think MMM does carpenting or something? On top of running a blog). I also think there are plenty of people for whom that is not true.

I like knowing that I COULD quit. Actually quitting work wouldn't make me happier though, I think. Someone is actually giving me pretty good money for doing things that I enjoy. That seems better than not getting money for doing things that I enjoy, or getting low amounts of money from it. Sure, it does come with those crappy days when I truly dont enjoy what I do, but they are certainly less common than the days when things are nice.

This is a common misconception (love when I get to use that phrase unironically!) about MMM and the early retirement he talks about. What he's really selling is financial independence, as in not having to worry about money so you have the freedom to do whatever you like.

This doesn't mean the stereotypical "retire on a beach somewhere and never do anything again" most people imagine. Instead you don't have to work on anything you don't want to. You can choose what you work on and how often you do so. If you don't feel like it that day, then fine. You have full control over all of your time for the rest of your days.

Want to take up woodworking? Go for it! Want to continue doing freelance coding? You can! It'll only increase your financial independence, and you don't have to take on projects that don't interest you.

It's crazy how most people don't even realize this is an option. Most people are on the old spend all your money, work til you're 65 (or maybe 70 these days) kick. I didn't even realize it until I stumbled upon his blog. Things are sooooooo much better now, and I credit a lot of that to MMM.

You've nailed MMM's actual position. He always talks about his he enjoys doing stuff that looks like work to outside observers.

Exactly. He's even written about the angry emails he receives because people think he's "lying" about being retired and therefore his whole philosophy must be a sham!

The thing is, if you didn't HAVE TO work, you could still spend as many days as you wanted doing what you currently do to make money. But you could also spend as many days/hours as you wanted with the people in your life or traveling the world or playing the violin or just plain sleeping late.

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