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Comment by wiz21c | Hacker News Reader

Right now I work 4 days out of 5. I'm paid 4 and my retirement plan will be 4/5th too. But at the same time, I work on personal projects. I also choose my day off on tuesday. Because tuesday is not an extended weekend, so it's "my own projects day" and it's the first day like that in the week so I'm not tired like I'd be on, say thursday.

I have to work until 67 in my country. So when I'll be off, I'll be way to tired to start new stuff. Moreover, after 50 years old, I'll get a good chance of getting cancer or some other life-changing disease. So I think it's better if I take my time right now...

Final note : this holds because my job is not a dream job, so my return-on-time-investment is weak (I don't consider the ability to buy a big car or around-the-world vacations, or top-notch-phone to be a good return on the time I spend at work)

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I have mentioned to others on HN many times--don't wait until the tail end of your life to do the things you want to do. Practically every low hours boat and low mileage RV has a former owner who "waited too long."

> I have to work until 67 in my country.

I presume you mean you have to work until 67 if you rely on the state to fund your retirement?

Depends how you interpret it. Could also be due to any of the following:

- low wages meaning lower contributions

- low investment returns

- changes to the tax system

- they started contributing signifiant amounts later in life due to other pressures

I'm just following the "system" here. Nothing fancy. I'm not in a situation where I can retire earlier. I could do it, but for that I'd have to make a ton of money, which implies competing with people which may be better at selling themselves than me. I'm afraid I wouldn't perform very well in such context.

Yep, exactly. Additional pension fund is, well, risky :-)

The great thing about having Tuesdays off in NZ is that stat days are usually Mondays - you catch nearly all the stats as paid days and get an extra long weekend.

What's the job? I would like that flexibility.

Your regular IT manager. I work in a private company and my skills are rented to governments. I like it because it's private but the benefit of my work helps others. I worked in other industries and the balance was not like that; it was more my boss makes a ton of money on me, selling stuff that I don't consider much...

i like the idea that tuesday is the day off. Makes sense.

Out of curiosity how do you value yourself? If you are able to have the pinnacle of technology in your hand connected to the global information storage while traveling easily. What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?

I can't speak for the parent, but some people value experiences over things

Given that I'm actually in the former camp due to my love of travel, the way you phrased this is pretty condescending to people who hate spending money on concerts, hotels, airlines, etc.

Additionally, many people who like to buy 'things' are getting them for the experiences they provide. For example, it's hard to argue that someone who buys a VR system or a hot tub isn't getting 'experiences' when they use them with family and friends.

Just something to consider if you ever use this to berate people too 'materialistic' for your tastes.

I'm curious how did you interpret the comment above so negatively? Not clear to me how it was a value judgment or condescending in the slightest.

My experience (in the US, for context) over the past few years is that valued judgement and condescension are far more common than they used to be, so GP may be more inclined to interpret things that way.

I'm not passing any judgement or condemnation. Everyone is allowed spend their money as they like, as well as value what they like. I was more aggravated by the tone of your final two questions "What more do you think this world has to offer you? Do you want servants?" As if one's desire to discover the amazing things our world has to offer is a bad thing...

Very good question.

I value Internet (a lot). But I don't need a phone to reach it. I value being able to move around, but I don't need a Ferrari to do it. I value meeting other cultures, but I don't need these to be 10000km's from my home.

Now as how I value myself, well, I dunno. I'm more interested in how the others value me :-)

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