The only problem is that now, after running my own business for a few years, I cannot phantom the idea of going back to a regular job. In that sense, my career as an employee is over.
All the niggly details about office work in a big organisation now horrifies me. I had to assist a colleague with a government tender he was submitting last month, and even after one meeting with a government committee, I had to tell him I was out. Just spending a couple of hours in a meeting room with people that had no idea about anything going back and forth and playing politics and power broking almost had me running, screaming out of the room.
Its very similar to another scenario I am in. I haven't had television in our house for nearly 10 years, and every time I go to a friend's place and they have it on, I am astounded by the sheer volume and regularity of nonsense and ads being blared at you. When you are immersed in the situation day to day, it is easy to become numb to it and just accept it - but when you take an extended break from it and then come back, you really notice it.
And don't talk to me about commuting. I have friends that still regularly commute 2 hours each way every day for work. My commute is walking downstairs to my home office. I think of all that time people spend sitting in cars and public transport, and wonder about all the lost creative time they could be spending doing something with.
Or at least getting well compensated for the 1 or 2 hour commute each way. That's a lot of time-money value for a freelancer in a given month. Save on destroying your vehicle, save on gas, save the time, save the hassle & brain numbing commute, live slightly further out and save a lot on real-estate, etc.
It's funny, just seven to ten years ago telecommuting in most of the US was still largely a fantasy premise. Often talked up, but the opportunities were scarce at best for most people. It's finally starting to deliver on the potential.
But for me, even a 25 minute commute (at the time) was too much for me. I know a lot of people who take public transport say they spend the time listening to music, reading a book or taking in podcasts - and that is great.
But for me, if I walk downstairs to my office first thing in the morning and I am not feeling it, I am glad I can reach back and pick up my guitar and play some scales or noodle away to get my brain into focus.
While I work remotely I will try to make savings of at least 300.000 USD in the next few years. These savings will be, for the most part, be invested in index-funds. An average profit of 7% per year should be more than enough to cover our lives expenses. In reality we should be able to live while spending much less, so the index-funds should still increase in value year-on-year.
So in some way I hope to 'retire' before I reach my 40 years of age. So there will be little concern if I will stay employable. At the same time I hope that from then on I can focus on my own projects, just for fun and hopefully some profit.
Even if we ever would separate, I wouldn't want to fight over the house - she can keep it. I would rest easier knowing our daughter has a nice place to stay. I would just buy an apartment somewhere else in Thailand. Apartments can be full property of foreigners.
But of course I do hope we will stay together.
Your landlord can take the property back after 30 years, contract be damned.