Working to keep a roof over the head of yourself and those you love is an identity. It's social proof that you have value, that you can do something for someone else.
I started work again 3 weeks ago, and I find myself using the time outside of work much better because there is less of it.
I would still love a 30 hour work week, and if I had young children, I am certain that I would cherish time off much more.
The fact that you call it ‘funemployment’ is proof of this, which is perfectly fine if the goal is relaxing between jobs. Plenty of people that work for themselves have no such notion.
It usually takes more than a year even for employees.
I personally am happiest with a structured in person workplace environment, because I struggle with self direction even in a remote 9-5. I have ADHD and struggled to remember/do homework my whole childhood, if that explains anything. In summers or other gaps in employment or school throughout my life, I've often started with ideas of projects or self study I want to do, but they all fizzle out in a week due to lack of discipline.
I'm not undisciplined in every context - I'm a good employee at in person jobs, and I started running in my early 20s and run 15+ miles a week in the cold, rain, and dark, but my discipline just falls apart when I'm trying to fill a whole week.
I think these traits are much more common than happily self-employed or early retired people think.
I'm a software engineer and love thinking about problems methodically. Every time I hear a someone saying that programmers are no longer required (even if I don't agree with that) if feels really bad, it's equivalent to saying that what I do best in life has no value anymore.
To put it on other words: I really like philosophy, but what value do they provide in modern world? Who pays for the work of a philosopher? I think people will start of thinking of programmers like that eventually.
This is a way different sentiment than “programmers aren’t needed anymore” - I’m just seeing ambition, motivation, and fun go up in lockstep.
I first heard this in November and slowly one by one it’s everyone whose opinion I respect.
FWIW the other popular topic is how abysmally stupid and limited these amazing tools continue to be, despite also being magic.
Oh and that none of us have gotten token maxxing to succeed, despite lots of trying.
My own identity certainly isn't "IT manager," nor do I derive life meaning or self actualization from what do to collect a salary to feed myself and have shelter. In fact, my career/job is by far the least important thing in my life, I have it purely out of necessity.
To be fair, it was Puritan propaganda for a long time first.