mdolon

I don't feel dread but I do feel slight unease. I also feel excitement because I am still optimistic about the future, and feel that if we are lucky, we may get to witness something special.

EDIT: To all of those arguing GPT or ChatGPT answers are not great, try using it to write some code before you make any judgement.

Hasn't been updated in ages, need to get back into writing. This is a good reminder to do so!

It depends on the pay, current expenses, etc. For me, it would take 1-2 years on average (US tech job paying base close to $200k).

> Is there a target amount you computed? And how does it translate across living expenses, because I'm not living in Silicon Valley nor America.

This varies based on expenses and needs but generally, I would suggest at least 12 months of runway (for me this would be about $50-60k with some buffer, given that I support my family financially). This may take considerably longer for you if you're not in America.

> Is the prospect of not retiring in your 60s a possibility for you?

I am optimizing for financial security much sooner than 60. While I have an IRA account, it's not something I focus on or think about (or even actively invest into outside of when I have a tech job). I have a very high risk tolerance though, so take that with a grain of salt.

One other thing: taking a break is not the same as giving up. I've tried and failed at multiple startups, taking jobs in between to rebuild my savings. There is always opportunity cost and risk involved in all that we do, you just have to learn to be comfortable with whatever decision you make.

I've tried working on side projects and startups while fully employed in the past and never made any serious progress. It was always too easy for things to drag on for months. For my personality type, I needed the pressure and continuous blocks of focus time to make any meaningful progress.

During 2020 I went through a few ideas and eventually landed on one that has since found some traction. I found a cofounder, went through YC and am now finding our place in a competitive market.

All-in-all, it was a great decision, and one I would do again in a heartbeat.

The Amazon affiliate program is definitely contributing to this problem.