Hi all. I am not really new here, but I have never done an intro post. So I thought it was time to do one. At the same time, I have an issue about which I would greatly appreciate input from the board. I have really come to appreciate the board and the posters here. There is a lot of wisdom here, and I could really use some of it now.
I am 41 yo attorney. Since graduating, I have paid off all my loans and have managed to sock away about 50-60% of what I think I will need to ER. I expect I would need about another 5-7 years to get to 100%, assuming I stayed at my current position and assuming no chronic market meltdown.
The issue I am confronting is that I feel a need to make a change in my work life. I am just unhappy doing what I am doing. I am temporarily happy on Friday night and Saturday, and am depressed on Sunday evening, as another week is about to begin. But I haven’t really been able to figure out what I want to do. As a result of my ambivalence, I am functioning as a good lawyer, but not an excellent one (as might be the case if I were engaged and enthusiastic about the work).
So, after much angst, I decided that I would like to take a big chunk of time off, anywhere from 6 mos. to one year. I would use that time to do a number of things, including dealing with a few health issues, pursuing personal interests, and perhaps most importantly deciding what I want to do for the "second act" in my life. As an added bonus, I would get to have a little preview of what ER might be like.
It sounds like a fun plan, and it makes me excited just to think about it. But it also makes me nervous and a little nauseated. The financial hit is tolerable. I calculate it will cost me about 45K to do it for a full year, less if I take off less time. (That is out of pocket of course, and does not include the value of the lost salary during this period).
But the money is not what bothers me. What worries me is that the whole idea may just be ill advised. What if, when I am ready to go back to work, no one wants to hear from some unemployed applicant? What if people think I was terminated rather than voluntarily unemployed? What if a future employer thinks it is flaky to just take time off at age 41? Then, as I ponder these questions, I will turn on the news and hear about how the market just dropped 200 points or how we are on the verge of Great Depression II, and suddenly the idea of taking time off seems extravagant and a little nuts. On the other hand, what am I supposed to do – just grind away for another 7 years at something that doesn’t fulfill me?
So, please let me have your honest opinion: is this "sabbatical" idea a smart idea for developing a life plan or an ill-advised indulgence? Has anyone else here done something like this?
I am 41 yo attorney. Since graduating, I have paid off all my loans and have managed to sock away about 50-60% of what I think I will need to ER. I expect I would need about another 5-7 years to get to 100%, assuming I stayed at my current position and assuming no chronic market meltdown.
The issue I am confronting is that I feel a need to make a change in my work life. I am just unhappy doing what I am doing. I am temporarily happy on Friday night and Saturday, and am depressed on Sunday evening, as another week is about to begin. But I haven’t really been able to figure out what I want to do. As a result of my ambivalence, I am functioning as a good lawyer, but not an excellent one (as might be the case if I were engaged and enthusiastic about the work).
So, after much angst, I decided that I would like to take a big chunk of time off, anywhere from 6 mos. to one year. I would use that time to do a number of things, including dealing with a few health issues, pursuing personal interests, and perhaps most importantly deciding what I want to do for the "second act" in my life. As an added bonus, I would get to have a little preview of what ER might be like.
It sounds like a fun plan, and it makes me excited just to think about it. But it also makes me nervous and a little nauseated. The financial hit is tolerable. I calculate it will cost me about 45K to do it for a full year, less if I take off less time. (That is out of pocket of course, and does not include the value of the lost salary during this period).
But the money is not what bothers me. What worries me is that the whole idea may just be ill advised. What if, when I am ready to go back to work, no one wants to hear from some unemployed applicant? What if people think I was terminated rather than voluntarily unemployed? What if a future employer thinks it is flaky to just take time off at age 41? Then, as I ponder these questions, I will turn on the news and hear about how the market just dropped 200 points or how we are on the verge of Great Depression II, and suddenly the idea of taking time off seems extravagant and a little nuts. On the other hand, what am I supposed to do – just grind away for another 7 years at something that doesn’t fulfill me?
So, please let me have your honest opinion: is this "sabbatical" idea a smart idea for developing a life plan or an ill-advised indulgence? Has anyone else here done something like this?
That is tough to hear, but probably spot on. I am feeling I need to do this regardless. And the plan would be something along the lines of what you suggested. Something like 3-6 months of pure time off, followed by a "second half" in which I pursue a career option. Total time off could be 6-12 months total, with 9 months being the most likely. 
