It's been a year since I actually created my account, but Ha (rightfully) gave me some grief that my first post included some travel recommendations that the paranoid in me would suspect looks commercial. Since that's not at all the impression I'm looking to create, I guess he successfully guilted me into contributing a bit more. *sheepish grin*
That said, I am not all that comfortable sharing too many details on a public forum, so this won't be a very exciting "Hi, I am..." thread.
General situation is that my spouse and I are married, average out to mid-30s, and no kids although that may change. We are currently on a solid pace towards financial independence, at which point we may re-evaluate our priorities and work more for a cause than for a paycheck.
The wrinkle (and there is always a wrinkle, isn't there?) is that I work remotely for a large corporation out of state. I travel regularly and the routine separation, plus the stress of the job is starting to take it's toll. Since where I work is a much higher COL area than where I live, my salary goes much farther here. Some days I love that we may be able to pull the plug earlier and really do something that matters. Other days, I find myself perusing local job listings and dreaming of a lower stress life without the travel (or money). Sometimes I wonder why I haven't addressed the issue yet and chosen quality of life over compensation; other times, I think that I have it pretty good and this is just my particular version of a mid-life crisis.
There is an obvious solution to this, which we are trying our darndest to accomplish: grow the family. If that happens, my decision is already made, as I will not be an absentee parent. However, until that happens, I continue to work towards financial independence and have an even share of good and bad days at a job I no longer love.
After lurking this long, I'm pretty sure I already know what advice people will give, and it's pretty much the same advice I'd give myself were I reading this. However, knowing the right thing to do is far easier than actually going out and doing it sometimes.
So, that's about it, for now at least. Thanks for providing a great source of advice and community!
That said, I am not all that comfortable sharing too many details on a public forum, so this won't be a very exciting "Hi, I am..." thread.
General situation is that my spouse and I are married, average out to mid-30s, and no kids although that may change. We are currently on a solid pace towards financial independence, at which point we may re-evaluate our priorities and work more for a cause than for a paycheck.
The wrinkle (and there is always a wrinkle, isn't there?) is that I work remotely for a large corporation out of state. I travel regularly and the routine separation, plus the stress of the job is starting to take it's toll. Since where I work is a much higher COL area than where I live, my salary goes much farther here. Some days I love that we may be able to pull the plug earlier and really do something that matters. Other days, I find myself perusing local job listings and dreaming of a lower stress life without the travel (or money). Sometimes I wonder why I haven't addressed the issue yet and chosen quality of life over compensation; other times, I think that I have it pretty good and this is just my particular version of a mid-life crisis.
There is an obvious solution to this, which we are trying our darndest to accomplish: grow the family. If that happens, my decision is already made, as I will not be an absentee parent. However, until that happens, I continue to work towards financial independence and have an even share of good and bad days at a job I no longer love.
After lurking this long, I'm pretty sure I already know what advice people will give, and it's pretty much the same advice I'd give myself were I reading this. However, knowing the right thing to do is far easier than actually going out and doing it sometimes.
So, that's about it, for now at least. Thanks for providing a great source of advice and community!
). Our expenses have doubled but we are FI so we don't care at this point. DW and I are able to spend more time together even though she still has to travel sometimes. We're loving it.
