Why do people think we’re/I’m crazy? Lol

[Huntnful]

I’ve brought up the concept of FIRE to quite a few people now, since I’ve been on this path for around 7 months. While some are accepting and eager to hear about it, the MAJORITY thinks it’s crazy and laugh and pretty much say good luck. I had my friend ask if I was going through a mid life crisis hahaha. It just seems so simple and intriguing to me that I’d figure everyone would want to do it. Why work your whole life away just because it’s the normal thing to do?!

[RobbieB]

Because it is the normal thing to do.

Retire at SS Full Retirement Age or 62 soonest.

I'm only a little earlier than early normal at 59.

But hey, I signed up here after I retired -

[Huntnful]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieB Because it is the normal thing to do. Retire at SS Full Retirement Age or 62 soonest. I'm only a little earlier than early normal at 59. But hey, I signed up here after I retired -

That’s awesome you’re retired though!

[ER Eddie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntnful the MAJORITY thinks it’s crazy and laugh and pretty much say good luck.

I think most people just don't believe it can be done. They've gotten themselves too deep in debt, consumerism, lifestyle, and financial obligations. They can't possibly see themselves getting to the point of financial independence. So to them the idea seems "crazy."

Or else, they're just responding out of a sense that you're not behaving like a normal person behaves, like Robbie said. And so it seems nuts to them.

[Just_Steve]

You obviously are talking to the wrong people.

[jazz4cash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntnful I’ve brought up the concept of FIRE to quite a few people now, since I’ve been on this path for around 7 months. While some are accepting and eager to hear about it, the MAJORITY thinks it’s crazy and laugh and pretty much say good luck. I had my friend ask if I was going through a mid life crisis hahaha. It just seems so simple and intriguing to me that I’d figure everyone would want to do it. Why work your whole life away just because it’s the normal thing to do?!

That's ok. You shouldn't go around telling everybody about ER. I don't think it works if everybody does it and there's already too many people out and about during the day when I thought I'd have the stores and roads to myself.

You have to feel out the folks that are receptive to the concept and/or stressed out from w*rk and conspire with them.

[Travelfreek]

I got interested in my financial security in mid-2008 when I was working for a boss who advised me to move my TSP money to G (securities) and out of stocks (C-S-I). I did it and only lost $4k that year out of >$100k. Whew! I took early retirement in March '09 with immediate pension and started work 2 weeks later in a similar position (for State instead of Feds). From there I packed away a lot into both 401k and 457 plans since I had nearly a double income. This went on for almost 7 years! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to feather our nest during the 7 year period. My husband got a substantial promo during his last 5 years of work before retirement so he also packed a lot into deferred comp. We are currently aggressively paying down our house note and already paid down $60k this calendar year (2018) with our frothy IRA money taking advantage of the new lower tax bracket!

Now we'll let the market bubble up again before we make another 20k pmt this year! We've been though the dot com/dot bomb era (lost $7k in that one) so we are just holding steady. Steady wins the race.

[scrabbler1]

You have to have a little bit of outlier mentality in order to retire early. It, along with a lot of other things, goes against what most people do. I actually have a lot of outlier mentality, having many traits and lifestyle choices which go against the norm, so to speak. So, adding ER (at 45, 9 years ago) to that list of things is, simply put, no big deal. And to the people who know me well, it is not a big deal, either.

[brucethebroker]

Some people (who say they do not believe in FI) seem happy to buy and spend. And some others are just jealous and miserable-those guys are the ones who tell you it can't be done. Because they can't/won't.

The whole idea is to do what makes you happy. (Many here are very happy with total FIRE. I prefer semi-RE. I have a great PT hobby job that I enjoy, and the extra money is nice. We now have the time to travel and snowbird. Some here, however, see the PT stuff as more w*rk and say so. But they seem happy and I am happy. What ever floats your boat.)

Take the attitude that those who do not strive for FI will continue to fund your future SS retirement benefits. 'Bless their hearts.....

You are on the right track-keep the faith.

[marko]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just_Steve You obviously are talking to the wrong people.

+1
A lot of people lack imagination.
Even many who can RE don't because they can't visualize life without doing the 9 to 5.

The single one thing that I always hated in life was a "don't bother trying, you can't win" attitude. ( or worse: "THEY won't let you win")

[bclover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just_Steve You obviously are talking to the wrong people.

I really do think it's an American thing. I married into a family that was mainly from Portugal. when I mention ER to my European family, totally different reaction.

The old saying "Americans live to work, while everyone else works to live".

Go for it.

I semi retired at 56 when my mega corp gave me my "please go away nicely" package. I now have a p/t job doing a hobby that I love but will probably only do that maybe one or two more years. I'll definitely be done by 60.

[joeea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntnful It just seems so simple and intriguing to me that I’d figure everyone would want to do it.

Whenever you start to think "everyone would want to do" anything, think again.

IMHO, the secret to life is to always do what makes you and yours happy, and not worry about everyone. That way, you are happy while working and happy while not working.

[cooch96]

I agree with others that it’s a cultural thing. Sports announcers praise the work ethic of players; labor unions praise the ennobling qualities of work; “idle” is still used as an insult, etc.

I suspect it stems from the U.S.’s early, puritanical immigrants and was simply reinforced by wave after wave of following migrants who moved here with the expectation and hope of work.

[exnavynuke]

Why do people think we're crazy? Simply put, because spending is what they know and "retirement is that thing old people do when they can't work anymore".

My sister and her husband have a household income equivalent to mine, but their priorities are such that they'll never retire early. Spending, even while in significant debt, is just "life" to them. They can ask for advice on how to get out of tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt in the same conversation they mention planning on selling their current home (that they needed an 80/20 mortgage to buy in the first place) and buying a bigger place and going on another vacation. That's "normal" for them and, in their minds, that's a perfectly rational conversation..

[Mdlerth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieB Because it is the normal thing to do.

+1

Perhaps if this forum had more carnies and revolutionaries and soldiers of fortune then it wouldn't seem unusual. Those folks are expected to be abnormal.

Alas, ER.org boasts a disproportionate number of engineers and actuaries and such, professions the general public stereotypically regards as nerdy and dull. We are the poster children for living predictable lives. "Retire early? Nonsense! Of course you'll w*rk till 65 because that's what you're supposed to do! Now, back to your cubicle and get on those TPS reports!"

[Huntnful]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrabbler1 You have to have a little bit of outlier mentality in order to retire early. It, along with a lot of other things, goes against what most people do. I actually have a lot of outlier mentality, having many traits and lifestyle choices which go against the norm, so to speak. So, adding ER (at 45, 9 years ago) to that list of things is, simply put, no big deal. And to the people who know me well, it is not a big deal, either.

This is a great view point and puts it into a better perspective. I guess I have always done things outside the norm. That’s probably why it doesn’t seem so crazy to me personally.

[Huntnful]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucethebroker Some people (who say they do not believe in FI) seem happy to buy and spend. And some others are just jealous and miserable-those guys are the ones who tell you it can't be done. Because they can't/won't. The whole idea is to do what makes you happy. (Many here are very happy with total FIRE. I prefer semi-RE. I have a great PT hobby job that I enjoy, and the extra money is nice. We now have the time to travel and snowbird. Some here, however, see the PT stuff as more w*rk and say so. But they seem happy and I am happy. What ever floats your boat.) Take the attitude that those who do not strive for FI will continue to fund your future SS retirement benefits. 'Bless their hearts..... You are on the right track-keep the faith.

Haha thanks for the sound advice! I guess it is what makes me happy, and it actually makes it much easier to go to work. Knowing at some point I’ll decide my end date. I debated on working on my own for the freedom, but after realizing what my high wages, 401k and company match will do for me over a short period of time I felt much better about my current position and outlook!

[Mr._Graybeard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdlerth +1 Perhaps if this forum had more carnies and revolutionaries and soldiers of fortune then it wouldn't seem unusual. Those folks are expected to be abnormal. Alas, ER.org boasts a disproportionate number of engineers and actuaries and such, professions the general public stereotypically regards as nerdy and dull.

Also, lots of retired public employees seem to gravitate to this forum.

[Which Roger]

Retiring requires taking responsibility for structuring one's time and priorities. Having a job takes care of all that for you. So the latter is much easier in that regard.

[Danmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeea Whenever you start to think "everyone would want to do" anything, think again. IMHO, the secret to life is to always do what makes you and yours happy, and not worry about everyone. That way, you are happy while working and happy while not working.

Agree, much too much worrying about what others think. Quite often they aren’t thinking at all.