Thanks for the great replies! Much more encouraged to read the varied stories and know there are content part-timers out there. It is interesting to read some common themes
I'd be interested in hearing a little more about your semi-ER'd situation.
ESRBob was also catylst for me. That combined with a 12 yr old creating a daily routine factor, a type A personality, and a small biz I started that had run its course. We moved from a Central PA college town to the Outer Banks (NC) so it was a big cultural change. DW is an engineer and luckily negotiated a half time position long distance with her former employer. In spite of occassional trips back to the factory she does enjoy her work tracking the plant manufacturing process and the pay is hard to beat. I think she would like to see it go at least a few more years and then transition to something more local but we'll have to see.
I went cold turkey from starting/running/selling a very small hi-tech startup to rehabbing a small waterfront beach box, to becoming a partime kiteboard instructor. Sounds crazy but it is one of my passions and believe it or not people come from all over the US and abroad to learn kiteboarding at Cape Hatteras, and pay good money to do it. I worried about turning a hobby into a job but much to my surprise the parttime aspect keeps it stimulating. This year I worked with a resort/school, next year I will work independent about 2-3 days/wk during spring-summer-fall. Many years since I ever taught anything and I really enjoy working with people with a strong desire to learn.
We cover about 80% of annual expenses with income but that will drop when DW's position eventually ends. The housing/stock market downturn and a wayward 18yr old has added some mental stress to the transition but it hasn't altered the overall plan of continued parttiming at some level till the younger one graduates HS. We LBYM but living waterfront with dock, boats (small ones), etc, on a spit of sand sticking out in the Atlantic isn't exactly the most conversative approach to ER
. But no regrets on that.
My (obvious) observation has been that even when you get to that envisoned dream situation in life it still takes real effort to be happy and balance it all. Health, family, relationships, work, etc all need regular effort and a positive mental spin. I also tend to beat myself up with shoulda-coulda-woulda's about investing-timing but that gets tiring so I quickly move on. At least I never question the wonderful partner I chose.
The teaching season is winding down and I have a 17' classic daysailor to restore over the winter along with some house finishing and our annual trip to the Keys to fish. It's never perfect but it's a pretty dern good life and if I died tomorrow I'd have no regrets.
Thanks again for the stories and input!