NomadRetiree
Confused about dryer sheets
Hey everyone! I'm so happy to have found this community. I love discussion forums, ranging from reddit to subject-specific ones like this. Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself as I'm about to ingest tons of information on this board, and hopefully contribute a little, too.
My story: I traded in tech stocks in high school and was a millionaire before graduating at age 16, using around $15K that my dad had set aside for me, and investing it in Dell Computer, before Dell was "Dell." I decided to proceed conservatively and experience life like "everyone else" (ie going to college, getting married, having a family, etc.). I didn't really know much better and I wasn't that emotionally stable to make my own, carefully considered decisions. Got a girlfriend ASAP, smoked/drank through college but maintained a solid GPA, got married, went to Harvard Law School (got in legitimately, and paid with cash!), got a job with a top strategy consulting firm, and then: BAM. Burned out of the job, got divorced, had a business partnership (and around $200K) go down the drain, went through some serious depression, had a schizophrenia scare from smoking too much 420.
That was around 5 years ago (wow!) and I've been trying to pick up the pieces and reflect, and experiment, ever since. So thanks for being here.
Ultimately, I've reflected on the fact that without a strong motivation to earn, much of what I've done in the last 15 or so years has been "entertainment" - going to university, getting a law degree, and getting a strategy consulting gig was more for pride/curiosity than for cultivation of a life's craft, and it was a costly process in time and money (and still kind of fun, as I didn't really care about my grades).
Now, I'm getting serious about my health and understanding that, "wait, I'm already basically retired, which is what like 99% of the people around are actively working towards.... why not just accept it, instead of trying to be like everyone else?"
Now I'm taking time to cultivate a Vipassana meditation practice, learn how to remain fit without a gym, become a skilled chef, and basically manage myself and my expenses so that I can maximize my happiness on a modest but guaranteed monthly income. I've learned about the digital nomad movement and can see myself joining it, as I've basically already achieved it, and I'd love to begin acting with more consideration and intention.
In a few months, I plan to leave Austin - I'm not sure where to - but I originally thought that Mexico would be nice, since the dollar goes pretty far there, and now with my routines, I can see myself being happy with very little, for a fairly long time. Does this sound nuts? I hope not.
I'd love to connect with the folks on this message board, and I wish you all the best in your own journeys; if I can help you in any way, I look forward to it. Be well.
My story: I traded in tech stocks in high school and was a millionaire before graduating at age 16, using around $15K that my dad had set aside for me, and investing it in Dell Computer, before Dell was "Dell." I decided to proceed conservatively and experience life like "everyone else" (ie going to college, getting married, having a family, etc.). I didn't really know much better and I wasn't that emotionally stable to make my own, carefully considered decisions. Got a girlfriend ASAP, smoked/drank through college but maintained a solid GPA, got married, went to Harvard Law School (got in legitimately, and paid with cash!), got a job with a top strategy consulting firm, and then: BAM. Burned out of the job, got divorced, had a business partnership (and around $200K) go down the drain, went through some serious depression, had a schizophrenia scare from smoking too much 420.
That was around 5 years ago (wow!) and I've been trying to pick up the pieces and reflect, and experiment, ever since. So thanks for being here.
Ultimately, I've reflected on the fact that without a strong motivation to earn, much of what I've done in the last 15 or so years has been "entertainment" - going to university, getting a law degree, and getting a strategy consulting gig was more for pride/curiosity than for cultivation of a life's craft, and it was a costly process in time and money (and still kind of fun, as I didn't really care about my grades).
Now, I'm getting serious about my health and understanding that, "wait, I'm already basically retired, which is what like 99% of the people around are actively working towards.... why not just accept it, instead of trying to be like everyone else?"
Now I'm taking time to cultivate a Vipassana meditation practice, learn how to remain fit without a gym, become a skilled chef, and basically manage myself and my expenses so that I can maximize my happiness on a modest but guaranteed monthly income. I've learned about the digital nomad movement and can see myself joining it, as I've basically already achieved it, and I'd love to begin acting with more consideration and intention.
In a few months, I plan to leave Austin - I'm not sure where to - but I originally thought that Mexico would be nice, since the dollar goes pretty far there, and now with my routines, I can see myself being happy with very little, for a fairly long time. Does this sound nuts? I hope not.
I'd love to connect with the folks on this message board, and I wish you all the best in your own journeys; if I can help you in any way, I look forward to it. Be well.