Bankerwithabrain
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2008
- Messages
- 78
So I lost my job about 5 months ago (see previous thread) and I've decided to take some time off from work and see how the FIRE'ed life is.
Although my networth now is around $650k (all liquid stocks/bonds/cash) and clearly not enough to really FIRE for life, I figure 30 is a fine age to take a small break from the rat race and try and enjoy life.
The last 5 months have been pure bliss. I haven't missed the stuffy offices once (maybe only the company paid business trips).
The problem i'm facing though is that all my friends pity me because I'm "unemployed". It's pretty awkward. It's true that I am still feeling out the job market for good opportunities - I don't feel like a downtrodden unemployed person.
Close friends basically know that i've saved a lot of money and can live comfortably for the time being on them. But I definitely get the vibe from my acquaintances and new acquaintances that they feel sorry for me - when I just want to tell them (without sounding like a pompous douchy jackass) that I have savings and that I want to live life rather than working.
More importantly - when dating - the "what do you do for a living" is very difficult to answer. On the one hand, I don't want her to pity me as an unemployed person but on the other hand I don't want to have to wip out my bank statements. Women definitely should think about what a future spouses financial life will be like so I don't really blame them for trying to understand mine, but I feel like it's a very fine line to answer.
Has anyone struggled with these issues?
Although my networth now is around $650k (all liquid stocks/bonds/cash) and clearly not enough to really FIRE for life, I figure 30 is a fine age to take a small break from the rat race and try and enjoy life.
The last 5 months have been pure bliss. I haven't missed the stuffy offices once (maybe only the company paid business trips).
The problem i'm facing though is that all my friends pity me because I'm "unemployed". It's pretty awkward. It's true that I am still feeling out the job market for good opportunities - I don't feel like a downtrodden unemployed person.
Close friends basically know that i've saved a lot of money and can live comfortably for the time being on them. But I definitely get the vibe from my acquaintances and new acquaintances that they feel sorry for me - when I just want to tell them (without sounding like a pompous douchy jackass) that I have savings and that I want to live life rather than working.
More importantly - when dating - the "what do you do for a living" is very difficult to answer. On the one hand, I don't want her to pity me as an unemployed person but on the other hand I don't want to have to wip out my bank statements. Women definitely should think about what a future spouses financial life will be like so I don't really blame them for trying to understand mine, but I feel like it's a very fine line to answer.
Has anyone struggled with these issues?