marko
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2011
- Messages
- 8,509
So, we all tend to agree on what true RE is: no commute, no kowtowing to the idiot boss, no office politics, no BS, your time is your time.
But recent events have me wondering if, with the new work remote, there's a 'new RE' going on out there. "RE without the FI"
For example:
My neighbor sits in the shade by her pool with her laptop 'at work' and, every 45 minutes or so, takes a dip in her pool, walks the dog, waters her flowers and so on.
Neighbor #2 is a corporate lawyer who only goes into the office on Wednesdays. Most days, he plays an early round of golf before knuckling down to his computer for a few hours, goes out for lunch etc.
Nephew #2 graduated from college three years ago, landed a decent job but has never sat in an office; he works from his extra bedroom. He talks with his boss every day but has never met her face to face. Starts each day at the gym downstairs, no commute, no water cooler talk, has a leisurely lunch down the street with some friends.
Niece #1 is outraged that her very high paying job is now expecting her to be in the office 3 days a week. "When will I get to do my laundry, walk the dog, do my food shopping?
In short, I wonder if RE has been redefined a bit. These people a making decent money but do not have all the hassles that made many of us here seek 'a better way of life'.
Not everyone can do this but for those who do, I wonder if this is similar to those here who have RE'd but then took hobby jobs that just had less hassle, more free time, and a better work/life balance.
For sure, MY interpretation of RE is not working at all and being comfortable with it, or at best, a hobby job or volunteer work but that falls more into the FI aspect. But I do wonder if there is a shift in how we define 'retired early'. It LOOKS like RE but you're still 'at work'.
Comments?
But recent events have me wondering if, with the new work remote, there's a 'new RE' going on out there. "RE without the FI"
For example:
My neighbor sits in the shade by her pool with her laptop 'at work' and, every 45 minutes or so, takes a dip in her pool, walks the dog, waters her flowers and so on.
Neighbor #2 is a corporate lawyer who only goes into the office on Wednesdays. Most days, he plays an early round of golf before knuckling down to his computer for a few hours, goes out for lunch etc.
Nephew #2 graduated from college three years ago, landed a decent job but has never sat in an office; he works from his extra bedroom. He talks with his boss every day but has never met her face to face. Starts each day at the gym downstairs, no commute, no water cooler talk, has a leisurely lunch down the street with some friends.
Niece #1 is outraged that her very high paying job is now expecting her to be in the office 3 days a week. "When will I get to do my laundry, walk the dog, do my food shopping?
In short, I wonder if RE has been redefined a bit. These people a making decent money but do not have all the hassles that made many of us here seek 'a better way of life'.
Not everyone can do this but for those who do, I wonder if this is similar to those here who have RE'd but then took hobby jobs that just had less hassle, more free time, and a better work/life balance.
For sure, MY interpretation of RE is not working at all and being comfortable with it, or at best, a hobby job or volunteer work but that falls more into the FI aspect. But I do wonder if there is a shift in how we define 'retired early'. It LOOKS like RE but you're still 'at work'.
Comments?
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