Doesn't appeal to me at all.
I do appreciate that he's doing what he wants to do. That's awesome.
I think, in general, that won't "click" with most people though, and won't "speak" to them the same way a story about someone like the GoCurryCracker folks would. Travel is appealing to a lot more people than rollerblading all day.
The just see this as odd, meaning it doesn't really help spread the FI/think for yourself message, necessarily.
Glad he's happy though.
Because you are viewing it through your own subjective lens (i.e., "why would a guy just rollerblade all day?"), and are largely missing the point. This guy is doing what HE wants. He eschewed the mindless accumulation of things when he realized the futility in doing so, and sought a simple lifestyle that makes HIM very obviously happy. He doesn't give a shit what anybody else thinks of HIS choice, because it's none of their business. Whether or not you or I would choose the same path is irrelevant -- you pursue what makes you happy, I'll pursue what makes me happy. It could be surfing every day, or volunteering, or traveling, or playing bridge -- whatever floats your personal boat. I think this guy embodies the essence of most people's FIRE dreams and motivations, and we should all be so lucky to find something that satifies us so deeply. I think he is 100% badass for doing what he does (and hope to hell I have his kind of fitness and mindset when I'm 69!).
(Emphasis added.)
Apparently you completely misunderstood my post.
I'm not missing the point. I'm not viewing it through my subjective lens. I completely understand why he wants to rollerblade all day.
Read the second sentence I wrote. Compare it to what you said, that I bolded. Our posts had the same point, you just kept going with it. I instead went a different direction onto a new point, because I didn't feel like here - on the MMM forums - I needed to belabor that part of it. I think 90%+ of us here would agree with your post. In fact, that's what most (all?) of the thread replies had been so far. So I added something else to consider after acknowledging his badassity.
I may try to reexplain my point if you can acknowledge that, otherwise I don't see much point in arguing about it.
The guy is doing awesome. I have nothing but respect for him.