I was an academic, which may sound ideal, but believe me, is not.
I have really ramped up my art production, which was an aspect of my academic production. I am getting $1,000, all of which has long been spent, for a show this summer. It's a big one and I am being more ambitious than I would have been as an academic. I am curating a show next year as well. Both shows are overseas, in a country I have dual citizenship in and together are the two most important spaces there.
I am gardening a lot. We hired a landscape designer three years ago. Everything she planted died. Except for the things we didn't want that she substituted. So we are educating ourselves as to what is in the garden and planting stuff ourselves. We have .75 of an acre so it's a bit of space. I wish I could grow crops but deer take care of that for us.
I am still teaching one class a semester overseas. This plus the shows and some other lecturing gives me about $30k of income. I can deduct the toys (computers, car, cameras, synthesizers) I use in my exhibits against that.
Oh and I am still trying to figure out what to do financially. We have been interviewing wealth managers and are al last certain to go to Fidelity, but it has been interesting to see what they will come up with. Wealth management is what my mom had prior to dying last year although we added substantially to it last year as well with a property sale all still in cash.
My wife takes care of our kids, gardens with me, is engaged with stuff at her congregation.
I wish we had more time!
And so it goes.