I'd like some outside perspective because I feel like even the people I love and who really appreciate me don't get some aspects of how I live and the choices I've made. I've been living an unconventional life for many years now without much worry, but for some reason I've been questioning myself and my choices a lot lately, and I'd appreciate some Mustacian feedback on what I'm doing.
I'm 33 years old and haven't really worked hard or been stressed out for more than a few weeks at a time in about seven years. In 2011 I quit my job and went backpacking around Asia for a few years. Then there was the stint in South America and then Central America in-between trips around the US. These days I live in the US, and still do some traveling a few weeks to a month per year.
I own a very modest, fully-paid-off condo which obviously still requires HOA fees and taxes, but my expenses are minimal because that's how I've chosen to live.
I financed my earlier life on the road, and finance my life today, primarily by doing niche health coaching online. My clients value the work I do and I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people overcome their health challenges, but there's no question that I could be working a lot harder and making a lot more money, either this capacity or some other job I could get. I also have a side gig doing some fitness-teaching. I enjoy teaching and it makes me a small amount of money, but it's basically an excuse to travel around the world and meet fun people.
Last year I earned about $16,000 all told while working 15-25 hours a week. It was all unstressful and easy, and done whenever I wanted to do it, not when someone ordered me to do it - very different than my old job.
I have $32,000 saved in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and another $3,000 in taxable investments. I have about $20,000 in savings/checking accounts.
I contribute $2400 a year to my retirement accounts (100% Vanguard total stock market index). I expect that, starting in three years, I will receive a gift of $3-6k per year, depending on market performance, as an "early inheritance," from my mom. I don't count on this as definite, but just noting. I'll invest this income in retirement if it does come.
I quit my job in 2011 for several reasons. First, I was incredibly stressed. Many people would find my old job to be stressful, but I've learned that I don't really cope well with bosses and deadlines, and after four years it was really taking a toll on me and my health. I was very unhappy, and had to escape.
After I quit, it took me a good six months just to unwind. I indulged in my desire to travel, and took up health coaching, which had been a hobby before, to be a traveling gig that could pay my way.
I had some money saved up, so when it came time to settle down a few years ago, I bought my condo.
I live an easy life. I do some good work that has meaning, but don't work too hard to be stressed. I take a lot of leisure/hobby time. I ride my bike, I keep fit, I see friends, I laugh. I feel like I'm already pretty much retired, thought certainly I'm not financially independent.
Things I need feedback on:
- When I quit my job I imagined that I would eventually meet someone I wanted to marry, and maybe have a child. I thought that I'd then need to get another job to make more money to pay for an, "expanded life." But as time has gone on and I've never met anyone who was a serious contender for the long-term relationship crown, I've kind of just settled into my easy life. I don't want to really work at anything stressful again. As much as I'd like to meet a great woman to share my life with, I'm not sure it's worth taking on more stress for, if that's what it demanded. But I have to admit that I may be making myself into a weird hermit. I have plenty of friends, but perhaps I've become too weird for people who want standard relationships. Maybe this is just anxiety about me getting older without making any progress on the love front.
- I sometimes worry about my finances. This https://engaging-data.com/fire-calculator/ fire calculator says that I can have $25k in income by the time I'm 67, even assuming no inheritance/gifts from my mom. Can some financial whizes check my assumptions? I don't feel an urge to rush to FIRE because my life is already good. I'd probably have less enjoyment from life if I ended up without any work to do. I just want a manageable and enjoyable work load.
- I feel like sometimes maybe I should just take on some paid work to keep my mind fresh. Maybe just for perspective on why I don't want a job. Maybe I could even work some manual part time work. It would almost seem alien to have a job. Do FIRED people do this?
- Sometimes I just walk around thinking that I'm missing something. That I'm making a mistake and won't be aware of it till it's too late. Do my actions sound reasonable?
- If I end up receiving 3-6k per year from my mom in a few years, does it make the most sense to put it in a ROTH IRA, since I will not have to pay income tax on it, and it's more accessible there?