Author Topic: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?  (Read 2935 times)

Retired To Win

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1493
  • Age: 76
  • Location: Virginia
  • making the most of my time and my money
    • Retired To Win
Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« on: May 01, 2015, 06:41:27 AM »
Being already FIRE'd, I take it for granted that I can plan my outdoor activities at will, and change my plans at will, to take maximum advantage of good weather and of less crowded road and store time windows.

Two days ago, I checked the weather forecast (a set part of my early morning routine) and saw that it would be rainy and yucky the following 2 days.  And I had planned to do a hike at some point.  No problem!  I switched my plans around, took my hike that day -- which was beautiful -- and today I am not moaning and groaning about this morning's stormy weather.  Hell, I got my hike in Wednesday!  I'll just blog some more today.

Have you fully visualized what that freedom is like?!  Have you realized what a great part that is of being FIRE'd and not obligated to a job?

rocksinmyhead

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1489
  • Location: Oklahoma
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2015, 06:58:40 AM »
oh god yes. actually grad school was almost like that for me... I mean I did have to work a lot but other than classes and TA duties I could largely make my own schedule. I got SO much more trail running in because I could do it during the day. ugh, just awesome.

rugorak

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 388
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2015, 12:46:34 PM »
Definitely. Probably the biggest for me. I wouldn't even mind having a gig like the Mad Fientist where I could work from wherever I please when I want so long as I get my time/work done. Some day even that would get old but right now I think I would probably be far less motivated to hitting FIRE if I had that flexibility.

KatieSSS

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 433
  • Location: DC
  • "Because of your badassity, babe!" - My GoudaMan
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2015, 01:30:10 PM »
This is my main motivator for FIRE. I absolutely hate being at work when I have finished all of my projects. Today is the perfect example. It is a Friday afternoon and I've done what I need to do. But can I leave? No.

I'd much rather work on "flex time" and that is what FIRE is about for me. It doesn't mean no work, it means pursuing what I want when I want.

Emilyngh

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 901
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2015, 01:58:02 PM »
Being already FIRE'd, I take it for granted that I can plan my outdoor activities at will, and change my plans at will, to take maximum advantage of good weather and of less crowded road and store time windows.

Two days ago, I checked the weather forecast (a set part of my early morning routine) and saw that it would be rainy and yucky the following 2 days.  And I had planned to do a hike at some point.  No problem!  I switched my plans around, took my hike that day -- which was beautiful -- and today I am not moaning and groaning about this morning's stormy weather.  Hell, I got my hike in Wednesday!  I'll just blog some more today.

Have you fully visualized what that freedom is like?!  Have you realized what a great part that is of being FIRE'd and not obligated to a job?

I am not FI, but I have a super flexible job with pretty limited hours required in the office, so I already have this.   Thanks for the reminder about it though.   It's easy for me to forget that this is a unique benefit of my job that isn't the norm.

MandyM

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 543
  • Location: Lexington, KY
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2015, 02:08:44 PM »
Being already FIRE'd, I take it for granted that I can plan my outdoor activities at will, and change my plans at will, to take maximum advantage of good weather and of less crowded road and store time windows.

Two days ago, I checked the weather forecast (a set part of my early morning routine) and saw that it would be rainy and yucky the following 2 days.  And I had planned to do a hike at some point.  No problem!  I switched my plans around, took my hike that day -- which was beautiful -- and today I am not moaning and groaning about this morning's stormy weather.  Hell, I got my hike in Wednesday!  I'll just blog some more today.

Have you fully visualized what that freedom is like?!  Have you realized what a great part that is of being FIRE'd and not obligated to a job?

I am not FI, but I have a super flexible job with pretty limited hours required in the office, so I already have this.   Thanks for the reminder about it though.   It's easy for me to forget that this is a unique benefit of my job that isn't the norm.

My hope is to turn my current job into this for a couple of years. I like my job, but I would love it if I had flexibility. It might take a little strong arming of my regional manager...we will see. I'm planning to have the conversation towards the end of the year, at that point I would consider just quitting if a PT situation can't be worked out.

Krnten

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 102
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2015, 03:52:11 PM »
Yes me too! I'm having a baby soon and really love my job, but don't want to work full time for a few years.  Thanks to FU $ and MMM, I was able to present (diplomatically) my plan to leave or, if at all possible, a Pt option I drafted before meeting with my boss. 

My office culture with top mgmt is very resistant to pt, so this may come to nothing, but at the least I will get to spark and lead a discussion that has been a long time coming: how to keep workers from burning out and leaving, especially the ones with young families.

I've never felt so powerful at work and glad for FI!

choppingwood

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 531
Re: Is/will "flex time" be one of your big FIRE benefits?
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2015, 06:34:02 PM »
I hope so. In winter, I want to walk the dog when it is light out. In summer, I want to do more of my gardening on nice days, instead of bracing myself to work outside on cold, overcast and or windy days, just because they are the one day a week available to do outdoors work. If it is a really cold, and/or snowy day, I want to be able to decide not to go out at all. This last year, I noticed I really, really didn't want to go out in very rainy weather either. We don't get much of that where I live, so I wouldn't be dooming myself to life indoors.

That all being said, the reality is that I'm going to end up busy, with community commitments that will end up happening in bad weather too.

But the dog is going to have to wait until it is light out in winter to get her walks.