When we convince ourselves we have a better way of Saving / investing / working less / working smarter- we're bound to feel smug about it.
You may be on to something. Although I specifically asked how I can find some common ground with people who don't share my experience.
Maybe the manager was afraid of being late for something, or felt she needed to get onto the next task ?
Yes, definitely she wanted something to happen faster than it was. One out of five men volunteered for the job. Best plan is to tell the one who volunteered to move faster.
If you can leave your unsatisfying job, because you have enough saved / invested, do it - otherwise remind yourself to dial back the smugness.
I don't, so I'll try to be a little more self aware. I do believe the problem is me. Thanks for your thoughts.
Nope. My ideas about money may be different, but I share other common values with my friends. Ideas about serving the community, living a simple, sustainable life, etc. I also share hobbies with my friends -- hiking and enjoying nature, crafting, etc. Being FI has given me a better attitude at work, because I'm not afraid to speak up (politely and respectfully) about difficult issues and play the devil's advocate in meetings. I don't worry about office politics and if someone doesn't agree with me at work, oh well, that's okay. I don't feel any urges to destroy other people's notions about anything. Also, I've found that there are some people at work who are also pursuing FI; they're just not very vocal about it.
I don't disagree with you either. I have no qualms with office politics, or people disagreeing. I couldn't care less. I have plenty of old friends. We don't have any problems. Even if we don't agree on everything. But they are busy. My coworkers are who I spend all my time with. You've heard the saying that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with? The five people I spend the most time with are friendly, helpful, kind, and courteous. You know what? Never mind. I recently switched shifts and I really like everyone I work with. Although the job is extremely unfulfilling, it's rewarding in other ways.
That makes you sound so one-dimensional. Why does financial independence permeate every aspect of your life?
Ok. I never said that financial independence permeates every aspect of my life. You want to talk about something else? Isn't this a FI forum? Seems the logical place to ask. One dimensional? That's a rhetorical question mark.
Despite what the internet and cable TV tells you, you can have great relationships with people who don't share your religious/political/favorite sports team/finanical independence/etc/etc/ beliefs.
I haven't had cable TV in over 25 years. But it's good to know I can't depend on it. As for the internet, I ask my questions and I get my answers. It's up to each of us to collate the available data and make decisions based on it.
My suggestion is a few hobbies.
I hardly see how getting a hobby would help me find common ground with my coworkers, neighbors, or friends. It might help me make new friends. But with a 60 hour night shift work week, it seems a little pie in the sky. I do have an awesome hobby that almost nobody is interested in. I'm very active on the internet with that hobby. But we can't hang out, you know? Everybody has jobs and kids. Everybody is spread out across the world. They aren't my neighbors or coworkers. I do have a good time there. Nobody THERE ever called me one dimensional. LOL Please know I'm just teasing with you.
Be less concerned or interested in other peoples financial status
I genuinely couldn't care less about anyone's financial status, but my own. I don't really see where I gave that impression. Other than the fact that I cannot understand the never ending whine bag nonsense I hear from people who've been making close to six figures for two decades and won't even buy a new pair of boots to cover their worn out socks, that they can be reimbursed for annually. Yet want to ask ME about taking 401K loans out for $60k trucks.
Thanks so much to those of you who took some time to consider my questions, and formulate some responses. I did try very hard not to defend myself from the suggestion that I am a smug, slothful, one dimensional Scrooge McDuck who believes he's secretly getting over on everyone, while simultaneously being talked about behind his back. Although I wouldn't be terribly surprised if someone HAS said that I'm not much of a go getter. I've tried to explain this concept before to people. It never seems to work out, but we'll try again anyways. My job requires brain work, followed by manual labor. If you begin with the manual labor, you will do three to five times more of it than if you begin with the brain work. Moving fast for the sake of moving fast is wasted effort.
Put another way: When you take your car in for repair. Do you want the mechanic to jump from his chair, run to your car, whip open the hood, and start ripping things out? Or would you like him to collect as much information as possible about the problem, as deliberately as possible, before he makes a move? Do you want him to empty the gas tank, swap out the radiator, and rotate your tires before you tell him your seatbelt isn't latching correctly? Deliberate, focused, and somewhat slow looking work is the key to efficient repairs. And lifting heavy things is sometimes required. With two broken vertebrae and a hernia, please understand I will approach heavy lifting with caution.
As for my comment about destroying notions, please forgive a little artistic description for entertainment value. I'm not a child. Although I do tend to react rapidly to impositions on my walking pace. It is what is is, as they say. Tortoise and the hare, if you will. I'll walk slower and fix faster than most people I know. I've got references to prove it.
Oh look at that. I failed to not attempt to defend myself. Darn. I'm sure I've convinced you all that you were wrong about me. HA! (that's sarcasm) I hate to type that out, but it's hard to write and be received the way you intended. I'm sure you all understand.
Anyways, I honestly do thank you all. You've all definitely given me some things to think about and consider. We don't always get the answers we want to hear, but perhaps there's some wisdom there that I needed to read from someone else's perspective. If a simple paragraph long question gave me so many negative labels, just imagine what people who actually KNOW me think! I might be unbearable! SO....Thank you all again. Have a great week, and I wish you all the best on your journey.