When I am (often) bored at my job and daydreaming about my post-FIRE life I muse about how I would like to spend my time. There are a few things I know about myself at now 44-years of age: (1) I like being intellectually engaged; (2) I am an introvert, with an active "inner" life; (3) I like having goals, but only when they're intrinsic; (4) When I'm into something I enjoy I can lose myself for hours in it.
I have done many things professionally in my life. I've always enjoyed writing (reading classic literature, not so much) and I'm an analytic person who likes to study things -- particularly in the social sciences. In college I came to terms that I was essentially a "conventional" person... that I would probably be stressed out trying to eek out a living as a writer, or perhaps I was just too unsure of myself at the time. I was good at it. I went to a liberal arts school, so consider myself "well-rounded" and "well-read." Professionally speaking, however, I took the conventional path and now work as an accounting/finance director at a small company. I have my CPA license.
I really enjoy school, but I am done with grades, tests, standardized exams, and deadlines. I've made it through 7+ years of undergraduate and graduate education, the CPA examination, and too many continuing education "hoops" to count. I was always the "good" student (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude.) I cannot envision a future where I have to study for tests and grades, sit in a chair for hours on end, and jump through more hoops. I want to engage with others but I'm not into seeking their approval, if that makes sense.
Has anyone ever pursued another course of study (either as a non-degree seeking student, or through auditing courses) just for the hell of it in their FIRE years? I am pondering studying English (composition) or perhaps languages/linguistics or perhaps all of the above. I think I would particularly enjoy working in a library (paid or unpaid) and doing some tutoring -- possibly in ESL.
How did you go about it?