For those of you who love your jobs...

[Hijinks]

What do you do? And do you plan on retiring once FI?

[cdttmm]

I'm an adjunct faculty member at a local community college.

This is my post-FI, retirement gig. I worked corporate gigs (mostly operations/finance type stuff) pre-FI. I retired at 36, but couldn't make it stick -- I like some of the structure that comes with having a job. I liked my pre-FI corporate gig (for the most part), but I was fairly disenchanted with my post-FI start-up gig, so I left. I started teaching as an adjunct as a side gig about 18 months before hitting FI. Getting back into it was relatively easy, plus I'd acquired another master's degree by that point, which provided me with additional teaching opportunities. I'll probably quit and fully retire eventually, but at this point it's funding some non-essentials and helping to create a little financial buffer while my partner grows his newest business. I've got two possible operations/finance opportunities looming...we'll see where they go.

We're child-free by choice and have always structured our work lives to provide us with ample free time to pursue hobbies and the like. As a result, neither of us has felt like work has really gotten in the way of doing the stuff we love. Sure, from time to time work is an annoyance or inconvenience, but we've known for quite some time we could just walk away and say eff it if we really needed to.

[Workinghard]

I do love my job--home health nurse. My husband wants me to retire when he does in 18 months. I want to work another year FT, after he retires, to transition and avoid pulling down our investments. After that I may go per diem so I have control over my schedule. Even PT would help until we can start getting some SS.

[SondraRose]

Self-employed life coach.  I will keep working until I am no longer able to!

[Freedom2016]

Partner in a boutique consulting firm. I'm 40. No specific plans for retiring early, just aiming for FU/FIRE money. Like what I do, have lots of autonomy (can ramp work up/down in any given year), no quotas I need to meet, and growing equity in the firm. Pretty happy with this gig.

[Datastache]

Unfortunately, it's my love of my job that's my biggest obstacle between me and FI. I often refer to myself as being addicted to it, and it's not much of an exaggeration. This would be a "good problem" if I were making decent wages, but I most certainly don't. The upside is that I'm insanely frugal and I find my work rewarding...

[Hijinks]

Thanks, everyone. Very helpful and informative to know. I ask because I'm most certainly not in love with my job, and that's a huge driving force behind my frugal/saving ways. I can honestly only think of one thing that I like about my job: It pays quite well. But staying with a job that you hate just for a decent paycheck is a surefire way to misery. I'm at the point where I really need to pursue something else (probably in the same field, but in a different capacity).

It's interesting to see that everyone who has responded so far seems to work in a field that involves a lot interaction with others. (I usually sit in my office the majority of the day surrounded by piles of paper). Definitely something to consider as I think about next steps.

Datastache: Do you mind me asking what your line of work is?

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

[horsepoor]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I'm an ecologist with the fed.  I wouldn't say I LOVE my job, but I do like it most of the time.  However, I love my free time more.  I feel like having more FI will allow me to take advantage of any options that might come up in the future for reduced hours or ERing and doing part time consulting, and/or focus on the parts of my work I enjoy the most.  I also don't have any intention of moving on from my current position within the confines of my agency, so I'd rather not be one of those crusty old farts who's been in the same job for far too long and gotten too set in my ways.   

[kudy]

I love my job, but often feel strangled by the arbitrary need to be at the office a certain number of hours per week during certain times. At least once a week I think, "if I was RE right now, I could..."

I believe that the structure of a job is actually restricting me from exploring more "side hustle" work/businesses that could easily be a full time job, but on my own terms. And... if I didn't have to worry about earning a living with my crazy ventures, I would have room to really have fun. That's why I hope to work for someone else for ~10 more years and then make the shift.

[taekvideo]

I'm loving my new work-at-home programming job... lots of fun and I can work pretty much whenever I want.
If I'm still working it in 4-5 years when I have the stache to retire I may not want to... but you never know :)

[lifejoy]

I love my job (family owned, independent high-end jewellery store). I consider it my hobby that pays ;)

[bmedgt]

I'm currently a resident physician (training in urology) - still working on the student loans, living with a roommate, etc for now. The loans should be gone within 3 years, and I anticipate a significant raise in 2 years when I finish residency. This should allow me to bump up my ~30% savings rate to ~80% and be FI before age 40. Not sure what I plan to do then, but I don't want to quit working. Maybe I will find something part-time or do something unconventional (medical missions, open a low-cost clinic, etc).

[greaper007]

My wife likes her job, so she can work and I'll stay home.

[Nords]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I loved my job, but I love spending time with family more. 

The job's "dissatisfiers" also drove me nuts-- rush-hour commutes, (mostly) rigid hours, unpaid overtime, department-head meetings, uniforms, mandatory socializing, budget meetings, performance rankings...

1992:  "Your Money Or Your Life". 

[Workinghard]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I loved my job, but I love spending time with family more. 

The job's "dissatisfiers" also drove me nuts-- rush-hour commutes, (mostly) rigid hours, unpaid overtime, department-head meetings, uniforms, mandatory socializing, budget meetings, performance rankings...

1992:  "Your Money Or Your Life".

Ditto on the family time. I don't know, Nords. I love uniforms! Mine are about $30 for a set, are comfortable, have lasted, and eliminated what to wear. :)

What I don't like about my job is the weekend push. Less nurses=more patients. Part of that is my fault because I'm on Fri-Sun Baylor plan. During those days I'm supposed to see 26 patients. Last weekend it was 31 as a nurse had a family emergency.

It's funny. Now that I'm FI (I think), it's almost like I can do whatever I want at work and they have different rules for me. They usually consult with me on the weekend schedule. Course that's a benefit for them, and back fires for me, as I end up taking more patients than they would probably give me--to help out. If I want to keep patients, I can. If I want to give them to another nurse to follow up with, I can. I don't have to sign out supplies because they know I charge them out. I'm actually starting to feel a little guilty and I hope the other staff members don't pick up on preferential treatment. I also got a 10% raise when it was frozen for others.

The more I think about it though, the more I'm planning on going Per-diem when my husband retires. The challenge will be keeping my per diem hrs down or I might as well work FT and keep contributing to my 401k.

[Albert]

I'm a research scientist. I don't like every part of my job (like waking up at 6:30-7:00), but mostly it's a good place to be. High salary, intellectually challenging, enough responsibility but not so much that paper work is all I do, lot's of autonomy. No plans to retire early, but I'd like to be FI before I'm 50 (late 30-ties now). It would be very difficult to find another job paying this much after that age. Our company seems to be stable right now, but who knows in 10 years...

[expatartist]

What: Artist-in-Residence
Why I love it: Excellent pay and benefits [for the field, not much compared to a bunch of engineers ;) ], loads of supplies and space and time to do my artwork - work I did anyway without getting paid for it previously. More stimuli than I got working on my own for years, and the resources to make projects happen. Challenges of designing projects for others while incorporating 'what I do' into them.

Why FI in ~6 years if I love this? I will want more flexibility for the future. Even though I could theoretically change cities or countries with every two year contract, there are a very limited number of these positions available. Also, this kind of job will lose its appeal once I pass my mid-40s - it's designed for younger, more hip, photogenic artists. The creative industries are just as image-based as anything you'll find in Hollywood.

[Nords]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I loved my job, but I love spending time with family more. 

The job's "dissatisfiers" also drove me nuts-- rush-hour commutes, (mostly) rigid hours, unpaid overtime, department-head meetings, uniforms, mandatory socializing, budget meetings, performance rankings...

1992:  "Your Money Or Your Life".

Ditto on the family time. I don't know, Nords. I love uniforms! Mine are about $30 for a set, are comfortable, have lasted, and eliminated what to wear. :)

Well, I like the coveralls.  But summer whites, khakis, service dress blues, full dress blues/whites... and don't get me started on "aquaflage".

It seems unusual to be a nurse who loves the job.  My impression (around Oahu, anyway) is that they burn out quickly and there's a widespread shortage on all the islands.

[jgrafton]

My family and I moved to silicon valley a few years ago when I was offered a job with a large tech firm.  I've been an IT guy for roughly 20 years and still love the work even though it can be time consuming and stressful.  Biking to work everyday (~7 miles) and donning a "silicon valley uniform" everyday (jeans and a T-shirt) help to level out the stress.  Frankly, I don't know what I'd do with myself if there wasn't a computer issue needing my attention somewhere in the world.  Also, despite the expense, CA is a damn nice place to live.

[stlbrah]

My wife likes her job, so she can work and I'll stay home.

I see this trend a lot this days. Women who are really into their careers. My ex was like that, was kinda nice, until she wanted to relocate to one of the most expensive suburbs in the country.

[Travis]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I loved my job, but I love spending time with family more. 

The job's "dissatisfiers" also drove me nuts-- rush-hour commutes, (mostly) rigid hours, unpaid overtime, department-head meetings, uniforms, mandatory socializing, budget meetings, performance rankings...

1992:  "Your Money Or Your Life".

Ditto on the family time. I don't know, Nords. I love uniforms! Mine are about $30 for a set, are comfortable, have lasted, and eliminated what to wear. :)

Well, I like the coveralls.  But summer whites, khakis, service dress blues, full dress blues/whites... and don't get me started on "aquaflage".

It seems unusual to be a nurse who loves the job.  My impression (around Oahu, anyway) is that they burn out quickly and there's a widespread shortage on all the islands.

The sheer number of uniforms that Navy and Marine personnel have to own is mind boggling.  I suppose the upside is you don't put nearly as much bling on yours as we do in the Army.  Generally speaking I love what I do, I'm good at it, and I've made a difference, but there are many days where I'm reminded it's a very thankless job which can make it a drag.  I say that from within the Army itself, not how the outside world views it (Your commander doesn't give communications a second thought until it stops working).  I've missed the majority of my marriage and I'm missing my son growing up, but I'm also doing very well financially to take care of them.  I'm far enough in that I'll go until retirement, but I can easily see myself FIRE shortly after or take something part time.

JGrafton, I was raised in Sacramento and I would love to retire there if the cost of living wasn't so damn high compared to other places I'm looking at.

[Nords]

I suppose the upside is you don't put nearly as much bling on yours as we do in the Army.

Yeah, but I've always been jealous of the cavalry cowboy hat that my cousin the Army Ranger gets to wear to the military balls...

[Travis]

I suppose the upside is you don't put nearly as much bling on yours as we do in the Army.

Yeah, but I've always been jealous of the cavalry cowboy hat that my cousin the Army Ranger gets to wear to the military balls...

I was in the 1st Cav for a couple years and that was a fun little perk.  I attended a Marine Corps ball while in the Cav and wore my stetson to the event.  Many of my Marine coworkers had heard of the tradition, but never really saw it in person.  I think Marine dress blues are very impressive, but I didn't think I'd get so much attention for my hat.

[oldtoyota]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

I loved my job, but I love spending time with family more. 

The job's "dissatisfiers" also drove me nuts-- rush-hour commutes, (mostly) rigid hours, unpaid overtime, department-head meetings, uniforms, mandatory socializing, budget meetings, performance rankings...

1992:  "Your Money Or Your Life".

I feel fortunate that I have few rush hour commutes anymore. My hours are fairly flexible. When I've had to work OT, my boss has told me to take a day off at a later point. We have no mandatory socializing.

All of the above are some reasons why working is not that bad.

I guess I am lucky! I work in a job that helps people, and that keeps me motivated.

My main reason for wanting to leave is that companies seem to lay people off fairly frequently. Seems to me like 2008's recession opened the flood gates for companies to hire too many people only to lay them off a year or so later. That seems like poor planning to me. The bottom line is that I no longer want to be a part of that fiasco--and it's not specifically where I work now. I see that hire people/lay them off situation going on at a lot of organizations.

When I am FIRE, that will no longer be a concern!

[Primm]

It seems unusual to be a nurse who loves the job.  My impression (around Oahu, anyway) is that they burn out quickly and there's a widespread shortage on all the islands.

Depends on the speciality. I developed a major case of burnout working in adult surgical, then I moved to NICU. No physical pain (backs and legs) because let's face it, the patients are pretty light! And apart from the occasional sucky family, most of the time the work is fulfilling and satisfying. Even the crappy parts, like when the babies don't make it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride that no other job I've ever had has done.

[Workinghard]

It seems unusual to be a nurse who loves the job.  My impression (around Oahu, anyway) is that they burn out quickly and there's a widespread shortage on all the islands.

There's a lot of different factors involved. I took a 10 yr hiatus after years of ICU/ER nursing and then hospital supervisor. I've been doing home health nursing for a couple of years now and love it. It's more relational, more autonomy, and patients are so appreciative of your help. It's a more holistic type of nursing, and I view it as a ministry. The hardest part is closure when home health service is over. I let patients know they can call me anytime even though I'm officially discharging them. Sometimes I'll call just to see how they're doing and to follow up.

When my mom died, one of my patients sent me a card which is more than some of my coworkers did. Although to be fair, I see patients more frequently than other nurses  since home health, by nature, is a solo type of job.

As far as stress or negatives, it's self induced. I don't like being late and I don't like other nurses seeing my patients and I put the needs of the patients first. This weekend I saw another nurse's patient. Rather than her go to yet another nurse tomorrow, due to her primary nurse being off, I squeezed her into my schedule per her request. It's also hard for me to say no at work. All that aside, I guess it's the people, versus the job, that I love. And I am so not a people person. Lol.

[Calvawt]

I am a CFO for a non-profit health care company (14 clinics).  I plan on retiring in about 8 years at age 45.  While working at a large non-profit can be stressful, helping people get access to quality healthcare is rewarding, so I love my job about 90% of the time.

Next week I am presenting a financial acumen course to about 30 of our employees that covers credit scoring, budgeting, and retirement.  While it will be more basic education on how to get started and not be afraid of money, I would love to continue doing that kind of financial education when I retire.  As a consultant or as a volunteer, I would do it either way!

[jprince7827]

I'm CTO of a medical exam website, started it a few months ago after having them as a client for ~7 months in my side hustle and they offered me 2x the salary at my previous job + similar equity. I work remotely and I really like my job. I think after I get FI I may start freelancing again maybe 20 hrs/week, which easily gives me a 30% savings rate with my expenses if I move out of Chicago. I also may only achieve 70% of FI then just go part time freelancing/remote for the next 10 years. Haven't decided yet.

If the equity works out, I'll be FI in probably 10 years. We were making 150k/year in January but now we're making 1.4M so I think the startup has a good shot. If it doesn't, more like 15-17. I'm 26 though, so it's not a huge deal, I only started this Mustachian thing 2 years back.

Unfortunately this year all my savings rate is going to pay for a 26,000$ wedding. Unfortunately fiance has a 175 member immediate family(she's Mexican) and with my family it makes for quite a large reception. An entire year wiped away in a single day :(. I'd ask how to avoid it with the Mustachians on here but they always seem to just say "dump her," which is kind of stupid imo. She's not a Mustachian and wouldn't have any of my cheap wedding suggestions, unfortunately. I love her enough that I'll give her the expensive wedding.

[greaper007]

My wife likes her job, so she can work and I'll stay home.

I see this trend a lot this days. Women who are really into their careers. My ex was like that, was kinda nice, until she wanted to relocate to one of the most expensive suburbs in the country.

Nah, the trend has always been there.   The difference is that the environment actually allows women to work if they want to.    I'd consider my wife a genius in her field, she runs her own business and sets her own hours.   Sometimes she works late, but then she'll also take a weekday off for a school function for our kids.    She finds the work interesting and challenging, and she's taking steps to allow the company to run more hands off.    Hopefully it will allow us to have even more time together while still pulling down a decent salary.

Me, I was an airline pilot spending upwards of 2 weeks on the road at a time when I had a newborn at home.   Couple that with low pay, bad working conditions and then a crash at our company where a friend died, and I said "this isn't worth it."   I know I'd probably be making $130,000+ right now if I stayed with it, but I don't regret becoming a SAHD 5 years ago.

[Dee18]

Professor.  Love it. 

[missj]

I am a dental hygienist. 

Love is a strong word but I really really like my job.  Let's put it this way, I cannot think of anything I'd rather do that pays any kind of decent wage...and I don't think I'd like to be 100% retired and never earn any new money.

The part I don't like is being required to work 40 hours a week.  But at my awesome company with amazing benefits and retirement package the only options are to work 40 hours a week, or to be "on-call" where you just cover vacations and ill call and are not guaranteed any work.

So, my plan is to get to FIRE status ASAP and then go from full time to on-call where I won't sweat it if I don't get called in for a week or more.  I can take off every sunny day, every holiday weekend, whatever I want.

Best of both worlds, IMO.  Can't wait.  Looks like I am a minimum of 7 years away from going on call and a maximum of 15 years away.

[Left]

I like my job as a med tech, can't say I love it yet since I'm still new at it (only been doing it for 4 years). I can't say I love my employer but my plan in a year or so is to take up a traveling position. Then I'll be able to see the country for about 10 years (if I can handle it, if not I'll take up a full time position somewhere) until I FI. After that I'll spend half my time traveling and work 1 or 2 contracts (13 weeks/contract) a year just to keep myself in "working" shape. With the short 13 week contracts, I'm hoping in my 10 years of traveling, I'll be able to hit up most of the 50 states and by the time I FI, I'll have a good idea where I want to settle down too at the old age of 40, but I really want to ER at 45 for extra buffer money.

@missj, could you take up contract jobs like I will, instead of PRN? Minus the travel if you don't want to, you don't get benefits but once FI, it shouldn't matter that greatly. I get why PRN is attractive though, I'm using it in the accumulation phase though, PRN rate = overtime rate for me since I don't get benefits. I work 20 hours (part-time) for same benefits, then PRN for other 20 hours and I come out ahead then a standard 40/hour full time job.

@everyone else: lol, looks like there's enough of us healthcare workers that will FI in about the same time; seems like around 10 years +/- a few years, we could always setup shop somewhere. I wouldn't mind joining something like the peace corp but I'd rather stay inside US to help here first. Cheap healthcare with MMM advice to help the country? and with being FI, we'd only need to cover the running cost, and not make a profit for ourselves...

[Albert]

I am a dental hygienist. 

Love is a strong word but I really really like my job.  Let's put it this way, I cannot think of anything I'd rather do that pays any kind of decent wage...and I don't think I'd like to be 100% retired and never earn any new money.

How about being a dentist? I occasionally wonder that about nurses as well. Are there many who wish they were doctors instead?

[missj]

Since all of you like your work, what drove you to Mustachianism? What role does it play in your plans for the future? A general desire for simplicity and financial security or something else? I've never been a big spender, but my feelings toward my job put my frugality into overdrive. It makes me wonder what my perspective on finance would be if I liked my job and planned to keep at it for the long haul.

If I'm being truly honest with myself and y'all I am an obsessive control freak.  I also like to be prepared for anything and everything (which I realize is not truly possible).  I want to still be able to have a good life if the market tanks, if the market booms, if the polar ice caps melt, if I become disabled, whatever.  I want to have my bases covered. 

Money makes most of those things possible.  I don't think money buys happiness, but I think money opens up the most options to make your own happiness possible.   I have an emotional need to be the master of my own destiny, and if I choose to keep working then fine.  But right now the fact that I NEED to work weighs heavily on my soul (even though I like the work, I don't like being dependent on it).

@missj, could you take up contract jobs like I will, instead of PRN? Minus the travel if you don't want to, you don't get benefits but once FI, it shouldn't matter that greatly. I get why PRN is attractive though, I'm using it in the accumulation phase though, PRN rate = overtime rate for me since I don't get benefits. I work 20 hours (part-time) for same benefits, then PRN for other 20 hours and I come out ahead then a standard 40/hour full time job.

contract jobs don't exist for dental hygienists at least not that I'm aware of.  In fact, even the on-call work is not usually available except with this particular company I happen to already work for.

Normally hygienists are expected to see the same patients on the same days of the week for years and years.  Finish the patient, book them back on your own schedule 6 months from now.  Don't get me wrong, the perks outweigh the drawbacks, but usually ALL vacation requests must be submitted and approved 7+ months in advance (unless you work for a company like I do that has on-call replacement for just such things).  So it's either all in, or on-call.  Bonus with my company is if I average 20 hours a week working on-call I still get benefits, so that's what I'll eventually shoot for.  I'm sure sometimes I'll go into COBRA status and I'll have a stash for that...

[missj]

How about being a dentist? I occasionally wonder that about nurses as well. Are there many who wish they were doctors instead?

I get asked this a lot, but I don't have any desire to become a dentist and I don't wish that I was.

The educational paths are completely different. so even though most nurses and hygienists go to college for 4 years and most doctors and dentists go to college for 8 years, the nurses are not half way to being doctors.  If I were to pursue dental school it would be 8 more years of school, and as such the full student loan debt that dentists get saddled with (~$200k usually) with no credit for time served.

I take a year of chemistry, and the dentist takes a year of chemistry but MY chemistry won't count towards the dental requirement and the dentist's chemistry won't count towards the dental hygienist's requirement.  It is like this with basically all the math and science requirements for both medicine and dentistry.  There is some overlap for general classes like "writing" and "speech" and  electives but the core curriculum does not transfer.

It's a stupid system and it is part of the reason healthcare is so expensive.  If it were 1 single staircase that you could get on and then just climb little by little and work your way up until you got as high as you desired then I think healthcare would be cheaper for everyone and there would be more of a team approach to patient care because so many people higher on the staircase  knew exactly what it was like to be lower on the staircase.  I think healthcare workers would be happier and more likely to land in the jobs that are best suited to them, and patients would get better and cheaper care.  Instead, you must choose at about 18 or 19 years old WHICH staircase you want to start ascending and if later you want to change your mind then you have to go all the way back to the bottom and go up a new staircase.

[Workinghard]

Shudder at the thought of being a doctor. When I was younger, I thought about being a physician's assistant but wasn't accepted into the program the one year I tried. Turned out to be a good thing. Like missj explained--totally diffetent educational path.

[dcheesi]

I like my job (don't know if I'd say 'love'), and I have no plans to leave it. For one thing, they still believe in a 40 hour work week (mostly), which is rare in software fields these days. Overall it's a very laid back office culture (especially for the east coast). And the work is enjoyable enough.

That said, I feel it's important to be FI by 50, just in case I get laid off. Tech industries are particularly bad about de-facto age discrimination, and folks over 50 often have a hard time finding a new job in their career field. I'd rather not have to worry about it at that point.

[Primm]

How about being a dentist? I occasionally wonder that about nurses as well. Are there many who wish they were doctors instead?

Not on your life! If I'd wanted to be a doctor I would have. They are totally different careers. It's like saying "what about engineers. Are there many who wish they were architects instead?"

[sol]

There are parts of my job I don't like very much, but then there are weeks when I absolutely love it.

This past week I was paid to climb Mt. Rainier and explore the ice caves under the summit crater.  In the name of SCIENCE!

[gimp]

Electrical engineer / whatever. FI means being able to be very picky about jobs and coworkers and only do what I want. It doesn't ever mean not working... at least not for a great many years.

[kudy]

There are parts of my job I don't like very much, but then there are weeks when I absolutely love it.

This past week I was paid to climb Mt. Rainier and explore the ice caves under the summit crater.  In the name of SCIENCE!

Holy shit that's awesome! That is a really cool looking ice formation.

[oldtoyota]

I like my job (don't know if I'd say 'love'), and I have no plans to leave it. For one thing, they still believe in a 40 hour work week (mostly), which is rare in software fields these days. Overall it's a very laid back office culture (especially for the east coast). And the work is enjoyable enough.

That said, I feel it's important to be FI by 50, just in case I get laid off. Tech industries are particularly bad about de-facto age discrimination, and folks over 50 often have a hard time finding a new job in their career field. I'd rather not have to worry about it at that point.

This.

[daveydinner]

Love my job. General Manager of a small company of 20, doing great things for the world (fancy bicycle business, probably too expensive for folks on this forum though.. definitely not frugal purchases). We have great benefits and our staff all WANT to work here. I get kinda antsy not working.

My goal is to retire at 42 but stay on at my job, which I love, as a part timer. We've got two guys here in "encore careers." One is our wheel builder. He builds wheels at home and brings them in twice a week. The other is our head mechanic/assembler. Both retired from long corporate careers and don't need the money. I think they would be too bored otherwise. I see myself in a similar position. Being FI, but having fun with people I love and helping keep the business running for the others. Dedicating more time to my other passion of music.

[Spartana]

FIRE'd many years now but loved both my adult jobs - Coast Guard doing uber cool stuff, and then gov.  job as an Environmental Compliance Officer. Loved the "job" part of my job (i.e. what I did), but not the other things (politics, co-workers, bosses, etc...) that come along with it. Although I liked the uniforms - garage mechanic blues ...or coveralls :-)! Or occasionally in hot weather we'd get to dress like an armed Fed Ex driver.

[Spartana]

There are parts of my job I don't like very much, but then there are weeks when I absolutely love it.

This past week I was paid to climb Mt. Rainier and explore the ice caves under the summit crater.  In the name of SCIENCE!

I need an icon for massive jealousy! That is just way too cool (literally) for words!

[Airc00led]

Desk jockey at a giant corporation, seriously.

Used to hate it. But, decided to try and change my attitude about it. Over time I came to make the best of it.

Ultimately I believe some degree of work is healthy for you so I convinced myself this is partly for my health.

There were many things around the job I just quit doing and no one noticed. So I effectively gave myself a raise in terms of ratio of work to pay.

[TheFrugalShrink]

I'm a health psychologist.  I really enjoy my job most days and it is interesting and rewarding work.  I'm also compensated pretty well- well enough that I can work part-time as long as I'm frugal.  Part-time work is ideal for me and I could see myself working part-time until I'm 60ish if all goes well.  I'm not all that interested in retiring early but I am interested in having enough money so that I am never "stuck" in a job or place that I don't want.