Author Topic: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?  (Read 14916 times)

Bertram

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Re: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?
« Reply #50 on: June 14, 2016, 04:03:59 PM »
Here is what the earlier linked paper has to say on Sport Cars:

Quote
The sports car manufacturer Porsche has a print ad showing a Boxster speeding down a rural highway.  The caption says, “Every time you drive it, it puts a smile on your face. How much is that worth?” Not much, according to a great deal of research, because the bursts of pleasure one may reap from powering up the car are destined to last even less long than from a non-material circumstantial change, like moving cross-country or beginning a new job. One might be tempted to conclude that sustained happi- ness cannot be bought with Porsches or any other material possessions. I actually believe that that conclusion is wrong. Hedonic adaptation can be resisted, even to material objects, but only with con- scious, active efforts. If the Porsche owner strives to overcome his auto-ennui by appreciating his enor- mously good fortune, if he uses his sports car as a vehicle for pleasurable renewable experiences and for strengthening relationships (e.g., road tripping with friends, loaning to a family member), if he puts effort into savoring the stereo system and the speed (e.g., reveling in the wind in his face, luxuriat- ing in the music), he will continue to derive happi- ness from his purchase.

The same is actually more pronounced with my motorcycle. I've met a number of people that were convinced they never would have made it through the dark times in their life without a motorcycle. And even though I started late, it has become something that I can barely imagine doing without. It's not the object that is the source of the satisfaction it's the act of riding, how it focuses and frees your mind, how you experience flow in cornering, how the physical forces work on your body (being shot out of a cannon or free falling), the social aspects and connectedness you experience with people you would never meet or talk with otherwise in life, working on your skills and proficiency, and soooo many other aspects. At this point "not riding" is not like taking away a toy it's like taking away angood chunk of your life and passion and asking you to "just do some other shit like paint in coloring books." Sorry, but no. You might as well ask someone to stop speaking their language and just learn Esperanto...

« Last Edit: June 14, 2016, 04:06:27 PM by Bertram »

Chris22

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Re: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?
« Reply #51 on: June 14, 2016, 04:30:14 PM »
Here is what the earlier linked paper has to say on Sport Cars:

Quote
The sports car manufacturer Porsche has a print ad showing a Boxster speeding down a rural highway.  The caption says, “Every time you drive it, it puts a smile on your face. How much is that worth?” Not much, according to a great deal of research, because the bursts of pleasure one may reap from powering up the car are destined to last even less long than from a non-material circumstantial change, like moving cross-country or beginning a new job. One might be tempted to conclude that sustained happi- ness cannot be bought with Porsches or any other material possessions. I actually believe that that conclusion is wrong. Hedonic adaptation can be resisted, even to material objects, but only with con- scious, active efforts. If the Porsche owner strives to overcome his auto-ennui by appreciating his enor- mously good fortune, if he uses his sports car as a vehicle for pleasurable renewable experiences and for strengthening relationships (e.g., road tripping with friends, loaning to a family member), if he puts effort into savoring the stereo system and the speed (e.g., reveling in the wind in his face, luxuriat- ing in the music), he will continue to derive happi- ness from his purchase.

The same is actually more pronounced with my motorcycle. I've met a number of people that were convinced they never would have made it through the dark times in their life without a motorcycle. And even though I started late, it has become something that I can barely imagine doing without. It's not the object that is the source of the satisfaction it's the act of riding, how it focuses and frees your mind, how you experience flow in cornering, how the physical forces work on your body (being shot out of a cannon or free falling), the social aspects and connectedness you experience with people you would never meet or talk with otherwise in life, working on your skills and proficiency, and soooo many other aspects. At this point "not riding" is not like taking away a toy it's like taking away angood chunk of your life and passion and asking you to "just do some other shit like paint in coloring books." Sorry, but no. You might as well ask someone to stop speaking their language and just learn Esperanto...

My current job is going just fine, but I've had some relatively dark times; I worked for a failing telecom resulting in a layoff, I worked for a newly public company putting 18 hour days for a while, my wife and I had a late miscarriage...in these times, a drive in the car top down has always been my escape.  It's my "happy place" where I don't have to think about anything else.  It's not quite motorcycling, but it's close.  Hell, it was in my wedding, even my wife says it's part of the family. 

faramund

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Re: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?
« Reply #52 on: June 15, 2016, 12:46:36 AM »
I've been leaning towards a theory, that happiness is effectively the sum effect of the things you think about it.

So, if your mind dwells on negativity (for example negative consequences of work).. you will tend towards unhappiness.

If you dwell on how wonderful your car is.. its the opposite effect.

So hedonic adaption falls into this framework, as in, if you have something good, and stop appreciating it, your happiness from it reduces to 0. This roughly matches to what's said in Bertram's link.


MrsPete

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Re: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?
« Reply #53 on: June 15, 2016, 10:44:10 AM »
I the space of 3 posts you call yourself a special snowflake unlike any other in the world
Yep, that's my interpretation too.  You're not different from everyone else, though I do wonder if, as another poster suggested, you might be suffering from mild depression.  People with depression tend to think that their situation is different from that of other people, etc. 

Early retirement, once achieved, will become the "new normal", thus it is not immune to the principle of hedonic adaptation no more than I'm immune to gravity.
That makes sense.  The first weeks, months, whatever, you may think, "Wow, I love sleeping late every day!"  Then it'll become the new normal.  Doesn't mean you'll stop enjoying it, doesn't mean you won't still appreciate it -- just that the "new" will wear off of it.

I think hedonic adaptation helped me. I grew up poor and as I got richer and richer moving up the job ladder and like many buying newer and nicer things...... I found out my life wasn't really any better above a certain point
You're talking about the point of diminishing returns.  I was also a poor kid, and when I got out into the working world and started earning money, it seemed absolutely magical to me that I was always able to have food in the refrigerator and shoes without holes.  I had "Enough".  These things made me very, very happy! 

Then I reached the point that I could have steaks and seafood in the refrigerator and several pairs of shoes without holes.  I was still very, very happy!  However, it's true that having "Enough Plus" didn't increase my happiness as significantly as reaching "Enough" had. 

If you don't have "Enough", you're not going to be satisfied, but once you reach "Enough", "Enough Plus" is fun but that satisfaction is somewhat fleeting.

I've been leaning towards a theory, that happiness is effectively the sum effect of the things you think about it.

So, if your mind dwells on negativity (for example negative consequences of work).. you will tend towards unhappiness.
I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said something to the effect of, Most people are about as happy as they allow themselves to be.


« Last Edit: June 15, 2016, 10:46:57 AM by MrsPete »

mskyle

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Re: If hedonic adaptation exists... what's the point of early retirement?
« Reply #54 on: June 15, 2016, 10:57:34 AM »
I feel like even if you get hedonically adapted to Early Retirement, the relatively low stress of being Financially Independent would still be a net positive. If you're retired early but still living "paycheck to paycheck" (only the paychecks are dividends and investment income) I feel like the blush would wear off pretty quickly.

But there's a certain amount of resilience that comes with actual financial independence where you know that nothing's likely to wreck you financially. Worry can chip away at anyone's happiness.