So, I've been thinking about this post a lot recently:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/11/11/get-rich-with-the-position-of-strength/I've been offered an additional administrative duty at work for a significant chunk of additional pay. My first reaction to being asked was to be honored and since it really won't take much extra time relative to the money, to assume I'd accept it. But, as I've been pondering it, it has really hit me how much I would hate this duty (think, being in charge of everyone getting their TPS reports in on time).
And in thinking about it, it's hit me that 5 years ago DH and I left high paying jobs we hated for me to have a job I love and him to be a SAHD. And since this job has actually wound up being pretty much as great as I hoped while still completely supporting us and allowing us to still stache, why would I sell back some of this?
Not to mention, well-paying side-gigs that I enjoy have been falling into my lap recently. Seriously, I'm not even looking and get offers to take others' money to do things that I do enjoy.
Not to mention, when DH took a class at a local technical school to explore a hobby interest of his this spring, the teacher recommended he spoke to a local shop that needs help. They hired him on the spot for part-time work doing this hobby. *And* since they needed him they were super flexible with his hours, and since my job is so flexible, we were able to arrange things so that one of us can always still be home with out daughter this spring and summer. And since DD is going to preschool in the fall, even when my work picks up then, there's a good chance DH will be bringing in some PT income doing something he is really interested in.
So, it hit me that I can really say no to this new job duty. And since I really won't enjoy it and it won't add to our lives in a way that I truly value, I *should* say no. That while I was fearful when we left our high paying jobs that we wouldn't be able to pay the bills (not even imagining working towards FIRE), that fear has been shown completely irrational. And that even better than FU money is the FU confidence that we can make more than enough money doing only things we want to do so that I can turn down money, even for relatively easy work, if I'm just not interested.
Yeah, it's amazing how a position of strength can unlock your brain to see things in an entirely different way.