I'm 31 and semi-retired.
I don't have a huge wad of of cash capable of supporting me like MMM, but rather live frugally and have a location-independent business that I can blow off at will. I don't make a ton of money, but I vagabond around the world, exploring and enjoying myself. I have enough of a cash cushion that if I don't feel like working for a few weeks or months, I'm fine. And part of my income is passive anyway, so I'm never totally without cash flow.
I quit my old full-time, stressful job that only paid $33k in 2010, and have been making as much as 15k a year since, usually working 0-3 hours a day. Maybe I'll make more as time goes on, but I'm not intent on it.
So I'm looking for some investment advice that's a bit unique to my situation.
I have no desire to stop working entirely, and doubt I will until I'm too feeble bodied to manage it, and even then I have some sedentary hobbies that can earn me a bit of cash. I really enjoy working, and don't have a desire to do less of it.
Because I'm already as retired as I want to be, and FIRE doesn't really appeal, I'm in an unusual situation. I totally value the idea of having old man money in case something happens and I can't work, but I'm not interested in escaping my job. I currently put $100 a month in my IRA in a vanguard index fund for old man money, which I realize isn't much compared to many of the high earners on the board.
But I'm about to ratchet things up a notch and change my living situation, and expect to be investing $400/month in a few months time. I plan to put $200/month in my IRA, but I'm giving serious consideration to some form of investment that's not tax sheltered for the remaining $200.
If I do decide to retire, I don't plan to "really retire" before my mid 60s at the earliest (when I could access my IRA money easily). But I really value the idea of having a growing stash of "pre 65" money that generates passive income for me through investments. I'd like said growing stash to gradually displace my need to earn income.
I may never need it, but it seems like a smart idea, and who knows, maybe I'll want to start withdrawing from my semi-retired work life earlier than anticipated.
But because I'm not racing toward FIRE like many of you, and am already very happy with my life, I'm wondering if a different strategy should be pursued.
If you were in my shoes with the preferences I just described, would you pursue investing that's not in a tax sheltered account?
If so, what would you invest in?
