SWAMI for life?

[psychomoustache]

Most people on this forum (to my understanding, and if this is not you, don't take offense) want to leave behind the "job for money" ASAP to live a nice long FIRE, with, as Jacob (ERE) says, no longer needing the "work-life balance" nonsense, because work and life are complimentary.

Well, I am one who really loves my very-low-income work. It unfortunately can take away family time, (I have a husband and three sons ages 18, 13, and 10) but  - I love the intellectual and relational stimulation I get from my work.

I realized this morning - though I've been working through this idea since I found this board in February, that I probably will never entirely retire from this work - or not until I'm really, really OLD old and can't even really hear anyone speak to me anymore. (I'm 47 now, so there's no ER in my future anyway.)

So what I've been working through in my head these past couple of months -

1. Why work if it's not bringing in money and taking away from family time?
Answer  : The work is damn hard and not easy but I love it. I'm glad I have built something with my own head and heart that is outside of my nuclear family life.

2. What is your plan, then?
Answer: I really don't want to retire early. It took this board, ironically, for me to see that. But what this forum has helped me to do is disassociate needing the job for more (and more) money - I am lucky in that in adapting a more Mustachian lifestyle, I can embrace my work more wholeheartedly.

3. The Vision Thing...
I like the idea of being invested in my work for life - and I too can not get all caught up in "work-life balance" because my work has a lot of life in it, for me.  I don't mind having to invest in my work, for a long time to come.

This has all come up since working through the French tax - diploma dilemma  (see my thread on that if it's of any interest to you) and me getting a bit slapped about my priorities (like why are you here if you're not going to retire ASAP?) https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/major-decision-time/msg71252/#msg71252

I probably *am* going to go back to school, but not for another year or two. This puts me in my mid-fifties when I finish. Understand that school in France costs next to nothing, and there will be other things that are going to free up time (kids older, etc) that make this possible... and yeah, then work until maybe 65 or 70.

And - this idea makes *me* happy. I love the challenge, the thinking, the possibility to do work in other venues (and not just be stuck in my office/practice)... the degree will open up other things for me, even if these things are happening "late".

Don't know how others feel about becoming or not becoming SWAMIs...? Finding work that pays - but the pay isn't the point (not entirely anyway?)

I am not a philosopher, and haven't read a lot of philosophy, but the questions this board raises about how one invests work and life are fascinating.

[brewer12345]

Ignorance alert: what does swami stand for?

[psychomoustache]

Satisfied Working Advanced Mustachian Individual (Swami).

the "advanced mustachian" part is a work in progress, LOL

[brewer12345]

Ok, so what do all those words mean?  Self employed?

[arebelspy]

She wants to be FI but not RE.

It's not uncommon at all, despite the impression she (apparently) has, based on the first paragraph.

Most who have that desire can't see that being FIRE could be satisfying, and think that one must continue working for certain types of satisfaction (see: Jamessqf, specifically, on these forums), but OP seems to understand that one could happily FIRE, or continue working after FI, and seems to prefer the latter.

More power to you.

[psychomoustache]

She wants to be FI but not RE.

It's not uncommon at all, despite the impression she (apparently) has, based on the first paragraph.

Most who have that desire can't see that being FIRE could be satisfying, and think that one must continue working for certain types of satisfaction (see: Jamessqf, specifically, on these forums), but OP seems to understand that one could happily FIRE, or continue working after FI, and seems to prefer the latter.

More power to you.

Merci A Rebel Spy. The impression I had was that it wasn't a popular idea on this forum, but I stand corrected - so much the better.

Maybe it's also because my father is still working at 75... he just really loves his work, and is working for practically nothing with Catholic Charities. He's going to have to stop (health reasons) - and I think it's going to be a bit hard for him.

I work for myself - and I think that's a big part of what makes it doable for life. At any time, I can change my hours, or do what I need to make it good for myself - I'm very lucky.

[arebelspy]

I love my job.  I mainly want to stop working because I want kids, and I don't want to ship them off to "childcare" for 8 hours a day.

If I decided not to have kids, or was unable to, I wouldn't quit my job after FI.

But raising kids, to me, is the next fun challenge that is more important than my job.

Many of us around here like our jobs, and may continue doing it, or at least have the freedom to shift it to part time, or have more control, or do a related self-employed spin-off, or whatever.

And some just want to kick it on a beach.  Good for them.  Each has their own path, I'm good with that.

[brewer12345]

She wants to be FI but not RE.

It's not uncommon at all, despite the impression she (apparently) has, based on the first paragraph.

Most who have that desire can't see that being FIRE could be satisfying, and think that one must continue working for certain types of satisfaction (see: Jamessqf, specifically, on these forums), but OP seems to understand that one could happily FIRE, or continue working after FI, and seems to prefer the latter.

More power to you.

Thanks.  Lost my decoder ring in the wash.

[Self-employed-swami]

<--

I love my job!  I'm self-employed, and I picked my own hours.  I get a great sense of satisfaction from working.  I don't want to work forever, but I'm not in a big hurry to quit either.

[boy_bye]

<--

I love my job!  I'm self-employed, and I picked my own hours.  I get a great sense of satisfaction from working.  I don't want to work forever, but I'm not in a big hurry to quit either.

this is the position i want to be in. not having to have "a job," but still bringing in money from writing books and crafting stuff with my hands.

i love doing those things already, and have made a bit of cash through them, too, but being able to do them as much as i want (with plenty of goof-off time to go for bike rides and swims) would be amazing.

[psychomoustache]

Exactly - "be less crazy" (madgeylou)

I do wish that this forum would have been around before I'd had my kids. But I was home for quite a few years with them working PT teaching English on the side, or teaching at home.

Today the perspective is different - the kids are almost grown. It goes so fast. I definitely understand wanting to slow down to be with them. I'm glad I got to do that.

[Jamesqf]

Ignorance alert: what does swami stand for?

Still Working At My Age?

[Will]

<--

I love my job!  I'm self-employed, and I picked my own hours.  I get a great sense of satisfaction from working.  I don't want to work forever, but I'm not in a big hurry to quit either.

What do you do?

[Self-employed-swami]

<--

I love my job!  I'm self-employed, and I picked my own hours.  I get a great sense of satisfaction from working.  I don't want to work forever, but I'm not in a big hurry to quit either.

What do you do?

I own a small oilfield consulting company.  I am a geologist, and I work on the drilling rigs.