4 ms·

> Less when I throw in hunting, doing my own maintenance and growing my own vegetables. Why don't you consider this as work?

jrk_ 11y ago
I can't answer the question for OP, but for me it would be * Pursuing my own goals * Working directly on something which benefits me * A lot less boring than sitting in the office all day * Not sitting in an office at all * Nature * Real satisfaction from accomplishment * Don't have to when I don't want, i.e. I have to deal with the consequences (e.g. no food) but nobody can make me responsible for this and fire me * No commute through crowded cities * No recycled, AC'd air * Did I mention not sitting in an office? I think I have to stop now or I get even more depressed than I already am.
- adrusi 11y ago
  I think what the parent meant to say was "why don't you consider doing that as your main source of income?"
  - jrk_ 11y ago
    I think because this would be only about being self-sustained, without generating additional income. And there lie the downsides: No early retirement, no health care, no social insurance..
grecy 11y ago
As jrk_ said, when I'm pursuing something for myself, I don't consider it "work". If I did, I suppose I'd have to consider putting food in my own mouth, brushing my own teeth, etc, which is absurd. I've always found it strange we all "go to work" to earn money, then trade that money for the things we actually need like food and shelter - and sometimes some wants like entertainment. The problem with using money as a middle-man is that it's very inefficent, because everyone along the line takes some. i.e. taxes, inflation, greed of your boss/company, the bank, etc. etc. I aim to simply cut out the middle man and directly get what I want, which turns out to be way more efficient, i.e. takes way less time, which means I will have way more time to do whatever I want.
- jrk_ 11y ago
  Honest question: How do you handle health care issues? And how do you plan for times when you're more likely of not being able to do physical work anymore (in your 70 or 80s)?
  - grecy 11y ago
    >How do you handle health care issues? I live in Canada / Australia so it's no issue. If you live in a country that doesn't have health care for all, you need to move. Take note that I moved from Australia to Canada 9 years ago. It's a long process. It's a lot of paperwork. It's worth it if you get healthcare, no doubt about it. > And how do you plan for times when you're more likely of not being able to do physical work anymore (in your 70 or 80s)? Government pensions in both Canada and Australia are actually more than I usually live on, so I'll be fine if that's all I have, but I'm also putting money into retirement savings accounts that will supplement that (which also means I pay extremely little income tax when I am working). I also won't be surprised if I wind up doing "reverse retirement" as my brother calls it - live life now while my body allows it, then work more when my body is giving up and I'm not so excited to be outside hiking/biking/snowboaring.
    - jrk_ 11y ago
      I live in Germany, and health care at a bare minimum is around 150-200€/month, which is the "social" tariff. We also have a pension system, but you also need to pay a monthly contribution, depending on your income. There are many elderly people who barely get along with the government pension right now. I think it'll only get worser in 30+ years. The idea of "reverse retirement" is appealing, but I don't know if I'd have the motivation to go to work in my 70s, when everybody around me is retiring. But it's probably a very subjective issue and I'm a bit torn about it.
      - grecy 11y ago
        > I live in Germany, and health care at a bare minimum is around 150-200€/month, which is the "social" tariff. We also have a pension system, but you also need to pay a monthly contribution, depending on your income. How much do you pay into those if you're not earning anything? Do you still get health benefits when unemployed?

jrk_ 11y ago

I can't answer the question for OP, but for me it would be * Pursuing my own goals * Working directly on something which benefits me * A lot less boring than sitting in the office all day * Not sitting in an office at all * Nature * Real satisfaction from accomplishment * Don't have to when I don't want, i.e. I have to deal with the consequences (e.g. no food) but nobody can make me responsible for this and fire me * No commute through crowded cities * No recycled, AC'd air * Did I mention not sitting in an office? I think I have to stop now or I get even more depressed than I already am.

adrusi 11y ago
I think what the parent meant to say was "why don't you consider doing that as your main source of income?"
- jrk_ 11y ago
  I think because this would be only about being self-sustained, without generating additional income. And there lie the downsides: No early retirement, no health care, no social insurance..

grecy 11y ago

As jrk_ said, when I'm pursuing something for myself, I don't consider it "work". If I did, I suppose I'd have to consider putting food in my own mouth, brushing my own teeth, etc, which is absurd. I've always found it strange we all "go to work" to earn money, then trade that money for the things we actually need like food and shelter - and sometimes some wants like entertainment. The problem with using money as a middle-man is that it's very inefficent, because everyone along the line takes some. i.e. taxes, inflation, greed of your boss/company, the bank, etc. etc. I aim to simply cut out the middle man and directly get what I want, which turns out to be way more efficient, i.e. takes way less time, which means I will have way more time to do whatever I want.

jrk_ 11y ago
Honest question: How do you handle health care issues? And how do you plan for times when you're more likely of not being able to do physical work anymore (in your 70 or 80s)?
- grecy 11y ago
  >How do you handle health care issues? I live in Canada / Australia so it's no issue. If you live in a country that doesn't have health care for all, you need to move. Take note that I moved from Australia to Canada 9 years ago. It's a long process. It's a lot of paperwork. It's worth it if you get healthcare, no doubt about it. > And how do you plan for times when you're more likely of not being able to do physical work anymore (in your 70 or 80s)? Government pensions in both Canada and Australia are actually more than I usually live on, so I'll be fine if that's all I have, but I'm also putting money into retirement savings accounts that will supplement that (which also means I pay extremely little income tax when I am working). I also won't be surprised if I wind up doing "reverse retirement" as my brother calls it - live life now while my body allows it, then work more when my body is giving up and I'm not so excited to be outside hiking/biking/snowboaring.
  - jrk_ 11y ago
    I live in Germany, and health care at a bare minimum is around 150-200€/month, which is the "social" tariff. We also have a pension system, but you also need to pay a monthly contribution, depending on your income. There are many elderly people who barely get along with the government pension right now. I think it'll only get worser in 30+ years. The idea of "reverse retirement" is appealing, but I don't know if I'd have the motivation to go to work in my 70s, when everybody around me is retiring. But it's probably a very subjective issue and I'm a bit torn about it.
    - grecy 11y ago
      > I live in Germany, and health care at a bare minimum is around 150-200€/month, which is the "social" tariff. We also have a pension system, but you also need to pay a monthly contribution, depending on your income. How much do you pay into those if you're not earning anything? Do you still get health benefits when unemployed?