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Living off the dole is filled with stress. If you had a reliable, steady income and the health to enjoy it, I think most people would be much happier than they

by neilc 16y ago

Living off the dole is filled with stress. If you had a reliable, steady income and the health to enjoy it, I think most people would be much happier than they are working a typical job. Living off the dole is also not something considered socially respectable, whereas early retirement is widely accepted.

barrkel 16y ago
What I'm objecting to is this concept which seems to exist in this thread that work is a drudge, and being relieved from it is a net positive. I think it's simply not true. Quite apart from enjoying your work, there's the social aspect, it gets you out of the house, gives you a reason to get up in the morning, you incrementally work towards longer-term goals, etc. Retirement in leisure has none of these things, and I strongly believe you'll find the bloom wears off the rose quite quickly if you don't find some other form of work to do, even if you don't choose to call it work, or aren't paid for it. I believe a man who retires at 70 will be happier than one who retires at 50, and he'll live longer too (leaving aside those who die between 50 and 70).
- neilc 16y ago
  I think the obligation to work in exchange for pay that is the problem. If you're in the position where you can freely choose what to work on, I just think you'd be a lot happier than if your choice is dictated by your employer. That is a lot of the freedom that you get as an academic (or nominally as a founder). As it happens, I'd expect that if I was retired I'd spend a lot of time doing similar stuff to what I do now -- but being able to choose how to spend your time would be a major benefit.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  >I believe a man who retires at 70 will be happier than one who retires at 50, and he'll live longer too (leaving aside those who die between 50 and 70). You don't work in Calcutta cleaning sewer pipes wearing nothing but a loin-cloth do you. Not everyone enjoys there work but we all have to eat. I'm in my 30s, if I could retire now I would - then I could do things I enjoy, not sit at home doing nothing but be active in ways in which it's not easy to acquire financial support. First up would be a course in forestry, being a school governor, spending more time doing voluntary youth work, getting fit again...

by neilc 16y ago

barrkel 16y ago

What I'm objecting to is this concept which seems to exist in this thread that work is a drudge, and being relieved from it is a net positive. I think it's simply not true. Quite apart from enjoying your work, there's the social aspect, it gets you out of the house, gives you a reason to get up in the morning, you incrementally work towards longer-term goals, etc. Retirement in leisure has none of these things, and I strongly believe you'll find the bloom wears off the rose quite quickly if you don't find some other form of work to do, even if you don't choose to call it work, or aren't paid for it. I believe a man who retires at 70 will be happier than one who retires at 50, and he'll live longer too (leaving aside those who die between 50 and 70).

neilc 16y ago
I think the obligation to work in exchange for pay that is the problem. If you're in the position where you can freely choose what to work on, I just think you'd be a lot happier than if your choice is dictated by your employer. That is a lot of the freedom that you get as an academic (or nominally as a founder). As it happens, I'd expect that if I was retired I'd spend a lot of time doing similar stuff to what I do now -- but being able to choose how to spend your time would be a major benefit.
pbhjpbhj 16y ago
>I believe a man who retires at 70 will be happier than one who retires at 50, and he'll live longer too (leaving aside those who die between 50 and 70). You don't work in Calcutta cleaning sewer pipes wearing nothing but a loin-cloth do you. Not everyone enjoys there work but we all have to eat. I'm in my 30s, if I could retire now I would - then I could do things I enjoy, not sit at home doing nothing but be active in ways in which it's not easy to acquire financial support. First up would be a course in forestry, being a school governor, spending more time doing voluntary youth work, getting fit again...