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I spent most of the last 5 years working about 10 hours a week at $90 a hour on a recurring freelance gig, which was enough to live comfortably in the midwest (
by dcolgan 9y ago
I spent most of the last 5 years working about 10 hours a week at $90 a hour on a recurring freelance gig, which was enough to live comfortably in the midwest (my rent is currently $400 a month) and travel around eastern Europe. Not really enough to live in a city or have dependents, but I could probably afford that by just working 20 hours a week at $90 an hour.
I think what I did is very doable for other devs - my business proposal was: give me 10 regular hours a week, and I'll continue adding to your internal company app. Phone call with the client once a week. I automated a whole bunch of their processes using Django and it was a great win-win. They weren't large enough to need or be able to afford a full time dev and I could work part part time.
The extra time allowed me to try a bunch of things. I tried livestreaming on Twitch.tv, being a digital nomad, blogging, making products. I enjoyed not having an alarm clock and going on walks in the park whenever to think. I was able to really put time into working on myself, and my health and mental state are pretty good these days. I've read a lot of books.
I'll admit that I've wasted a lot of time surfing the internet - I think the danger of being fully self-directed is that you have to work hard to use the time well. Nobody is sitting on you to "do what you are supposed to." It has also been kind of isolating, but I'm also an introvert and have social anxiety, and working on relationship building is one of my soon future projects.
- porter 9y agoAre you looking for more django work?
- bigmanwalter 9y agoI am a Django freelancer who is looking for more work. Are you looking to hire?
- goodoldboys 9y agoI may have some work available - what's a good email to reach you at?
- bigmanwalter 9y agoI may be interested :) You can message me at e@ericwaldman.ca
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- dcolgan 9y agoI'd be happy to talk - I'll email you.
- crush-n-spread 9y agoThat sounds like an absolutely horrible way to spend five years. I cannot imagine being you, living in the time of technological empowerment, immediately before the time of atmospheric-carbon induced catastrophe, and having no goal or direction of how to spend my immensely valuable life force. I could absolutely not live with myself.
- d3ad1ysp0rk 9y agoSatire, or...? I for one, if facing the impending apocalypse, would not want to be pouring my "life force" into work.
- crush-n-spread 9y agoYou could pour your life force into avoiding the apocalypse, you know? That's what I mean - Help us get out of the mess we've made.
- tonyedgecombe 9y agoArguably working less and hence spending less is a pretty good step towards avoiding the problem.
- imhoguy 9y agoAnd definitely working remote and walking - not commuting or flying over to the office is much less harmful to the planet.
- dcolgan 9y agoFunny you should say that - when I first started doing this I tried to get some of my friends to join me. They all fell apart from the lack of structure and went back to their old jobs. And that's not to say it was a moral failing on their part - I don't think everyone is wired to do this sort of thing, maybe even most people. I'm also not saying that I wasted all of my time or that I did nothing of value - just that it has taken real effort to figure out what I value. I think the existential crises I've come through have been really important for my growth, and I wouldn't have had to think about it had I not had to direct my time myself.
- robinwarren 9y agoThat sounds like a lovely way to spend your time! And also one which seems safe for some time to come which is good, ie you aren't risking your future earning potential with this approach. Congratulations!