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I worked really hard for 10 years after grad school, then retired for 4 years to have a kid. Changed careers and worked hard or another 8 years, and then retire

I worked really hard for 10 years after grad school, then retired for 4 years to have a kid. Changed careers and worked hard or another 8 years, and then retired for 3 years when we had to deal with an extended family illness. I'm currently on the 4th year of my 3rd career. Working hard and taking long breaks has really given me the opportunity to learn and grow, and stay young (most of my team won't believe I'm twice their age).

toomuchtodo 8y ago
How did you afford to take off for so long during your mini-retirements?
- guard0g 8y ago
  I pursued some highly compensated careers, and I didn't join my colleagues splurging and partying like no tomorrow.
  - deltateam 8y ago
    I don't buy it. I used to pursue highly compensated careers, and now I don't rely on a paycheck. I occasionally pursue some high value commission deals just because I have the network for it, and this can top up my accounts whenever. I travel a lot and go to a lot of coveted events: it isn't that expensive. If you already had a highly compensated career (low six figures, high 5 figures in a no-income-tax state), your biggest issue was time. Stock market fluctuations cost more than going out. Being on the wrong side of the market costs more than the last minute flight to the other side of the world in the middle of summer. What do you think your friends really did that you abstained from? I'm sure you have a couple of observations, but I think the real conclusion is that you missed out. Quitting work and raising a child is a coveted outcome, for some, but I don't think you know if your colleagues have stunted wealth just because they did things more fulfilling to them.
jedzarybe 8y ago
Curious, how do you prep for comebacks after 3years break? Do you switch fields with each career? Do you try to keep your toolset sharp on almost daily basis since day one of your long break? Thanks
- guard0g 8y ago
  I owe it to intellectual curiosity as a lifelong learner, by accumulating skills and building upon them, and having time to think about problems. With the light speed innovation of business, finance and tech these days, the breaks actually gave me time to catch up. It was much harder to do this working heads down. I was an early user of Coursera and edX as well.

toomuchtodo 8y ago

How did you afford to take off for so long during your mini-retirements?

guard0g 8y ago
I pursued some highly compensated careers, and I didn't join my colleagues splurging and partying like no tomorrow.
- deltateam 8y ago
  I don't buy it. I used to pursue highly compensated careers, and now I don't rely on a paycheck. I occasionally pursue some high value commission deals just because I have the network for it, and this can top up my accounts whenever. I travel a lot and go to a lot of coveted events: it isn't that expensive. If you already had a highly compensated career (low six figures, high 5 figures in a no-income-tax state), your biggest issue was time. Stock market fluctuations cost more than going out. Being on the wrong side of the market costs more than the last minute flight to the other side of the world in the middle of summer. What do you think your friends really did that you abstained from? I'm sure you have a couple of observations, but I think the real conclusion is that you missed out. Quitting work and raising a child is a coveted outcome, for some, but I don't think you know if your colleagues have stunted wealth just because they did things more fulfilling to them.

jedzarybe 8y ago

Curious, how do you prep for comebacks after 3years break? Do you switch fields with each career? Do you try to keep your toolset sharp on almost daily basis since day one of your long break? Thanks

guard0g 8y ago
I owe it to intellectual curiosity as a lifelong learner, by accumulating skills and building upon them, and having time to think about problems. With the light speed innovation of business, finance and tech these days, the breaks actually gave me time to catch up. It was much harder to do this working heads down. I was an early user of Coursera and edX as well.