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Time isn't the most scarce resource for everyone. If your passions require more money than you have, it doesn't matter that you have 6-8 weeks off. You still

Time isn't the most scarce resource for everyone. If your passions require more money than you have, it doesn't matter that you have 6-8 weeks off. You still can't do the things you want to do. You can relax, travel (limited due to funds though), which are both nice for a while but eventually become frustrating. My passions are expensive - too expensive unfortunately. For example I could really do with a house to build things in, but I can't afford to buy a house, so I can't build the sorts of things I'd like to build in one. And you should see the small factory I wish I could afford. Even small stuff like attending conferences is too expensive if you can't afford the travel and tickets. As I've gotten older I've come to see there are many situations where, if I'd had more money, things I tried to work on would have turned out very differently. That's the #1 reason I now pay more attention to income than I did for a long time, when I focused on voluntary work for what I thought was worth investing time in, with "SWE side gigs" to pay the bills. > When exactly are those passions supposed to be pursued? When retiring? I'm pursuing that now. I have had 6-8weeks off in summer the last 10 years. I like to travel, etc. Depending on what they are, it may have to be evenings, weekends, or when retiring. That'a definitely a compromise. But if you don't have the money and your passion projects need money, it will probably be never.

alkonaut 6y ago
Yes, of course the essential needs (houses, travel, expensive mountainbikes) are satisfied. There are no "if only I had X" needs, and many "If only I had more hours to use my X". I reached that point when there were too few hours and "enough" to fill those hours, long ago. I realize things can change though. If I were to suddenly be divorced for example, I'd probably value having a much higher paying job suddenly (at the expense of less free time, more stress, less interesting work etc), to be able afford life.

alkonaut 6y ago

Yes, of course the essential needs (houses, travel, expensive mountainbikes) are satisfied. There are no "if only I had X" needs, and many "If only I had more hours to use my X". I reached that point when there were too few hours and "enough" to fill those hours, long ago. I realize things can change though. If I were to suddenly be divorced for example, I'd probably value having a much higher paying job suddenly (at the expense of less free time, more stress, less interesting work etc), to be able afford life.