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As someone who retired not too long ago, having unlimited free time is definitely a different kind of problem. When Monday after Monday rolls around and I have

As someone who retired not too long ago, having unlimited free time is definitely a different kind of problem. When Monday after Monday rolls around and I have another free day while others are complaining of going back to work, I find I have to give myself assignments. I like to learn so most of my assignments are on the order of "Why was Andy Warhol a big deal?" "What happened to the Neanderthals?" "What was the CIA hoping to accomplish with Project MKUltra and LSD research?" There's a wealth of documentary films online that can send me in any direction. Where I used to focus on computer code, now I focus on different kinds of problems, but the effect and fulfillment is the same (more actually.)

habeebtc 5y ago
This is already what I do in my free time. Projects. When I retire (which I hope is soon, so I can get away from my crushing, but well-compensated schedule), I imagine I will have no problem at all filling my time with projects and a huge backlog of games and books for when I don't feel like doing projects.
- xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
  Indeed, I have no problem filling my free time with stuff. I took a year off not too long ago. Some days I'd watch two or three movies, there were weeks I spent bingeing Netflix, nights spent playing video games late into the morning, nights spent writing software late into the morning, nights spent enjoying fine food and drink, reading books, hiking, seeing friends, learning new things, exploring new places. There's no shortage of stuff to do. Sure, some days are slow, but I'm not complaining. I could do this forever. Others are not so lucky, they don't know how to spend their time outside of work. I see retired folks frustrated with their lives, lost and directionless. It makes me sad.
- greggman3 5y ago
  I took -8 years off. I did the things you mentioned. I currently see it as throwing most of this 8 years down the toilet. Maybe I could pull out 3 of those 8 years as actually having done something I'll have good memories of but the other 5 years was wasted IMO. i'm not saying you should have a job but I think, for at least me, I need to doing something productive. That could be raising a child, it could be volunteering, it could looking after someone, it could be helping others with their projects or goals, it could be a project that will be for more than just myself, but it needs to be something that I can look back at and say to myself "that was time well spent" I binged some shows I'm happy I spent the time watching and played some games I have good memories for but plenty of other shows and movies that just wasted my time. Read too much meaningless internet.
  - cko 5y ago
    I'm year two into this and I have to say I feel like 80% of my time has been wasted. What did you do before you took time off and what did you do after the 8 years?
  - nanomonkey 5y ago
    How did you explain the 8 year gap on your resume, when looking for work? I'm on my 5th year, and while I've been busy the whole time, am not sure how to explain the gap to prospective employers. I've also learned so many new skills that my old network doesn't match what I'd like to be doing.
tartoran 5y ago
Did you FIRE?
- okareaman 5y ago
  No, I aged out and I'm low income since I had an expensive addiction that I've since dealt with. Money was never that interesting anyway. I mean it would be nice, but over time I'm not sure how it would change my life that much. I've been learning how to write a story by studying others. I've been writing some jokes and am thinking about buying some paints and playing with color. The pandemic has put a damper on socializing, but when it's over I plan to get involved.
  - tartoran 5y ago
    I see, thanks for retiring. I am in my 40s and don't have a nest egg to retire early but I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have a 3 year old and cannot be too frugal in so if I don't get lucky financially I'll end up churning till I am forced to retire. I hope you find your way colors. I've been playing with colors for the past 10 years and I got a lot out of it myself.

habeebtc 5y ago

This is already what I do in my free time. Projects. When I retire (which I hope is soon, so I can get away from my crushing, but well-compensated schedule), I imagine I will have no problem at all filling my time with projects and a huge backlog of games and books for when I don't feel like doing projects.

xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
Indeed, I have no problem filling my free time with stuff. I took a year off not too long ago. Some days I'd watch two or three movies, there were weeks I spent bingeing Netflix, nights spent playing video games late into the morning, nights spent writing software late into the morning, nights spent enjoying fine food and drink, reading books, hiking, seeing friends, learning new things, exploring new places. There's no shortage of stuff to do. Sure, some days are slow, but I'm not complaining. I could do this forever. Others are not so lucky, they don't know how to spend their time outside of work. I see retired folks frustrated with their lives, lost and directionless. It makes me sad.
greggman3 5y ago
I took -8 years off. I did the things you mentioned. I currently see it as throwing most of this 8 years down the toilet. Maybe I could pull out 3 of those 8 years as actually having done something I'll have good memories of but the other 5 years was wasted IMO. i'm not saying you should have a job but I think, for at least me, I need to doing something productive. That could be raising a child, it could be volunteering, it could looking after someone, it could be helping others with their projects or goals, it could be a project that will be for more than just myself, but it needs to be something that I can look back at and say to myself "that was time well spent" I binged some shows I'm happy I spent the time watching and played some games I have good memories for but plenty of other shows and movies that just wasted my time. Read too much meaningless internet.
- cko 5y ago
  I'm year two into this and I have to say I feel like 80% of my time has been wasted. What did you do before you took time off and what did you do after the 8 years?
- nanomonkey 5y ago
  How did you explain the 8 year gap on your resume, when looking for work? I'm on my 5th year, and while I've been busy the whole time, am not sure how to explain the gap to prospective employers. I've also learned so many new skills that my old network doesn't match what I'd like to be doing.

tartoran 5y ago

Did you FIRE?

okareaman 5y ago
No, I aged out and I'm low income since I had an expensive addiction that I've since dealt with. Money was never that interesting anyway. I mean it would be nice, but over time I'm not sure how it would change my life that much. I've been learning how to write a story by studying others. I've been writing some jokes and am thinking about buying some paints and playing with color. The pandemic has put a damper on socializing, but when it's over I plan to get involved.
- tartoran 5y ago
  I see, thanks for retiring. I am in my 40s and don't have a nest egg to retire early but I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have a 3 year old and cannot be too frugal in so if I don't get lucky financially I'll end up churning till I am forced to retire. I hope you find your way colors. I've been playing with colors for the past 10 years and I got a lot out of it myself.