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I don't really understand what people who retire so early do with themselves. Employment brings activity and social interaction. It is often challenging and kee

by bobsy 13y ago

I don't really understand what people who retire so early do with themselves. Employment brings activity and social interaction. It is often challenging and keeps you sharp. When you retire what do you do? Take up painting? If you retire young a lot of your friends will still be working. The OP talks about living off 30% earnings if he retires at 33. Downgrading your life style is fine but surely you would be spending more on activities to keep yourself busy? Currently I cannot see myself completely retiring. I like the idea of optional employment. Choosing to work part time for the challenge the work brings rather than the money. I look forward to that day. I currently dread the idea of full retirement.

Dewie 13y ago
> I don't really understand what people who retire so early do with themselves. Employment brings activity and social interaction. It is often challenging and keeps you sharp. When you retire what do you do? Take up painting? If you retire young a lot of your friends will still be working. It's really more about financial independence than retirement. You can do nothing for a few weeks, realize that you need some purpose, and then find a job/create a job/create a business/make a trek across Eurasia/anything within you financial means. I don't get why people are so hung up on the usual connotations of retirement. It's not like if you reach a point where you retire, you sign a contract to never do paid/unpaid work or exert any effort again ever.
alan_cx 13y ago
That is so sad. All you can think of is employment? Really? All I can think of is anything but.
namwen 13y ago
I'm really surprised to see this comment on Hacker News of all places. I would imagine the commenters here would embrace with open arms a period where thy can stop working and really do the things they want. Really do anything. All of those projects you've been kicking around. Do that. Its' really not far off from what you said about working part time for the challenge, but instead you're working for yourself.

by bobsy 13y ago

Dewie 13y ago

> I don't really understand what people who retire so early do with themselves. Employment brings activity and social interaction. It is often challenging and keeps you sharp. When you retire what do you do? Take up painting? If you retire young a lot of your friends will still be working. It's really more about financial independence than retirement. You can do nothing for a few weeks, realize that you need some purpose, and then find a job/create a job/create a business/make a trek across Eurasia/anything within you financial means. I don't get why people are so hung up on the usual connotations of retirement. It's not like if you reach a point where you retire, you sign a contract to never do paid/unpaid work or exert any effort again ever.

alan_cx 13y ago

That is so sad. All you can think of is employment? Really? All I can think of is anything but.

namwen 13y ago

I'm really surprised to see this comment on Hacker News of all places. I would imagine the commenters here would embrace with open arms a period where thy can stop working and really do the things they want. Really do anything. All of those projects you've been kicking around. Do that. Its' really not far off from what you said about working part time for the challenge, but instead you're working for yourself.