[Closed] Job or lifestyle choice

I've just got myself into a similar position - three days in and I'm looking for new jobs!

Apparently, most people on their death bed, wish they'd worked less. Just sayin.

Apparently, most people on their death bed, wish they’d worked less. Just sayin.

Very, very much this.

Play time (even if it's sat doing nowt) > work time (especially if it's for someone else)

Potter about, grow some veg or something, brew some beer or country wines, make bread, go for a ride or walk or run or whatever and enjoy not [u]having[/u] to be somewhere.

Dont need to work or work?

Not sure this is a serious question!

Depends... the job, will you enjoy it? Is it doing similar things to what you’d be doing anyway if you had free choice? Is it something worthwhile that will give you a sense of accomplishment? Pottering around sounds great IF you have something worthwhile that will occupy your time otherwise will you get bored or feel like you’re just wasting your life sodding around?!

Sounds like you're already interested so the way I see it your chance at a dream job will only come once in a blue moon (if at all) so why not go for it and if it doesn't work out you can always fall back on not working?

If you have hobbies to keep you busy, like cycling, reduce work or get rid of work entirely.

Workaholics can have earn mega bucks, but have no time for themselves, they reach retirement and quickly push up the daisies because they have no idea what to do with suddenly having all this free time.

The Mexican fisherman

An American businessman was standing at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” The American asked.

“Only a little while.” The Mexican replied.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The American then asked.

“I have enough to support my family’s immediate needs.” The Mexican said.

“But,” The American then asked, “What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you could buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”

“Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own can factory. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

The American said slowly, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos…”

Potter about, grow some veg or something, brew some beer or country wines, make bread, go for a ride or walk or run or whatever and enjoy not having to be somewhere

just not sure I could be arsed with all that, and think my job's probably more interesting.

It'd be 1 for me (especially after this week!). The thought of going screw this, I'm off to potter in the garden, ride my bike, go for a paddle, go for a sail, go for a mid week camping trip, go out surfing or go hill walking* instead of dealing with work nonsense and various idiots is massively appealing.

Being financially independent from mortgage with enough income to lead a contented, pottering based life is my current dream / ambition.

That said, going for number 2 does not stop you going for number 1 if number the dream job turns out not as good as hoped.

* Many, many more examples available.

It depends on the job. I've had a job in the past where every day I'd find it was hard to believe I was actually being paid to do it. The job I have now is pretty good and it has its moments of am i really getting paid for this but I'm old enough now to say I've done that and i'd be more than happy pottering around.

Choose life, coffins don't have pockets.

just not sure I could be arsed with all that, and think my job’s probably more interesting.

Furry muff. Are you a stuntperson?

I've just cut my hours - yesterday was a non work day and I spent it pottering in my garden.  I intend to reduce them again next year.  I'm not ready (or able) to completely quit work yet, it offers something interesting and challenging, plus has a social dimension.  I spent a while unemployed and the isolation and lack of purpose/value was not good for my mental health, even though I had the option to do what I liked during the day.

Apparently, most people on their death bed, wish they’d worked less. Just sayin.

When they really mean worked smarter 😉 the right job at the right time can make other impossible dreams happen.

This kind of question pops up a lot here, but they're kinda impossible to answer without knowing a whole bunch of variables.

If you were in a position where you were relatively young, had an opportunity to work at an internet startup that you believe in, 5 years down the line you could cash out for a life changing sum of money if the right acquisition happens.

vs

You're 50+, near the end of your working life, have enough in equity/etc to live a comfortable life. A mate offers you a job for £100k working in the city doing 12 hour days 6 days a week.

Kind of different scenarios

Apparently, most people on their death bed, wish they’d worked less. Just saying

Most people never find their dream job though! I guess it depends what "dream job" looks like. If its doing something you've always wanted to do, and making an impact it might actually be more rewarding than bumming around stress free. If someone is willing to pay you good money to do something you enjoy then that could in many ways be better than dwindling away your money on something else you enjoy.

The OP should be in a great position to negotiate - he doesn't need the job, he has an alternative plan that lets him enjoy life, so 4 days a week, extra holidays etc are all potential points to negotiate. Even an upfront agreement that you will be doing it from where you are and have no intent on moving.

otherwise will you get bored or feel like you’re just wasting your life sodding around?

If somebody is willing to fund me I’ll prove that sitting around doing nothing beats working 👍🏼

I think I'd go mad if I didn't work and I really enjoy my job, so I don't see it as a burden. Maybe 4 days a week would be optimum, but whilst I'm well paid for 5 days a week and building up a pension, it makes more sense (to me) to just keep at it.

If the dream job feels like option no2 then do it..........but I imagine you would still have to stick to appointments/deadlines/meetings/be accountable/answerable to someone/be on time/be somewhere at some point/do tax return/use your phone/answer q's, and all the other normal sh7te you have to do in any job.

A lifetime of doing what you want when you want.........forget my opinion above, go for option no2 whilst you still can, life too short not to.

(I am leaving my present job of 25 years v soon and working from home, choosing who my clients will be and telling them what job will entail and when it'll be finished by. Far from 'free' but so much better than having a 'boss' telling you what needs doing, working for someone else and being 'compliant')

Depends where you are in life. Spending your entire working life pottering about may work for some but it sounds a bit dull. You have to try new things, get new experiences, and that may mean a change of scene or pushing your limits. How do you know if this is as good as it gets without change? Later in life once you have been there and done that then relax and make time for yourself. Just don't peak too soon. Also if one of the jobs is proofreading or copy editing maybe go for the other one 🙂

Apparently, most people on their death bed, wish they’d worked less. Just sayin.

I reckon they also say they wished they took more chances and didn't just play it safe. Just sayin.

How old are you?

As others have said, not sure I could sit round all day for weeks and months on end. Especially as your mates will all be at work.

As others have said, not sure I could sit round all day for weeks and months on end. Especially as your mates will all be at work.

I would go mad from boredom...

And wouldn't have enough money to go on endless back to back MTB / skiing holidays etc

And wouldn’t have enough money to go on endless back to back MTB / skiing holidays etc

Even if you did, I would imagine it would get a bit boring going on your own?

just not sure I could be arsed with all that, and think my job’s probably more interesting.

Furry muff. Are you a stuntperson?

no. A bit being controversial, though tbh I'm a bit tired of retired friends and neighbours asking how long I have got to go before I can join in with their vague pottering about, like work is some terrible imposition. Truth is I'm a lot better at my work than I am at surfing/mtb/making coffee tables etc, much as i love these things, and I do get a feeling of value from my work, and would like to keep elements of it post retirement (which I guess I could afford now fwiw, just would feel a lot more hassle to retire than to keep going).

Someone just offered you an absolute belter of a job that you think shit, the kind of job you get one crack at but may involve upping sticks eventially

I enjoy working. So this ^^

However, that job will not last forever and I’m assuming the “belter” includes massive salary and responsibilities so yeah, bring it on.. then ditch it when you think you’ve had enough/got even more cash stashed away.

Retirement
I am nearly there and I have years of things to do planned

i have an old howies tshirt that says "TIME NOT CASH"

wise words for me. if i could stop working right now and not have to struggle to pay bills, i'd do it in a heartbeat.

If I could I'd quit or go part time.

Though if the jobs fun and you have a fall back off its dog shite go for it

Astronaut?
Seriously though why not take the job with a 3 year plan in mind. Save up many pounds in that time frame and you can maybe build up some holiday weeks too. Then resign Bank someextra cash and have a little part time zero stress job to take you up to full retirement. Check your ni conts are paid for the full pens.benefit.
Get a decent pensions assessment to help you know how much you are likely to be paid out.

If I didn't have to pay bills I'd still have to do something, but that something would be vastly different to what I do now.

It's your decision to make, if it really is your dream job then you have nothing to lose. If it doesn't go as you'd like then you're in the ideal position as you can leave without worrying about paying the mortgage. Just remember to keep telling yourself that.

mickmcd- saw your post on social media yesterday.
Looks like an amazing opportunity, but I'd imagine it would be high stress with the added corporate BS.

You're clearly in demand, so could you not do some contracting/consulting and mix 1 and 2 together?
Do a bit of pottering and pick those cool jobs you actually fancy doing for a few months?
Also, start making the high end bike stuff!

@cokie yesterday was a very strange day...

I suppose I'm not driven by cash but the technical challenge and at that place...well all the toys we're there at the first place

here's a certain fear factor that at 43 if I decide to go and have some time out ..I'm not going to be at the cutting edge anymore though experienced

Those singer cars though peraps if they said here's a car Mike it's yours yep keep it

Work to live Not Live to work.

As long as you keep your brain active you should be fine.

This is an interesting read.

Does early retirement mean an early death?

🤔

Rough calc is 25x what you will spend PA invested should see you right.

Don’t flame me. I took a massive gamble when I was 26 and went all in on a startup - suffered for 3 years and exited in a position I never needed to work for money again. I basically retired.....for a week. God it was boring, everyone else was at work. So have been working ever since and while I generally enjoy it I’m now done and happy to cut back but not give up. Time is precious, enjoy life whatever that means to you. (Imagine what Bullheart would say !)

Not bragging but I'm in my dream job and had the same question to ask myself last year.

We could remortgage the house and pay it off in 10 years. Move somewhere cheaper and live off the equity with low hours jobs. I'd be 45.

Or

Move to a bigger house and financially commit to working for another 20 years.

We moved to a bigger house because my wife and I both do the same job and we enjoy it. Some variables to consider though are that we work on average 5 on 5 off and have a final salary pension.

I completely agree with work to live not live to work but it's well balanced at the moment so happy to carry on.

Work is just doing shit other people want you to do they can't or won't do themselves. Mostly.

Work is just doing shit other people want you to do they can’t or won’t do themselves

Beg to differ.

I'm fortunate enough to do a job I believe in and see results from. I'm also fortunate enough to be renumerated OK for it, for charity work. I also work with a great gang. I travel to interesting places (Cumbernauld to Myanmar). And I just got promoted.

Cheers for the differing viewpoints and experiences