Why so concerned with retirement?

business trek wrote:

Conservatively I travel 6-8 weeks a year.

On top of traveling more than I ever could if I just worked and did it when I was older I get to travel when I'm young AND see a nice cross section of cultures and people as they grow over time. I have friends in tons of different countries and regions. Something I would not have if I just took 2 weeks vacation with my full time job and waited until I was 60.

TAA wrote:

Wouldn't travelling and experiencing other cultures be way easier if you retired? How often do you actually go on vacation? Two weeks a year? Versus retiring and being able to afford to do it all the time.

How do you have that much time off? Seasonal Work?

essentially contract work. I could work a lot more but I don't. I would say I take 12-16 weeks off over the course of a year and work 20-30 hours for the other weeks.

business trek wrote:

essentially contract work. I could work a lot more but I don't. I would say I take 12-16 weeks off over the course of a year and work 20-30 hours for the other weeks.

How do you justify the fact that by paying virtually no income tax, you are mooching off those of us who work hard and pay quite a bit of income tax? Even though you're not receiving food stamps or medicaid, you still benefit from many tremendously expensive government services that you contribute almost nothing toward?

business trek wrote:

No your lifestyle doesn't change at all on the last 10% but it does on the first 90!

ie. getting a stock standard 9-5 job so you can even afford that 10-20% in the first place is what I'm referring to.

How about live your whole life as an 8 and the last 15 years as a 6 instead of your whole life as a 6 and the last 15 as a 7

The detail that these types always "forget" to mention is their wealthy parents who also happen to be their cushy emergency fund and retirement fund. Kind of ruins the vibe to admit to this, though. There's even a name for this: trustafarian

unfortunately not the case - I don't want to get into my family history but definitely won't be left an inheritance. Also paid for my full post secondary education and beyond. I have an emergency fund.

Patty Cake wrote:

business trek wrote:

No your lifestyle doesn't change at all on the last 10% but it does on the first 90!

ie. getting a stock standard 9-5 job so you can even afford that 10-20% in the first place is what I'm referring to.

How about live your whole life as an 8 and the last 15 years as a 6 instead of your whole life as a 6 and the last 15 as a 7

The detail that these types always "forget" to mention is their wealthy parents who also happen to be their cushy emergency fund and retirement fund. Kind of ruins the vibe to admit to this, though. There's even a name for this: trustafarian

Don't really want to hijack this thread by arguing tax policy and what type of people provide the most value to society - as well you come off as kind of hostile.

how do you look at yourself? wrote:

business trek wrote:

essentially contract work. I could work a lot more but I don't. I would say I take 12-16 weeks off over the course of a year and work 20-30 hours for the other weeks.

How do you justify the fact that by paying virtually no income tax, you are mooching off those of us who work hard and pay quite a bit of income tax? Even though you're not receiving food stamps or medicaid, you still benefit from many tremendously expensive government services that you contribute almost nothing toward?

Exactly. Most people live out of fear. Think of some actions you or your friends may or may not do:drive a fancy car (impress people - fear of rejection) drink too much (fear of not fitting in) etc.

boomerz wrote:

I used to think like the OP, then I turned 23.

Life is hard, finances are hard. The prospect of facing old age in poverty is absolutely terrifying. Therefore, I save like a squirrel.

privilegeD

business trek wrote:

Exactly. Most people live out of fear. Think of some actions you or your friends may or may not do:

drive a fancy car (impress people - fear of rejection)

drink too much (fear of not fitting in)

etc.

What a silly simplistic statement.

As someone else asked - Are you 12 years old?

I like your idea of doing something you love. The problem is no one is going to pay me to sleep late, go running, drink beer, watch Netflix, and travel.

Oh but I could write about these things for money! No, that's a writing job. I don't like writing about drinking beer, I only like the drinking part.

So instead I work at a job I tolerate but at least it pays well and I only work 40 hours per week. Then I can live like the real me on weekends.

Unless you have a better idea for me getting paid to binge watch House of Cards, unfortunately it's the cube life for me.

I'm 30 - read above. Yes it is a simple statement but one I believe is quite true.

Fearful Freddie wrote:

business trek wrote:

Exactly. Most people live out of fear. Think of some actions you or your friends may or may not do:

drive a fancy car (impress people - fear of rejection)

drink too much (fear of not fitting in)

etc.

What a silly simplistic statement.

As someone else asked - Are you 12 years old?

I'm 35 and agree with you, op. My strategy for escape is different though. I work 9:45-5 in a job I don't totally despise (but would rather do something else).

The catch is that I make $500K. My wife makes 200.

We're buying our way out and into the leisure class baby!

Pretty much the same as all my friends and the status quo for most people. Sadly when you challenge this you tend to get a ton of backlash. You "tolerate" most of your waking life. Think about that. Most people don't. They don't question why the work week is 40 hours instead of 20 or 60. They just do what everyone else is doing.

Hjj wrote:

I like your idea of doing something you love. The problem is no one is going to pay me to sleep late, go running, drink beer, watch Netflix, and travel.

Oh but I could write about these things for money! No, that's a writing job. I don't like writing about drinking beer, I only like the drinking part.

So instead I work at a job I tolerate but at least it pays well and I only work 40 hours per week. Then I can live like the real me on weekends.

Unless you have a better idea for me getting paid to binge watch House of Cards, unfortunately it's the cube life for me.

We all make a decision. Finance your own old age or throw yourself on the mercy of your fellow citizens (through the mechanism of the modern welfare state). Most people don't value their personal autonomy very much, so they choose to accept the generosity of their fellow citizens and the loss of pride and independence that implies. In fact most people don't even understand that they have made that choice.

So what's your advice? There's no job out there that I would love, so what's plan B?

Jimmy21 wrote:

I could be way off base but I'm going to guess OP is in debt up to his eyeballs and had no assets to show for it, other than his car which he is majorly backwards in

I think OP is Flagpole doing what he does best... Coincidence he came back for this thread a short time later.

business trek wrote:

Don't really want to hijack this thread by arguing tax policy and what type of people provide the most value to society - as well you come off as kind of hostile.

how do you look at yourself? wrote:

How do you justify the fact that by paying virtually no income tax, you are mooching off those of us who work hard and pay quite a bit of income tax? Even though you're not receiving food stamps or medicaid, you still benefit from many tremendously expensive government services that you contribute almost nothing toward?

So they way that you justify your mooching behavior to yourself is by not thinking about it very hard. Got it.

I agree. Most people don't value their autonomy and choose to be put in a box 9-5.

notrump wrote:

We all make a decision. Finance your own old age or throw yourself on the mercy of your fellow citizens (through the mechanism of the modern welfare state). Most people don't value their personal autonomy very much, so they choose to accept the generosity of their fellow citizens and the loss of pride and independence that implies. In fact most people don't even understand that they have made that choice.

Nope not at all. I would love to debate tax policy and who adds value to society but this thread has nothing to do with that. Feel free to start a new thread about this topic and direct me there if it's important for you.

how do you look at yourself? wrote:

business trek wrote:

Don't really want to hijack this thread by arguing tax policy and what type of people provide the most value to society - as well you come off as kind of hostile.

So they way that you justify your mooching behavior to yourself is by not thinking about it very hard. Got it.