Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't have to work?

I have about 7 novel manuscripts from past Nanowrimos that need editing and released. I also wouldn't mind taking a stab at writing serials or smaller books.

I have 6 different video games in various stages of completion (most either small games or very early, only one game that's pretty far along right now), and a backlog of a half dozen ideas to work on besides that, and/or porting my board game designs to a playable web version.

I have been meaning to rebuild my personal website since forever, and include links to all of the above once they get done, as well as past games I have released.

I wouldn't mind playing around with making my music loops for my games again, and getting better at drawing (I know A.I. art is a thing now, but I'd like to be able to get some of the images out of my head better).

I'd also try to drop about 30lbs and train to extend my hiking endurance from about 3 miles at a time to about 6 miles.

Wouldn't mind learning some of the new advances in A.I.

I wouldn't run out of things to do if I had the time off. I've wanted to take a sabbatical for quite some time now, but can't, unfortunately. I did get two weeks over the holidays, made some progress on my main project, but then the basement flooded and took away almost half of my break, a hunk out of our emergency savings, and a good chunk of time this month so far, so that sucked.

Definitely invest time in either/or generating recurring income, learning how to do so, getting other contracts, finding new customers, learning new skills that you think you might need in the near future, etc.

If you want to have a bit of a holiday for some of the time, fine, but try to keep some sort of rhythm to your activities; and don't slouch. This is not an indefinite time period.

You'd be surprised how many people don't mind that you're on call at times (if anything, knowing that you're busy somehow makes you more desirable? ). Just don't overload yourself with additional tasks, make sure you're doing your primary task well.

If you do do a good job doing the on-call, you might be able to negotiate an extension.

Whatever you do, make sure you have new/extra profitable things lined up for when this contract finally does peter out.