Really sucks being young 20s. Between climate and the looming covid recession, is there even a point to planning for the future? Seems like the world will be trashed before I'm anywhere close to retirement anyway, almost like I might as well enjoy my money while I can do things with it.
Can’t find text online but it’s a good story. Most humans want to live when older, even if circumstances bad.
As for the future, you may consider a few things:
1. What will happen of everyone sensible to problems lives a life of empty hedonism? Rather than trying to improve them.
2. Will the change really happen so fast that death will be preferable? See the story above. Young you can not reliably plan for what older you will consider early of living.
3. Certainly your analysis cautions against working to death in a job you hate to enjoy it all at 65. But, that plan is not a good idea even if the world at 65 is paradise. These are your most capable years and it makes sense to enjoy them.
In my own case, I worked really hard for about three years, built a working business, and now work a moderate amount on it. (I mean really hard. Sacrificing three years can be rational, sacrificing 30-40 is not. And I still did some memorable things in that time, like travel)
The other option is to pick some work which is moderately enjoyable, and leaves ample free time and mental space to pursue your interests.
Or work you love for itself.
But again, I fail to see what the end of the world does to either of these calculations. In my view the hate your life then retire then die was obsolete regardless.
However, there is a fourth option that presents itself regarding the future apocalypse: work against it. For instance, if you have the technical skills, there is a booming field in renewable energy or carbon extraction.
What about animals specifically? Current nature reserves exist because people in the past decided to make them. You can be part of making one.
Or you can make a lot of money and fund these causes directly.
If everybody gives up hope then hope is lost. My expected future scenario is so grim it startles my parents. But I also think we could still avert much of and it’s worth trying.
As for the recession, that’s far too short term to worry about. If you’re posting here you surely have the skills to avoid it. I came into the market through the 2008-09 recession. Statistically, it was worse for my cohort, but my friends are doing just fine. It lowers results on average, but that doesn’t mean all individual results are disastrous.