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Sergey Brin's Unretirement

inc.com

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Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#271

Post by saalweachter »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #180
awendt wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This! People need to get a life. I wouldn't have any trouble keeping myself busy after retirement. I do not have nearly enough time for the things I really WANT to do beside work.

I think that's the one silver lining of the pandemic's lockdowns; some people were at home again for extended periods of time, finding themselves with a lot more free time and in a place that wasn't just for eating and sleeping.

I also have think that's a substantial reason behind the RTO push: some people found their lives empty without the office social environment, even after two years, and enough of them had the power to change it.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#272

Post by rambambram »

jonathanstrange wrote: post #193

This might rub some people on HN the wrong way but what these people call "work" isn't really work in the sense of what most people consider work. They jet here and there, intervene wherever they want, and everybody listens to them all the time. They can cancel and postpone meetings as they wish, and so on and so forth. It's work in the same sense as buying another house is work -- you have to get together with lawye…

Was looking for this comment. Cutting meat in some factory is considered 'work', running a global tech business is also considered 'work'. Both 'work', different requirements from the 'worker'.

One is doing lifework, the other is doing labor.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#273

Post by LatencyKills »

boringg wrote: post #262

The article hits on something that I believe everyone is at least aware of. Id argue the next generation is best suited for not having this issue that the current generation does have as they at least seem to think about everything and are very careful about tying their identity to work which prior generations seem to do without much thought (for better or worse).

I'm in my 50s. About two months into retirement I fell into the deepest depression of my life because I couldn't shake the "who am I without my job?" question. It took almost a year (and therapy) to accept that I still add value without working.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#274

Post by renegade-otter »

cuttothechase wrote: post #47

Sergey's challenge looks like is not in retiring early or with non-work. We had a high performing co-worker who was scared witless after a lay-off episode and this was not because he was worried about lacking money or loss of prestige., but because he could not come to terms with the simple fact of facing the 9 am on a Monday morning with absolutely no expectations. It freaked so much to not feel the hustle and the a…

That is really not healthy.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#275

Post by Waterluvian »

bradley13 wrote: post #267

I totally understand. I "retired" last summer, but I continue to work about 50%, mostly at a new place that needs my help. I like what I do. Anyway, gaming/reading/etc. are fine and dandy, but not something I want to do 24/7. The only thing I don't quite get about Brin is going back to Google. Since he doesn't need the money, why not support open source AI projects?

Because it’s what he knows.

People often like doing the things they’re good at and not necessarily because they’re interesting.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#276

Post by seer »

chihuahua wrote: post #97

About a year ago I had an unpleasant and demoralizing experience at work, and thought "fuck it, I don't need to put up with this shit any more" and decided I'd had enough of work for now. In the spring and summer and early fall, it's easy to find enough things to do outside. Right now in the rainy, windy winter it's a bit more difficult. Today I went to the gym at 7am, then did a 2 hour indoor cycling workout at home…

I highly advise traveling - went a similar experience - had some savings that could last for a few years (much longer if I stretched them)

So just decided to get a motorbike license and go check out Asia.

Ended up finding a partner (totally unexpected) selling everything, moving abroad, marrying them and now expecting a child (planned), all in a manner of 3 years.

Has been quite the joyful and interesting experience, all after I had the deeply depressing feeling of having “solved life” at my nice position in the EU.

There are so many places in the world where you can feel you are actually doing great service to the community, on a shoestring budget and feel happy and fulfilled.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#277

Post by brador »

Imagine if they locked Serg out of the protected quantum research he loved reading as it was department employees only and the only way he could continue his access was returning to work at a senior enough level to cross read. Imagine.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#279

Post by renegade-otter »

stavros wrote: post #194
scotty79 wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

When you define yourself solely by work, you lose your entire identity when you retire. Most people don't have hobbies, so work is literally the one thing they have in their lives.

This is why people should have an opportunity to semi-retire when they are still young. A year or two. United States safety net does not really allow that unless you are loaded already.

It's very helpful to zoom out and do LIFE for a change. I got laid off three years ago, started my own project. Didn't take off, but also two mini-mes showed up during that time, and I am infinitely grateful that I could punt on work and just be there.

Hashtag blessed and all. That backrent I owe now, well, that's a bitch.

Re: Sergey Brin's Unretirement

#280

Post by Draiken »

trueismywork wrote: post #249
awendt wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This! People need to get a life. I wouldn't have any trouble keeping myself busy after retirement. I do not have nearly enough time for the things I really WANT to do beside work.

Why? Why can work noy be your retirement plan as well? I have benefitted a lot from professors who have kept teaching (voluntarily) till physically possible.

Putting all your eggs in one basket is one big reason.

As a developer if, let's say, AI does make my profession no longer a viable option monetarily, what would happen if my entire identity is tied to it?

You cannot fully control your career no matter what. Many external factors can affect it and you deeply if that's your identity.

What if you can't even teach after retiring because nobody else cares about it?

For me it's about risk/reward and unfortunately in our current system the fact that all my efforts reward someone else disproportionately more completely taints it.

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