How I live and how I work • Hacker News Board

Re: How I live and how I work

#51

Post by edanm » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 12:59 PM UTC

coob wrote: post #42

nwh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe that there is something special about not needing to spend large amounts of money on fleeting entertainment. It's something that none of my peers have managed; they all still spend their income on drinking, cigarettes, tattoos, holidays and so forth. I don't particularly look down on them for it as they're obviously happy in their world doing it. I just think there's more enjoyment to be had outside of a 9-…

I don't particularly look down on them for it as they're obviously happy in their world doing it. You quite clearly do: I believe that there is something special about not needing to spend large amounts of money on fleeting entertainment.

Counterxample:

"I don't particularly look down on regular humans."

"I believe that there is something special about Superman, who can travel faster than a speeding bullet and is a man of steel."

It seems clear to me that you can find someone who's different from a group special, without looking down on the group.

Re: How I live and how I work

#52

Post by justanother » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:02 PM UTC

Somewhat surprised at all the revulsion to this post. I live pretty similarly to this fellow, but it isn't the least bit boring.

When I finally saw the right bicycle, I spent about $450 on it, then rode 100 miles on it. It was a life-changing adventure.

When I finally saw the right sailboat, I spent about $2700 on it (less than many/most HN'ers paychecks), then sailed 100 miles on it with the wife. It was a life-changing adventure.

It isn't up to me to say which way of living is best. But I'd lay odds that I'm going to be pretty well satisfied with the one I've chosen, when my last day comes.

Incidentally, Alex doesn't appear to be 'hoarding' cash, he just seems to have saved up a couple months' glide path, something everyone is supposed to do, but according to the recent CNN article, almost nobody does. When interest rates go back up, this seems likely to change.

Re: How I live and how I work

#53

Post by insuffi » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:08 PM UTC

Stranger2013 wrote: post #43

insuffi wrote: post #28

I completely agree with the OP. Let's be honest - you don't NEED a 100 k car right after graduation, even if you're earning a 100 k a year(I've seen this happen). What he's trying to say is that there's a huge difference between NEED and WANT that people often mis-perceive. If you only buy shit you NEED, you can save up, then quit your job and do things that you WANT to do, without having to worry about job security,…

What if that car is a real chick-magnet though?

Do you really want a chick that is attracted to your car instead of being attracted to you?

Re: How I live and how I work

#54

Post by pieterhg » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:09 PM UTC

roderick3427 wrote: post #32

tzaman wrote: post #7

excellent point... if you want to live like a flower. Some of us prefer going to places, trying new things, meeting new people, having a family and hobbies. And all those things cost money. When I'm old I'd rather say I'm broke because I lived my life to the fullest than I lived conservatively so I can afford to be a stressless elder with savings (hopefully I wont be downvoted because I beg to differ)

I think it's a matter of comfort. Some people can live life flying by the seat of their pants. In my opinion, those types of people are comfortable with moving fast, breaking and fixing things, and trying new adventures. They can look back at their lives and tell their grand kids how they'd lived to the fullest. But, on the other side of the spectrum. We have people who feel comfortable living very conservative lives…

Not spending money does not equal living a very conservative life at all.

I spend $1000 per month and live luxuriously in an emerging market. I save up $5000 per month and do more free fun stuff than most people I know. I am self-employed and move to a new country every few months. My daily life is an adventure in itself. Some of the best 'entertainment' you can experience in life does not have to cost a lot.

It's not about living beneath your means, it's about choosing your own path in life, instead of following society's pressure in getting a 9-to-5 and spending all your income on stuff that won't make you happy in the long run.

Re: How I live and how I work

#55

Post by theorique » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:17 PM UTC

justanother wrote: post #52

Somewhat surprised at all the revulsion to this post. I live pretty similarly to this fellow, but it isn't the least bit boring. When I finally saw the right bicycle, I spent about $450 on it, then rode 100 miles on it. It was a life-changing adventure. When I finally saw the right sailboat, I spent about $2700 on it (less than many/most HN'ers paychecks), then sailed 100 miles on it with the wife. It was a life-chan…

Financial advisers suggest that everyone 'should' save up 6-9 months of expenses in an emergency fund in case of job loss, etc. I don't know what percent of people actually do this, though.

Re: How I live and how I work

#56

Post by deepvibrations » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:19 PM UTC

There seems to be a lot of chat about nothing in these comments...Let me put it simply for everyone: "The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."

That is the core message and there is a lot of truth behind it...

Re: How I live and how I work

#57

Post by Tyrannosaurs » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:22 PM UTC

bowietrousers wrote: post #31

I know a few people who, if not live exactly like this, certainly think like it. Walling yourself off from all dependencies (physical, financial, emotional) in order to grow your brain and Just Write Code might seem like a smart thing to do, and the purism of it will appeal to some. If the OP genuinely obtains no enjoyment at all from anything else, then that's fine - that's what it sounds like. But it's the pay-off…

Exactly.

I moan about work sometimes but I like work - I like the social interaction, social interaction needs people, people are sometimes dicks, dicks are something I moan about BUT overall I'm happier because I work despite occasional downsides.

Re: How I live and how I work

#58

Post by Tyrannosaurs » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:24 PM UTC

pmelendez wrote: post #39

wellboy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's not looking down on anyone or comparing himself with people who are disabled, he's looking at people who have the same responsibilites as him, but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom. Growing up doesn't mean getting a job and saving money, but getting out there all by yourself and doing awesome shit. I wrote about that more in detail http://appreneur-diaries.com/its-time-to…

> "but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom." How come starting a family is a "short" term gratification?

I can testify that unless you get off on sleep deprivation and clearing up other people's bodily waste there's little short term gratification in a family.

Re: How I live and how I work

#59

Post by jasallen » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:25 PM UTC

justanother wrote: post #52

Somewhat surprised at all the revulsion to this post. I live pretty similarly to this fellow, but it isn't the least bit boring. When I finally saw the right bicycle, I spent about $450 on it, then rode 100 miles on it. It was a life-changing adventure. When I finally saw the right sailboat, I spent about $2700 on it (less than many/most HN'ers paychecks), then sailed 100 miles on it with the wife. It was a life-chan…

I think I'm in more or less the same, uh, boat. I made a very good living for about 15 years more because I was learning a lot from those I was working with than because I was climbing the ladder. A few months ago, my adventure changed. I'm bootstrapping now, and have a reasonable amount of runway. Even still I will occasionally have a night out, and I can afford business investments that make sense.

Currently reading Seth Godin's Icarus Deception, and to put it in his terms, I think the idea of having a job and spending >80% of your income on a rolling basis really plays into the industrial machine that wants to keep us as good little cogs.

Re: How I live and how I work

#60

Post by Tyrannosaurs » Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 1:26 PM UTC

mfieldhouse wrote: post #47

pmelendez wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "but rather go for short term gratification than for creating their own freedom." How come starting a family is a "short" term gratification?

I've often seen the choice of having kids or getting married being used as a 'quick fix'. Usually for a failing relationship, insecurities or poor financial choices (benefits++). It's not always, but it can be.

Anyone having children to patch up a dodgy relationship is an idiot.

"Things aren't great between us are they?"

"No, what should we do?"

"I know let's try something that will leave us exhausted, financially worse off and with no time to ourselves, that will DEFINITELY help."