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Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

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Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#1

Post by flamboyant_ride »

Say I become financially independent in a span of 5 - 10 years, I am thinking of slowly switching to a part time role. I would like to get some suggestions on stuff that I could do after that.

For context, I love

* Writing code. I intend to work on SICP, and some continuous, discrete math, Probability related books when I get time. I have respect for ASF, so perhaps I might start to look deeper on that lines. I don't worry about developing useful software, I genuinely like writing code for the sake of it, as long as it's interesting

* Reading. Non fiction + fiction. Love real life based short stories, haven't shied away from Russian classics (didn't enjoy all of them). Intend to complete GEB someday!

* Badminton + running. Have done quite a few 10k runs

I hate / despise

* MegaCorps

* Enterprise + corporate software development. Have least amount of respect towards managerial folks in particular.

Stuff I wish I could do

* Working towards a more equitable society that has better safety nets around a home to stay and healthcare. Something that could encourage empathy and alleviate rat-race / cutthroat competition

I would like to get your ideas / suggestions / relevant literature that could help get perspective. If you've been on a similar place before please share your journey too. Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#3

Post by xvedejas »

I think about this often myself, since it's a real possibility I'll end up with a windfall eventually. I'm not sure how to provide you with suggestions specific to your interests and situation, but I can share my personal conclusions, at risk of this being a bit of a weird comment.

On the event of financial independence, I'll focus on building a larger coliving community of people who I trust and share similar interests and values to me. I already practice this on a small scale, by splitting a large house with four longtime friends. It has been great for my mental health and social life, as well as professional life, to live with other low-drama young professionals. But long term as we grow older I think there will be an expectation for more room, likely for families, and I think this is a problem that more money can help fix. Anyway, to the degree that I and my housemates have our shared values and resources, it already has enabled me to pursue pro-social goals without particular need for an employer to empower me. My personal sense of impact has been confined to just our broad social group, so maybe if you're concerned about having impact at the societal level, this wouldn't be satisfying to you (it is to me). But, (and sorry if this all sounds vague), I have found that the impact I've been able to have on our broader social group by providing a focal point for both fun and productive activities is the most accessible way I've been able to have any measurable impact on society. I don't regret thinking small.

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#6

Post by jstx1 »

I've thought about this and since I'm not that attracted to any of the options, I'm not that interested in retiring early. It's possible to have a good job that doesn't overwork you and some spare time outside of that for time with your family and for hobbies - financial independence isn't a prerequisite. And as long as that's the case, I'm not interesting in retirement at any age. Maybe my health will deteriorate to the point where I can't work but then none of the options look that appealing. Or maybe I'll change my mind as I get older. But until then I'm FWRN (financially whatever, retire never). Sure, I'll still save and invest and having more money is great, I just don't see financial independence as some milestone that will change anything for me and that's why I don't pursue it aggressively.

There was a recent post here that made a lot of sense to me - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28070769

I guess the more positive way to express this is - what's stopping you from doing any of these things now and why do you need to wait until FI? Retirement seems like a very roundabout way to achieve the goal of... going for a run and reading SICP.

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#7

Post by flamboyant_ride »

xvedejas wrote: post #3

I think about this often myself, since it's a real possibility I'll end up with a windfall eventually. I'm not sure how to provide you with suggestions specific to your interests and situation, but I can share my personal conclusions, at risk of this being a bit of a weird comment. On the event of financial independence, I'll focus on building a larger coliving community of people who I trust and share similar intere…

Thanks for that response, not weird at all. In fact the more I read, I understand what values feel right to me and am able to find groups / communities with the same values somewhere. This has in fact been one of my thoughts as well, perhaps with more time I should be open to explore living in a small community with shared values as mine.

> I don't regret thinking small.

Makes sense to me.

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#8

Post by flamboyant_ride »

kubanczyk wrote: post #2

I'd suggest not to be a contrarian, despite it is quite a captivating meme. You do have goals; try to follow them swimming with the (general) people, and with their social/economic systems, rather than against.

I am not wanting to be a contrarian just for the heck of it. Some of the goals are hard to live by while having a fulltime job that demands attention-span fully and is only asking for more.

Could you explain your point a bit more though?

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#9

Post by flamboyant_ride »

system2 wrote: post #4

I dedicated myself to garden work. Add some science to it, you have your lifelong hobby. Hydroponics is also very fun. While you are financially independent, why not go fully self-sufficient?

By self-sufficient do you mean learning life skills to become that?

Re: Ask HN: What to do post FI(hypothetically)?

#10

Post by flamboyant_ride »

jstx1 wrote: post #6

I've thought about this and since I'm not that attracted to any of the options, I'm not that interested in retiring early. It's possible to have a good job that doesn't overwork you and some spare time outside of that for time with your family and for hobbies - financial independence isn't a prerequisite. And as long as that's the case, I'm not interesting in retirement at any age . Maybe my health will deteriorate t…

I wouldn't call myself waiting until FI. I do spend a disciplined amount of time on a daily basis with things that I've mentioned I love doing. But as I become more experienced, the responsiblities of job demand a lot of attention + time, that it's hard to mentally switch off / say no to extra work. Basically this leads to long times before I complete a book / course.

But broadly about the "stuff I wish I could do", I think it would require a lot of personal exploration / life experience / reading and much more to know what I want to do and how I can do(if I could). This is defintely not possible with a full time job(same reasons as above) IMO.

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