First let me honestly acknowledge that I am extremely fortunate to be in the position I am in.
Very recently retired.
Enough to live on reasonably well. Probably lower middle class North American standards.
I live in Canada so GENERALLY, a health crisis will probably not wipe us out.
I could still fall victim to several perfect storm catastrophic events. For example if the Red River floods again to greater than 1997 levels I could lose the house. Insurance would laugh at me and we might be seriously screwed for a place to live and unable to afford rent or another mortgage.
I know, I know - welcome to how the rest of the world lives. I get it.
I grew up in a household with a father who suffered from chronic anxiety. Even though he is deceased now, I still suffer from his life lessons.
These lessons basically sum up as - "the point of life is to try to get to the end with nothing bad happening."
So here is the situation. I have been offered and accepted a very short term contract where I used to work. Its great money and the work is not that hard. However, a couple weeks into it, I am noticing again why I wanted to retire. Work subtracts from life. I have less time and energy for the pursuits that really matter to me. It is possible there could be offered and extension on this contract which I could say yes or no to.
So here is the A and B of the life I (feel) could lead.
A. Work as long as you can for as much as you can and build up a nest egg to minimize as much as possible any catastrophic outcome so you can get to the "end" like age 80, and die without being homeless. Happiness comes 2nd to "security".
B. Work as much as you had to in order to retire as early as you can and be reasonably comfortable so you can cram in as much enjoyable quality life before you die. Happiness at the price of some security.
I am generally trying to do B. Largely inspired by watching several co workers basically get sick and die either just before they retire or shortly after.
Mentally I am trying to move my outlook away from "get to the end (80 ish) without having anything bad happening", to "don't measure your life in duration, measure it in quality".
Option B. though comes with risks. Having a bunch of extra cash won't save me from a cancer diagnosis, but it might keep me from becoming homeless in a flood disaster.
Anyone have experience or opinion on this? What choices have you made and why? Have you got sick and wished you hadn't spent your remaining quality years slaving away?
Very recently retired.
Enough to live on reasonably well. Probably lower middle class North American standards.
I live in Canada so GENERALLY, a health crisis will probably not wipe us out.
I could still fall victim to several perfect storm catastrophic events. For example if the Red River floods again to greater than 1997 levels I could lose the house. Insurance would laugh at me and we might be seriously screwed for a place to live and unable to afford rent or another mortgage.
I know, I know - welcome to how the rest of the world lives. I get it.
I grew up in a household with a father who suffered from chronic anxiety. Even though he is deceased now, I still suffer from his life lessons.
These lessons basically sum up as - "the point of life is to try to get to the end with nothing bad happening."
So here is the situation. I have been offered and accepted a very short term contract where I used to work. Its great money and the work is not that hard. However, a couple weeks into it, I am noticing again why I wanted to retire. Work subtracts from life. I have less time and energy for the pursuits that really matter to me. It is possible there could be offered and extension on this contract which I could say yes or no to.
So here is the A and B of the life I (feel) could lead.
A. Work as long as you can for as much as you can and build up a nest egg to minimize as much as possible any catastrophic outcome so you can get to the "end" like age 80, and die without being homeless. Happiness comes 2nd to "security".
B. Work as much as you had to in order to retire as early as you can and be reasonably comfortable so you can cram in as much enjoyable quality life before you die. Happiness at the price of some security.
I am generally trying to do B. Largely inspired by watching several co workers basically get sick and die either just before they retire or shortly after.
Mentally I am trying to move my outlook away from "get to the end (80 ish) without having anything bad happening", to "don't measure your life in duration, measure it in quality".
Option B. though comes with risks. Having a bunch of extra cash won't save me from a cancer diagnosis, but it might keep me from becoming homeless in a flood disaster.
Anyone have experience or opinion on this? What choices have you made and why? Have you got sick and wished you hadn't spent your remaining quality years slaving away?
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