Posted by Canadian Dream on July 20, 2011
The purpose of early retirement is of course to have the option not to work. The key word in that sentence was ‘option‘. You can work if you happen to actually love what you are doing. While I know I’m still in the honeymoon phase of my new day job I recently had an odd experience just prior to my current vacation which makes me think I might even consider keeping working longer than I have to if I can do something similar.
So what happened? I left work and I wasn’t desperate to start my vacation. I was looking forward to going on my trip, but at the same time I wasn’t trying to escape work. I mean I left the work, because I had finished what I needed to get done, not because I was trying to get out of the door. That is literally the first time that has ever happened to me during one of my day jobs. Normally I’m crawling up the walls trying to start my vacation, but this time I didn’t have that feeling at all.
It was a different feeling for sure and I certainly hope it continues. While I come home a little tried from my job at times I actually like going to work again. Which is a huge leap forward from my old day job and I actually find myself in that odd spot of liking everything I currently do for work. It’s a little surreal to be this happy most the time…actually I have to check my arm periodically to ensure I’m not being injected with something to keep up this feeling.
Yet this experience to date is teaching me something. I have to stop settling for my day jobs. I’m far enough along in my plan I can handle a period of unemployment if it happens, but I should start being a little bit more picky on what I want to do and what it pays. Also I have to be more willing to move on if things go sour on a job. Often some items are short term and you deal with them, but if they change into longer term issues I should be more willing to move on. Life is just too short to be unhappy at my job when I have other options.
So that is my plan going forward…I’m going to be a bit more picky about my day jobs because frankly I can be at this point in my life. Damn, that is a good feeling to have.
Did you ever get picky about what work you did in your career? Or was that a luxury you never worried about having?
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Posted by Dave on July 19, 2011
This is a guest post by Dave, who is also looking to retire no later than 45, but unlike Tim has no kids and doesn’t want any. Dave is from Ontario and is working towards his CGA certification.
I skipped going to the gym today to work out. I did it mostly because I am sore from an extremely hard couple of kettlebell workouts earlier in the week, and also because I just didn’t feel like it. I’m not really sure what impact this will have to my long-term fitness goals, but I’m thinking that I will still be able to do (physically) the same type of things next week as I am able to right now (maybe more, since I may be able to lift my arms above my shoulders). I will be back working out next week and maintain some sort of program.
Financially, for the next few days I will be skipping that plan as well. I’m spending some time in Toronto this weekend, and flying out to Prince Edward Island to explore Charlottetown and visit a friend I haven’t seen in over a year (I’ve also never been to PEI either, which should be a fun experience). These couple of trips are pretty expensive and the money I’m spending there could be put against my outstanding mortgage debt or invested.
In the past couple of years though, I have achieved a balance – I don’t worry too much about the significant amount of money I will spend in the next week because what I’m doing is “good enough” for me. Similarly, I understand that instead of being at say 100% peak condition physically if I added an extra workout or two per week, I’m probably running somewhere around 80%.
The plan that I have set up (as long as there are no significant changes in income or expenses) will allow me to be financially independent in around 14 years. I have no intention of changing my aggressive mortgage payment plan, or depleting my savings to do the things that I want to do (such as this super-expensive vacation). I’m comfortable with the extra 6 months or a year or so that my working life will be extended because of these trips or other expenses that come up.
I generally have a “good enough” attitude with most things, I tend to think that being perfect all the time with everything leads to disappointment or discouragement when things don’t go as planned. I think I would drive my wife crazy if I made her count every penny and stick to a strict budget exactly – it would drive me nuts as well.
Are you strict with your financial plan, or do you take a “good enough” attitude like myself?
Posted by Robert on July 18, 2011
I’m excited about meeting others in the Canadian Dream community. I look forward to meeting Tim and his family, since I’ve gotten a glimpse into their lives through reading this blog. And I know that, despite the earn & spend lifestyle of the majority, there are people out there who save as much as possible and plan to retire young, just like us. Knowing that we’re not the only ones to plan our lifestyle this way makes it seem a little less crazy.
Date and Time. On Saturday July 23, 2011, we’ll meet at 2:30. We can’t reserve a space, but there’s lots of room and I’ll arrive early to stake out a firepit. We’ll bring hotdogs, marshmallows, watermelon, chips and pop. If you like to eat anything else (roasted over a fire, or not), feel free to bring it. We are able to stay as long as we wish.
Location. We’ll be at Bowness Park in Calgary, AB. The address is 8900 48 Avenue Northwest, Calgary, AB T3B 2B2. You can see it on Google Maps. Enter from 48th Ave NW and there is parking within the park. It may be tight, but if there are spots available, it would be ideal to turn left, then right and left again to drive west along the north side of the park and park in the lot or along the street. We plan to be at the third picnic area, where there is a firepit, picnic tables and a shelter. The weather looks like it may be cool with possible showers, but we’ll meet rain or shine.
Activities. Some of us will be happy to just chat about earning, spending, saving and investing money, but spouses or children may want to do other things. There’s a grassy field for soccer or frisbee (or anything else), a large playground, a tiny spray park and a pathway along the Bow River.
And best of all, Tim will have his book, Free at 45, for sale. If you would like a signed copy, this is the perfect opportunity.
We’d love to get an idea of how many people to expect, so please either leave a comment or use the contact form to send Tim an email. We look forward to spending some time together with people who understand the importance of quality of life.
