OK, it's not about working is it? The point is whether or not you HAVE to work. Someone may have a job as a Walmart Greeter, and is doing it because that person craves contact with people on a daily basis. But that person may have plenty of FI funds. It's just that they want that personal contact. So this person brings in plenty of money and could never leave home if desired.
So the point of this post is as follows:
"The best way to have a job is NOT to have to have it at all".
Here, we have chosen to do a wage type job and we get some money and benefit from it, because we have a desire to remain in the flow of things in the traditional world.
Another reason is the commendable one that you want to work somewhere that helps your fellow man. Maybe you work driving a bus at a Senior Center, taking people back and forth to the doctor, shopping, whatever. Maybe the Senior Center pays you a little wage. You don't need the wage, you need the feeling of being of assistance. You could of course offer to do it for nothing.
Maybe your just interested in some organization or outfit, and you stuff envelopes or mop the floor, or represent the organization. You might get paid, or just get expenses, travel, or reimbursed or even get nothing. Your doing it because you chose to do it.
The point is that you, being FI, can still do whatever you like to do, and pay or not, it is solely your own choice.
Bottom Line: ERE does not equal a rocking chair and being shut out of the day to day of things.
That is my view of it and I would like to hear yours.
