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Early Retirement Extreme Forums » Lifestyle Questions

1. 

   Canadian Dream
   

   Novice
   Joined: Nov '11
   Posts: 25

   For lack of a better term I have been recently feeling a little stuck. I've got multiple streams of income (day job, school board trustee, invesments, small publishing business), lots of interests outside of the day job, good relationships with family and even some medium terms personal goals like a trip next summer out to the East coast of Canada and researching a new book. Yet I still feel like I never have enough time to do it all.

   So while the plan to FI is coming along nicely I feel a little like I'm in limbo where each day is the same as the last. While I generally like my life I feel like I'm constantly debating internally about having more time now to do things verus sucking it up and saving for FI.

   So how do you guys plan for that limbo time of being well on the way to FI, but not close enough to really consider dropping more work off yet? Any ideas?

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   George the original one
   

   Expert
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 1,942

   If the plate is full, then it's time to drop something for the family dog to eat. Or just belly up to the bar to have some hair of the dog that bit you. :-)

   The truth is that there is never enough time to do it ALL.

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   zarathustra
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Apr '12
   Posts: 60

   It's interesting that your first paragraph is about how many things you have going on that you value (right?) and you are wondering how you can maintain doing it all, then you talk about feeling like every day is the same and you're in limbo waiting for FI . . . So are you too busy or do you feel like you're trying to busy up your life so you don't dwell on what your end-goal is?

   I've thought about that . . . it's easy to sit and dream about the end-goal and wish it were here already, but there's a lot that can be enjoyed and worked on to become the person I want to be when I hit FI/ERE. It sounds like you are trying to do that but maybe over-committing, making you dream for when you have more free time?

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   Bytta
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 55

   Hi Canadian Dream, I was in the same position so I ran the numbers and created at least 3 different scenarios of budget and lifestyle. For example, what would happen if you dropped one of the jobs, what's the income, how much can you live on and what would you do?

   Run different simulation and combination between jobs, incomes and lifestyles until you find the one that fits you.

   After I ran my number, I decided to drop my full-time job, live nomadic on bare-boned budget but at some stage I will return to work temporarily. If I had continued the full-time job until I fully ERE, it would drive me nuts.

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   mikeBOS
   

   Master
   Joined: Nov '10
   Posts: 554

   Any ideas?

   Drink more?

   Posted 1 year ago #
6. 

   Canadian Dream
   

   Novice
   Joined: Nov '11
   Posts: 25

   @George

   Good point. I think the stuck feeling might be a little burnout for a brutal March. The issue is there isn't a whole lot I can drop right now, other than writing which I enjoy the most.

   @zarathustra

   Perhaps I'm just pushing myself too much. I like to think I have all this time to do stuff, but I'm still limited by the number hours in the day. Perhaps I just have to drop the guilt of trying to do more and do what I can.

   @Bytta,

   I've already done that. I worked it forwards, backwards and sideways and came up with the ideal case. I'm just not sure if I will actually make it to that case before I go: "fuck it" and just quit saying it is close enough.

   @mikeBOS,

   I have been...the first two batches of wine are ready to drink and batch #3 should be ready by the start of July. The only real debate as the temperature gets warmer is: beer or wine? *grin*

   Posted 1 year ago #
7. 

   Bytta
   

   Apprentice
   Joined: Jul '10
   Posts: 55

   Ah, the proverbial last few miles of the race. You are doing much better than most people and the temptation to quit is well, ... tempting. If you quit, you wouldn't feel too bad about yourself as you know you've come so far. But the finish line is imminent and the glory tastes so sweet. What's the worst thing that could happen if you quit? Sometimes when you realise the worst thing is not 'that' bad, you feel better about keep going and running. Just one more step, then one hundred meters more, then one km more,... and Finish!

   Posted 1 year ago #

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