Greeting Fellow Travellers!
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:51 pm
Hi all,
I'm a 26 year old male about to finish my masters on the east coast and start working in Seattle soon. I wanted to introduce myself on the forum before I start my journal in June.
I don't remember how exactly I found Jacob's ERE blog but after a long hiatus from reading books during my undergrad, I stumbled across a quick succession of mind-changing authors/book/blogs including Jacob's ERE blog(and book). And thank god I did! They really helped crystallize and give direction to my work-life plans. I've been following the blog and this forum ever since.
A little of my life story is outlined below. After my undergrad, I worked at a research institute for a while and realized that it wasn't for me. Moved to the hills, explored the tech scene back in India and found it to be an immensely rewarding experience. I was barely earning enough to sustain myself but I found an awesome community of really interesting people working in tech, art, education etc and living frugally in farms/villages/cities around the world. Seeing actual people living this nomadish lifestyle(and trying it out myself) was really inspiring! It gave me further motivation and confidence in wanting to avoid/minimize the 9-5 grind.
I was initially against pursuing my master's degree when my acceptance letter came due to the high associated costs. But a more thorough analysis(and a scholarship), showed that this could actually make the possibility of achieving FI, practical and fast. It was still somewhat of a risk going in but the plan thankfully hasn't backfired.
The current plan is to work for 3 years, achieve FI, then decide which path to follow be it continuing to do the same thing, roaming the world, going back or trying something else.
I know that over the next few years it is very possible that I may loose some of my original enthusiasm and get lulled into the stability black-hole. To counter this I've made a bet, which are very strong motivators for me, that caps my working at the same job/location to 5 years or else...*distant thunder and ominous background music*...I buy a friend 'the most expensive absinthe available at that time' . As a further motivation I get to sail to my destination of choice in the friend's (planned) boat if I win the bet!
The journal is to work as my (much needed) anchor to ERE/FI principles, as mostly everyone around me is skeptical, dismissive of such 'extreme' measures/ideas. Without it, drowning myself in the sea of consumption would be very easy. I'll describe my financial situation once I start the journal.
I hope to not confine myself to a cubicle for longer than I have to while there exist so many interesting people, places and things to explore out there. And I know what a privilege being able to even think this is. Thanks to all of you for showing me this way. Hope to keep following all your engaging life stories.
I'm a 26 year old male about to finish my masters on the east coast and start working in Seattle soon. I wanted to introduce myself on the forum before I start my journal in June.
I don't remember how exactly I found Jacob's ERE blog but after a long hiatus from reading books during my undergrad, I stumbled across a quick succession of mind-changing authors/book/blogs including Jacob's ERE blog(and book). And thank god I did! They really helped crystallize and give direction to my work-life plans. I've been following the blog and this forum ever since.
A little of my life story is outlined below. After my undergrad, I worked at a research institute for a while and realized that it wasn't for me. Moved to the hills, explored the tech scene back in India and found it to be an immensely rewarding experience. I was barely earning enough to sustain myself but I found an awesome community of really interesting people working in tech, art, education etc and living frugally in farms/villages/cities around the world. Seeing actual people living this nomadish lifestyle(and trying it out myself) was really inspiring! It gave me further motivation and confidence in wanting to avoid/minimize the 9-5 grind.
I was initially against pursuing my master's degree when my acceptance letter came due to the high associated costs. But a more thorough analysis(and a scholarship), showed that this could actually make the possibility of achieving FI, practical and fast. It was still somewhat of a risk going in but the plan thankfully hasn't backfired.
The current plan is to work for 3 years, achieve FI, then decide which path to follow be it continuing to do the same thing, roaming the world, going back or trying something else.
I know that over the next few years it is very possible that I may loose some of my original enthusiasm and get lulled into the stability black-hole. To counter this I've made a bet, which are very strong motivators for me, that caps my working at the same job/location to 5 years or else...*distant thunder and ominous background music*...I buy a friend 'the most expensive absinthe available at that time' . As a further motivation I get to sail to my destination of choice in the friend's (planned) boat if I win the bet!
The journal is to work as my (much needed) anchor to ERE/FI principles, as mostly everyone around me is skeptical, dismissive of such 'extreme' measures/ideas. Without it, drowning myself in the sea of consumption would be very easy. I'll describe my financial situation once I start the journal.
I hope to not confine myself to a cubicle for longer than I have to while there exist so many interesting people, places and things to explore out there. And I know what a privilege being able to even think this is. Thanks to all of you for showing me this way. Hope to keep following all your engaging life stories.