@IlliniDave: I agree the concurrent solution might work. However, I would note that one would have to be in possession of the vigor, discipline, drive, interest, motivation, initiative, time, energy, etc. to work in not just 3, but at least 4 realms, because it would not just be the case that paid employment would be holding starvation at bay while you were simultaneously writing poetry and breeding squirrels; the paid employment would also have to be producing savings towards support of future you, and some work researching passive investment would also be required.
IOW, in a variety of books written on the topic of self-employment or multi-faceted functional lifestyle, it is recommended that a J-O-B which provides just enough income, and perhaps even some additional benefits, but leaves a good deal of time/energy free for other pursuits, should be obtained. I would suggest that at Jacob level of frugality, a very part-time J-O-B or FI would be virtually interchangeable for this purpose, but there are other purposes being sought through the achievement of FI. $250,000 (or another $250,000) saved and managed vs. maybe working 10 hrs/week at a hardware store?
@jacob:
Gotcha. I would note that you don't even need personal cash production to pay for the stuff you listed if one of your activities is something like Very Part-Time Mobile-Modular Homemaker/Caretaker/Nanny/Steward/Gardener/Travel-Concubine etc. For instance, my BF will be providing me with full basic support (shelter, food, climate control, wifi, electric, shower, etc.) today, and in exchange I will clean the tub, make chicken salad, find a lost trowel, ensure delivery of a package, and take out the trash (1 hour max.) It is also not the case that I am dependent upon my BF, because there are at least 2 other individuals who would be quite happy to engage in similar barter with me. I do not know why any frugal person pays for shelter in an affluent society loaded with under-occupied housing and many people too overworked/busy/absent, elderly, young, ill or disabled to care for themselves or their homes or other property.
Of course, I still need to teach to pay my phone bill and some taxes, fees, etc., since J.Bozo and Co. caused crash of semi-passive income stream from my rare book inventory, and my perma-culture project (like squirrel-breeding!) is still running in the red due to some damn stupid-short-sighted-tool-of-bureaucracy enforcement of blight ordinance vis-a-vis my plan to live in my camper. However, although I shake fist at all the foes to my various ambitions, I do not find my part-time teaching gig to be a negative, because it is rather fulfilling to engage in activities such as helping a 4 year old with cerebral palsy to have fun playing car wash in a tub full of water.
@Kriegsspiel:
I think there has to be some sort of rule of thumb along the lines of your contribution/investment in an activity being significant enough that it might be mentioned in your obituary, eulogy, biography, or maybe something that could be made apparent if your great-great-grand-niece tried to do research on you for a genealogy project. Of course, it might not necessarily be exactly what you planned or hoped to be known for. For instance, I doubt that Arent de Peyster thought he would be best remembered for the period he spent in command of some very small fort in territory west of even the established colonies.
@Ego:
As usual, I exactly half agree with you. There are some people who should have a sign that says "READING IS NOT DOING!!!" taped over their desk or tattooed on their hand. OTOH, there are some people who should have a signs that say "THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU DO!!!" Some unfortunate people (XNTP) need both of these signs.
I am currently working in collaboration with two men-of-action on two different perma-culture type projects. One project requires turning some trees into wood chips so that humans can live there. The other project requires hauling wood chips on to previously human-blighted site, so that plants can flourish there. Some people prefer to watch how-to videos and operate dangerous large stinky machines such as trucks and chainsaws. Other people prefer to read 5 books on the topic of how best to promote beneficial fungal growth, and provide summary of acquired knowledge to other humans when they put down chainsaw to take coffee break. IOW, if reading was not a form of work with results tangible,although not immediately visible given limited access to brain structure of other humans, then I would suggest that more people would do it more often.
I did not know whether to post the below on this thread or the animal's journal where it would still have relevance due to its universal theme and particular setting.
YOUNG TAWA, (i) THE LOYAL INDIAN LOVER.
(Tum~"The yellow liaired laddie.")
In April, when icicles hung from the trees,
And Mitchigan's border continued to freeze,
A restless young Tawa a courting would go,
Borne up, on his snow-shoes, o'er tracks of deep snow.
Reclining he'd sit by a tapt maple tree.
When sugar was made by sweet Matchinoquee,
And play her such artless, such thrilling wild airs,
That Nassibb and Shoonin would dance like she-bears.
Young Tawa then sung, "Tho' young Shoonin be fair,.
And Nassibbce apes the drawled step of the bear.
If Matchie, who's handsome, and sweetly can sing,
Would blow my reed whistle, t'would make the woods ring."
But his sylvan beauty, thoug-h then in her prime,
Would shrink from ayabe, as if 'twere a crime ;
Though sighing, he told her, if she would agree
To love him, he'd love none but Matchinoquee."
Bright AVsz's," he prayed, then, to warm the young sqtia.
For he could not win her till her heart should thaw;
"O make the sap run through her veins,
with that ease You cause it to run from her tapt maple trees."
I'll hunt till I bring her an elk or a moose, (2)
In hopes that she'll bring me ayahe papoos, (3)
Who, when he gets strength, too, shall twang his stout
bow, And send his winged arrow, to wing Britain's foe.
-Arent de Peyster
