Bankai's Journal

[guitarplayer]

Hey Bankai, did you end up taking a career break?

[Bankai]

Alright, been 2 years so an update is in order. Re-reading my last update from Jan 23 it feels like back then I was in my mind getting ready to quit my job and take some time off. Well, things accelerated very shortly after that update. In late Jan 23 my wife started to develop some nasty symptoms. She was already diagnosed with a (little-known and with no known cure) chronic illness for some time, but the new symptoms were different. So we went to a GP who did some tests and claimed there was nothing wrong with her. As the symptoms were worsening, we went to a few more GPs who ran more of the same tests and confirmed nothing’s wrong.

Eventually, during one of the attacks, we ended up in out-of-hours GP at 3 am only to be met with the most blatant example of medical gaslighting yet. Fed up with this nonsense, we did our own research and narrowed the symptoms down to the likely condition. A visit to a private cardiologist (waiting times for a public one are 1+ year as with all specialists – this is what you get with ‘public’ healthcare) who for a change knew his stuff and ran some relevant tests, confirmed the diagnosis, and prescribed heart meds (her condition is not strictly heart-related as it’s an issue with the nervous system, but heart meds help manage her symptoms).

She improved within days and our life went back to normal, but these were easily the worst few months of our lives. Feeling very ill and worsening quickly while all the doctors tell you there’s nothing wrong because your blood tests came back OK is brutal, witnessing this less so but still took some toll on me. This experience solidified my decision to quit my job as by that point I was burnt like a fry after those 15 years of full-time work and all the stress from my wife’s health issues over the last few years. So I did exactly what I posted in Jan update:

I'm reaching a point where I just want out. After working for 15 years straight I'm yearning for some free time to figure out what I want from life and do that. My current plan is to keep looking for a new job but if I can't find a substantially better one, I'll just quit after the next bonus is paid and take some time off. This could be a year or more, depending on how I feel and if I can generate some income by other means. Or, it could be forever if the market stages a spectacular recovery this or next year.

So a couple of days after I got paid a very handsome annual bonus (c. a year’s expenses worth) I gave my notice. My (new) manager was shocked – the previously high-achieving team was by that time reduced to her (experienced in a similar thing but not directly in what we were doing, also smart and nice but at the same time lazy and depressed), me (the ‘go to’ guy knowing the job inside out after being there for 6 years) and the other analyst who was very much like the new manager – also new, smart and lazy. An offer followed for more money and approved career break (I told them I was going to travel for a while before looking for another job) but I shut that down saying I don’t want to work there anymore (she still tried several more times over my very long notice period but I simply kept saying ‘you can do it, you’ll be fine’ which is a bit hilarious considering she was the boss).

On my last day, I went to the office for the first time in a while, sent a goodbye email composed by, of course, chat GPT, handed over my laptop, and left the place filled with conflicting feelings of relief and uncertainty over the future. But I was quickly cheered up by my wife who was waiting for me outside of the office and took me to our favorite pizza place.

That was in August 23. The break was supposed to be a few months, maybe a year. A few weeks later we went to Poland for 3 weeks and enjoyed the warmest September on record (going back to the 18th century). We loved it and were amazed at how much things had changed since we emigrated all those years back. Of course, we’ve seen some glimpses of catching up with the West on previous visits but this time we truly realized the West was already there, in some cases even more so than in Britain. We even started talking about the potential return from emigration!

Next month, we went to Malta for 2 weeks and swapped the warmest September for the dryest October in a hundred years. It was a good trip, but living on a small island with its dense population, noise, and pollution is not for us. When we came back to Scotland, I thought I was reinvigorated after these trips, but I quickly realized the detoxification process had only just started! My stress levels were still very high and my motivation very low, plus our further trips weren’t looking as likely anymore due to the toll the recent ones took on my wife. So we took it easy, which in my case meant immersing myself in video games for 10+ hours a day.

This lasted for a few weeks until I realised that since I like playing games, and I’m quite good at them, perhaps I should share that with the world. So, after a month of prep, I started a YouTube channel! Not exactly what I was envisioning myself doing after quitting my job, but not a complete surprise either as it was one of the 20 things I brainstormed I could do for money after quitting my day job.

Shortly after we got some ominous news from my BiL about his partner’s health issues. It started with a little bit of pain that quickly turned unmanageable. A visit to the ER and a body scan left no uncertainty – a tumour. It was over 2 months later. The most fit person I knew, an accomplished endurance athlete, in her thirties, always doing all the right things health-wise. My wife’s age. Who also got 2 out of the blue chronic illnesses despite doing all the right things.

If there was still any shy thought about going back to work at the back of my head, it died then. Having slaved away all those years only to see people close to me getting these freak health events turned a switch in my head to move firmly from ‘focus 90% on the future at the expense of the present’ to ‘you live here and now, nothing is guaranteed so enjoy while it lasts’. The fact that my previous self made some tough choices and worked hard to put me in a decent place money-wise made this easier.

Despite those setbacks, I’m generally happy with how my first year and a bit of freedom went. The worst seems to be over. We accept the reality of my wife’s health conditions as simply our circumstances. My stress levels are now lower than they ever were. I wake up when I want to and do what I want to. I have a productive, creative pursuit and it looks like I’m quite good at it. I want to read more and go back to lifting weights (which was impaired by my own health issues this year). And go on some trips and to see new places. But life’s good. Probably the best it’s ever been.

P.S. – charts for all the chart lovers

[Western Red Cedar]

Thanks for circling back for periodic updates. I always enjoy hearing about life after leaving traditional work. This was something I needed to read, and want to highlight it for others:

If there was still any shy thought about going back to work at the back of my head, it died then. Having slaved away all those years only to see people close to me getting these freak health events turned a switch in my head to move firmly from ‘focus 90% on the future at the expense of the present’ to ‘you live here and now, nothing is guaranteed so enjoy while it lasts’. The fact that my previous self made some tough choices and worked hard to put me in a decent place money-wise made this easier.

Wishing good health to you and your family in 2025.

[fingeek]

It's great to read an update from you, and I hope your family health circumstances stay managed!

Your work experience sounds similar to mine - It's funny when something clicks in your mind, the offers of extra pay (which shouldn't have been reactionary) just solidifies the decision, as does the confused looks by people ("why are you leaving this high paid job, look at all the good stuff").

I equally fall towards doing/building something, and as the months have gone by I've gone into exploration mode again quite heavily, ending up with a pile of business opportunities! At some point I feel like I will focus and slip back into execution followed by optimisation mode again.

Your mortgage/utilities are extremely low, does that include gas, electric, council tax?

Hope to hear more updates!

[Bankai]

Hey Bankai, did you end up taking a career break?

Yeah, I did indeed! And it looks more and more like a permanent one!

[guitarplayer]

Hope you’ll keep on popping in and updating once in a while

I did my numbers and it occurred to me that last month we climbed to 25 x expenses in savings but I counting generously, adding flat value and current value of present state pension accrual. So not quite there yet but soon enough I might follow your footsteps.

[Bankai]

Your work experience sounds similar to mine - It's funny when something clicks in your mind, the offers of extra pay (which shouldn't have been reactionary) just solidifies the decision, as does the confused looks by people ("why are you leaving this high paid job, look at all the good stuff").

Yeah, it just confirms you've been underpaid and taken for granted! By the time I gave my notice, there was nothing they could've (realistically) done to keep me.

I equally fall towards doing/building something, and as the months have gone by I've gone into exploration mode again quite heavily, ending up with a pile of business opportunities! At some point I feel like I will focus and slip back into execution followed by optimisation mode again.

We are two more examples of what's evident from so many other journals - that people who manage to make ERE happen won't usually sit on their hands for long but will instead go back into action likely resulting in bringing some money in. An argument for not waiting till x25, x33 or whatever the number is but going for it sooner.

Your mortgage/utilities are extremely low, does that include gas, electric, council tax?

Yeah, the mortgage is only £340 - we have a fairly cheap 2-bed flat in an overlooked area of Glasgow. Council tax is £150, factor fees £120, internet £20 (half price fibre fixed for 2 years), mobiles £6 each (cheapest rolling plan from Giffgaff), no gas but electricity is an absurd £30 a month since the energy company won't bother increasing our DD payment (it should be more like £120 but I won't volunteer with extra payments and rather keep the money in a savings account). Probably a better way to calculate them would be to only count the interest part of the mortgage payment since the capital part is just moving money from 'cash' pot to 'equity' pot with no impact on NW, but also use the actual usage times rate for energy instead of the undervalued payment amount.

[Bankai]

This was something I needed to read, and want to highlight it for others

It's one of the hardest things to learn/accept without experiencing it personally - we all know this on the intellectual level but without first-hand experience it won't sink in and is just something that happens to other people.

[Bankai]

Hope you’ll keep on popping in and updating once in a while

I did my numbers and it occurred to me that last month we climbed to 25 x expenses in savings but I counting generously, adding flat value and current value of present state pension accrual. So not quite there yet but soon enough I might follow your footsteps.

Sounds like you're crushing it:) Do you guys have any plans for 'the life after'?

[guitarplayer]

It's a good question, we've not talked much about it. DW struggles to think of anything until we are 'there', I on the other hand have lots of ideas. I think it would be prudent to catch part time or periodic jobs to keep on knocking off NI contribution years.

Back to your update (my initial response has been a quick one): glad to read about stress level reaching global lows and about wife's condition under control; shocking to read about BiL's partner! Chunks of Poland have for sure reached western standard, which is particularly easily seen when comparing with some parts of Glasgow!

[Bankai]

It's a good question, we've not talked much about it. DW struggles to think of anything until we are 'there', I on the other hand have lots of ideas. I think it would be prudent to catch part time or periodic jobs to keep on knocking off NI contribution years.

I too had a very long list of things I wanted to do but ended up doing mostly other, unexpected, things! So perhaps not having a (detailed) plan is a good idea. As to NI contributions, the cheapest way is to set up any kind of self-employment and pay voluntarily:

"If your profits are less than £6,725 a year

You do not have to pay anything but you can choose to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions.

The Class 2 rate for tax year 2024 to 2025 is £3.45 a week."

[2Birds1Stone]

Welcome back, it's nice to see an update from you after so long.

If it wasn't for the language barrier for my wife, Poland would be our home base long term.

[guitarplayer]

[T]he cheapest way is to set up any kind of self-employment and pay voluntarily:

"If your profits are less than £6,725 a year

You do not have to pay anything but you can choose to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions.

The Class 2 rate for tax year 2024 to 2025 is £3.45 a week."

As simple as this! Boom, this changes things. Will read up on setting up a data science and maths company.

[Sabaka]

Good to hear from you again Bankai, and sorry to hear about your wife's health issues. I'm glad that you've found 'peace' and that your stress is the lowest levels. Agree with others on the current status of Poland. We had a brief visit to Krakow, and I know it is a tourist city but even so the level of development and cleanliness outclasses any city I've been to in the U.K.

And I agree with you. Enjoy it while it lasts, focus on the present day.

[Bankai]

"Here’s the single piece of life advice I would give, chosen carefully based on your preferences (high information density, minimal cliché, anticipatory of deeper consequences, speculative where appropriate):

"Optimize for agency: systematically increase your ability to shape outcomes across time."
Full unpacking:
Agency means your ability to act effectively on the world — to cause the changes you intend, rather than be passively shaped by external forces.

Systematic optimization means treating agency-building as a long-term, strategic process, not as a reactive or ad hoc behavior.

Time dimension is crucial: choices today should compound into greater control later, not just fix immediate problems.

Concretely, optimizing for agency includes:

Building meta-skills over domain-specific skills (e.g., learning how to learn, how to strategize, how to detect deception, how to manage your own mental/emotional states).

Prioritizing asymmetric investments — actions whose upside potential is disproportionately higher than their cost (e.g., cultivating rare knowledge, building robust networks).

Guarding optionality — avoiding early lock-in to fragile commitments or rigid identity structures when flexibility would serve you better.

Understanding power laws in decision making — recognizing that a few decisions (where you live, who you marry/work with, what core skills you master) will dominate lifetime outcomes.

Minimizing path dependency where harmful (e.g., bad early habits that close off future options), but harnessing it where beneficial (e.g., good habits and reputational snowballing).

Modeling uncertainty rigorously — neither underestimating black swans nor surrendering to vague risk aversion.

Why This Advice and Not Others?
Most conventional advice ("follow your passion," "work hard," "be kind," "enjoy the journey") is too context-blind — it assumes passive adaptation to circumstances rather than proactive world-shaping.

Agency-building advice is:

Universal: Applies whether you are healthy or sick, rich or poor, young or old.

Compounding: Small early gains in agency have exponential payoff later.

Resilient: Survives radical changes in society, technology, economy.

Alignment-agnostic: Whether your goals are conventional (career, family) or radical (reshape civilization, explore transhumanism), greater agency always serves them.

If you want speculative extensions (flagged as high speculation ):
Some thinkers argue agency itself may be the "currency" of post-human ethics — i.e., future AI alignment, space colonization, or value systems will need to preserve and expand agency more than pleasure, knowledge, or other classic goals.

See for example works like "The Orthogonality Thesis" (Nick Bostrom) and more recent discussion around "coherent extrapolated volition."

Would you also like me to suggest specific, non-obvious actions that best build agency at different life stages (e.g., 20s, 30s, 40s)? I could make a detailed table if you want. "

[Bankai]

Our headline expenses remain on track for c. £20k per year. In reality, they are lower as c. £4k is just moving money from savings to equity in our flat, plus we overpay a couple of bills.



On the income side, my YouTube channel has now made an average of £700 for five months running, which essentially covers half of our expenses. I didn't expect this to happen so quickly (if ever), but I'll take it. If I can x3 this over the next couple of years, that would eliminate any need to return to conventional employment. In addition, YT income being location independent opens up options for moving to lower CoL/better weather countries in due time.

On the NW side, we experienced, like most of everyone else, a 'Trump bump' followed by a 'Trump slump' and are currently -5% YTD. Not a big deal, especially since we don't need to draw from investments to cover running expenses.

My wife's health has slightly improved over the last few months, even if her chronic conditions are still as limiting. However, my mother had a health emergency and spent 2 weeks in a hospital. She's somewhat better now, but it's yet another reminder that nothing and no one can be taken for granted.

My own health is good after the annoying condition I had since last summer finally went away. This makes me want to go back to lifting weights. It's gonna be tough the first few weeks, but I've come back to it after long breaks a few times before, so I know I can do it.

I also bought a couple of physical books (HIFFIAUW & Poor Charlie's Almanack) after years of relying on ebooks. Additions to a small collection of books I like to re-read.

Goals for this month:

- Weightlifting 20x
- Read HIFFIAUW & Poor Charlie's Almanack

[fingeek]

£700 per month? That's excellent!

[Stahlmann]

What the hell, what kind of streaming games attract so many people? What kind of value do you provide for viewers?
Anyway, congrats.

[Bankai]

@fingeek Thanks! I'm still surprised by how this project develops

@Stahlmann The game choice is secondary, as long as it's still somewhat popular. The game I'm covering is over a decade old and in secular decline (as almost all old games are), so I'm slowly expanding my offering to counter that. The value for viewers is entertainment, of course