Early Retirement versus Easy Retirement
The concept of early retirement has become quite widespread in recent years. Its main idea is that by a certain age, you have the necessary means to sustain the desired lifestyle for the rest of your life (and often for the family too, especially if you are the main contributor), without being forced to work (have a job) to provide for it. That doesn't necessarily mean you won't work anymore, it just means you have the option not to, and you can pick and choose what to do. However, some interpret early retirement as a free ticket to stop doing any productive work, which in my opinion is wrong. And the "early" word might be the misleading one.
I know people who retired early. A few who retired at my age, mid-40s. Two cases I know closely. They both took the transition hard. Currently, one commutes often hundreds of kilometers to help take care of his grandchild together with his wife, and the other takes a special interest in her child's girlfriends until he gets married... Even if they have good training in masking what their feelings are, I don't think either of them is very happy with the current situation. I'm not sure if they'd go back to the former workplace (in fact, I bet one of them wouldn't), but I think they both would feel better if they felt more productive using the skills they acquired over time.
Conversely, I know people either directly or indirectly who are retired and continue to work either as before or in a closely related field. They draw energy from their work, even when it's tiresome.
I don't believe in a life of never-ending vacations and cruises. Maybe it would work for some, but to me, it sounds more like a fairy tale.
Actually, I'll revise my position a bit. If someone has been used to this kind of life for their entire life, it would work for them. If someone has different priorities in vacations than when they are productive, then it would probably not work very well.
So, what do I understand by easy retirement, then? Same as retirement (early or not) where the financial aspect is taken care of for the rest of your life, with the condition that some level of productive work should remain a priority. While there shouldn't be financial pressure to work, doing it keeps the mind and body active and the sense of accomplishment present as tasks are completed.
Retirement should be made easy by relieving us of the financial burden, but not early in the sense that once you retire you stop doing productive work.
I hope AI and UBI don't diminish even more the importance of productive work in our lives, or we will end up in a society with widespread severe mental issues.
Want to check out my collection of posts?
It's a good way to pick what interests you.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
I agree, we will need to do some productive activity or we could go mad.
That's right. That's why I don't understand some of the new ideas that AI and robots will replace us and we will live happily until old age using something like the UBI.
Yeah Ive seen people who were very active in work but no other activities soon quickly died as they couldn't adjust with nothing to do.
AGree with you, after retirement most of men get fed up with sitting at home all the time and they fight with their wife out of nothing :D
The reverse is true too. Wives picking up the fights, lol.
Maybe creative activity?
Sure! But for a less creative individual, creativity might be painful, lol.
😁
When I think of retirement I imagine leaving work to do something productive for me, dedicate more time to my Hive account and have my own online gig, but I think that if I am only at home without doing anything else I would go crazy and solitary, sad
That's a great attitude, and hopefully, enough people will still think this way over some years.
Yes, that's what I believe would happen too. Humans need to feel useful. Take that away, and it might be a way for them to develop various mental illnesses.
It’s just crazy how I don’t have a retirement plan test
Was thinking about it this afternoon but I’m not settled on what exactly to do
It's hard to make an exact plan if you deal with volatile assets, but some sort of long-term direction should be clear in your mind, at least.
Stop productive work will make one yell at walls. Something that I certainly won't want to end up with if I ever able to retire early.
Seems we are in consensus here. Feeling productive and useful is something most humans need to stay sane.
Shared on X https://twitter.com/jewellery_all/status/1740491501384462670
Thanks.
I like to dream about early (or easy) retirement, but even if I would come to that position, knowing myself, I wouldn't do it... Maybe, I would take things easier (as you said), but that is also questionable...
On the other side, it would be nice to not worry about the financial side of things at all...
I see myself kind of the same. Although the rhythm will change with age. So, taking it easy would come naturally, even if we don't want to.
I agree, retiring early sounds like a good thing for a lot of people early on. But when they do it, they usually find themselves bored or restless at home. People need to have a plan for when they retire, whether it is doing some hobbies, or have some personal projects lined up.
Good thinking! Often the early retirement plan ends when you retire. It should go beyond that, to have something else to get involved with, usually something you enjoy doing, but also keeps you actively busy. Not like watching TV or youtube all day long...
My greatest desire is to have both. To retire early in an easy way
I hope you'll enjoy both of them!
I agree that we do need something to keep us busy. I think it's good to focus on what you want to do and try earning with that. You have the income to back yourself up incase anything does happen.
One can even find a sweet spot in helping out, sharing their knowledge/training others, and giving back, after they retire. It may even be non-paid, if they already have enough, but still productive.
I think the nature or form of work may change, but we still need to do some kind of work after retirement. This is especially true when we've been working for the most part of our lives, so it's probably hard coded into us. But I do like the idea of not worrying much about finances and having the choice to choose how or when we work.
That is true. For the most part, working to feed the family has made many people hate their jobs and eagerly count the days to their retirement. Not worrying about the financial aspect, either early in life or later, gives one the option to choose what to work on, usually something they enjoy doing.
The nature of work will likely change over time, as you said. I think it already is. What someone from a younger generation may consider work, another from an older generation may consider wasting time or fooling around.
Yes, it's already happening. I always laugh in my head when I hear the older generation tell the new generation to get an 'actual job'. The former can't relate much to the new forms of work. It seems too easy or silly at times.
Exactly. The simple fact they use the expression 'actual job' means they can't cope with the new forms of work. They can't understand them or their relevance.
I think retirement works out more when it happens after we've had really stable finances and also passed our active days. I don't really favour early retirement as I would still love to be very active even if I hit enough money to retire early in ten lifetimes. For me being active with some sort of work gives joy and fulfilment.
Thanks for sharing this insightful info.
Indeed. Retirement without stable finances will be anything but easy. Regarding active days, it depends on what you are doing and your health condition as you age.
It is high time we start investing in our future to have a great early and easy retirement
https://twitter.com/LovingGirlHive/status/1740740442600411577
Nowadays all the people are retiring early like that and are in other business and taking care of all the other things in their house but I would like to say here that some people are worried after they retire. So it is better that man should fulfill his time.
Yeah, retirement can be on many people's minds as they age.
Yeah you are right.
Hello @gadrian. I don't think many people will want to do nothing. Some of these folks might want to rest more. Doing nothing can make a person feel isolated and then they do not feel useful ? Maybe useful is not the right word. Most people like to feel that they have helped in some way, feel needed, and have accomplished something. It's a need that we all want or most of us want - to feel like we have contributed in some way, and that we are needed by others. Helping others, feeling useful is a basic human need I believe. I would find it very depressing not to do anything at all. I would love to have a bird sanctuary someday to help birds. That would require a lot of work, and I would need help, and need to rest more. I would be more happy taking care of birds and talking with others that love birds and figuring out the best way to heal birds that have been neglected or abused. Have a great weekend! Barb 🌟👍😀🌟 !BBH !CTP #ctp
Thanks for your feedback, Barb! Yes, indeed, humans generally need to feel helpful in some way. I guess this is because we are social beings, in most cases, and this need is probably built into our genetic code to survive within communities.
Yes I agree @gadrian We are social beings for sure and need to feel accepted, wanted, and want to help to feel good about ourselves and make the other folks feel good. 🌟😊👍
!BBH !CTP