I decided some 15 years ago that I was going to drop out of the workforce at the first opportunity. That turned out to take a lot longer than I expected, but I'm still leaving it a bit earlier than most people manage, I think. (It's becoming apparent that many people are never able to leave it under their own terms. Disturbing.)
The decision didn't have anything to do with not wanting to work. I've got a brother who's retired and spends about a third of his time on cruise ships. That's not for me. I might go on a few cruises in my retired years, but they'll be few and far between. My experience has been that by the end of a ten day cruise, I'm tired of it and want to get off, with the urge to repeat the experiencing being vanquished for the next several years. In fact, I haven't gone on a cruise or taken any sort of traditional vacation in the last 13 years. No, it wasn't that. It was disgust with society, the direction it was headed, and a desire to stop funding something that repulsed me.
I'll keep working, but not for someone else unless the pay is in cash or barter. My goal from here on out is to distance myself from the society I've known and instead use land and effort to sustain myself and my wife. Society will still play a role - I'll have to buy seeds, tools and tractor fuel - but a much smaller one. The initial expenses and taxes paid will be sizeable, but soon they should both should be minimized. I think my sense of fulfillment will soar.
That's the plan. Talk to me in 3 or 4 years. It should be obvious by then whether I'm succeeding.
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
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