I listen to SF bay area news radio on my way to work in the morning and they do a segment called “About the Bay.” These are human interest stories, generally, and usually on the lighter side. This morning they were talking about people who are abandoning the Silicon Valley fast track for a more simple life.
They spoke to a man in his 40’s who had been a Silicon Valley programmer for years and up and decided one day to live a simple life. He sold his expensive house and toys and now lives in a houseboat. He said he enjoys going out on deck on sunny afternoons and practicing his banjo (I’m sure the neighbors are thrilled).
A simple life is beautiful in theory. You live modestly and have tons of free time to take up hobbies and commune with nature. You opt out of the rat race and spend your days appreciating the things the rest of us are too busy to notice or dwell on. But to opt out of the game, you have to play it first, and you have to play it well. The only reason the programmer could do this was because he worked a high paying job for 20-some-odd years and had a lot of assets to liquidate (most likely including heavily appreciated company stock).
There’s also your willingness to accept risk. If he were to fall off his houseboat one day and be severely injured, this way of life would come to an end. If he were to get an expensive chronic disease, this way of life would come to an end. Even if he did the calculations and thinks he has enough money to last for the 40+ years he’s going to live, he has no way of knowing what the future holds.
I guess that’s what keeps most people from living a simple life. The “what if.” It’s a little sad to think of it that way… that you aren’t living a more basic and peaceful existence out of fear of the unknown. And wouldn’t it be a shame if there was a more fulfilling way to live that we are missing out on?
But, hey, I suppose I have at least 40 more years at a desk to ponder these things before I retire.
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3 comments:
This is a tough call. If I won the mega powerball lottery or something, I would probably hang it up, but part of me does like the rush of my job. Its a fun challenge to stay on top of so many things. Sure there are times when I want to put it, or myself, through a window...but its interesting to see how I can be stretched. To find out something I didn't know after being in the same industry for 9 years. I'll say this as well. If I did win the mega millions, there are things I would do...but eventually I could see myself running out of stuff to do and going "Now what?" I think there would be diminishing returns. 5 star restaurants would only be interesting for so long, etc.
Now in this case, he's not living richly, but simply. I would still throw out the same concept of diminishing returns. It might be nice for a while, but eventually I would want to mix it up some.
I think the best mix for me would be to work but to make a lot more money doing it, so that I could really enjoy the times when I'm off and have work as a contrasting factor.
You make a good point, Scott. Quitting everything to practice banjo probably isn't a good life strategy. I always thought that if I won the lottery or something, I would find a place to volunteer on a regular basis to keep myself busy. People thrive on having a purpose, after all.
I think what I crave is for life to be simple. I've done what I can to make it that way... I mean, you can't get much more basic that living in a garage (except a tent maybe). I think that's one reason I left my previous job... it was just too complicated. I just don't want to be one of those people pulled in a hundred different directions and with no time for myself.
Of course, within the rat race there are many different courses that balance how much risk you take, how much potential money you earn, and simple your life is.
That is one cultural issue that has frustrated me at SPARTA. The culture is more risky, favoring higher salary over job security, and more aimed at making as much as you can when I'd rather focus on doing a job you enjoy well for its own sake, making sufficient for your needs, and enjoying the race as you run it.
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