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Different courses for different horses. I'm in my mid 20s with a fairly high paying and high potential job, but I'm focused on saving my money to be able to do what your employee did (and potentially go part time prior to retirement). It's not about drive, it's about what makes you happy. I like my job right now, but I hate missing out on all the great evening rides/races that I see my friends doing on Strava. My job actually has pretty good balance, but I'm usually leaving the office post 6pm (which takes me out of all the great weekday 6pm start times).
I'm not super ambitious. I've always been frugal- I don't wanr a fancy house, nice cars, nice clothes or any of that. My most valuable possession (literally, not in terms of sentimental value) is my road bike. What matters most to my happiness is to be able to live comfortably and spend as much time as possible with friends doing what I love (which is NOT looking at excel, SQL, and email all day). To your point, maybe I could kill myself for 10 years than move to this lifestyle, but I don't want to give up my best years in my 20s and 30s slaving away for a few extra dollars. I have friends in banking and consulting who are doing this, and you could not pay me enough to live their lifestyle.[/quote]
I worked hard in my 20’s, not as hard in my 30’s and harder in my now 40’s. Why? Kids.
If I can give any comment to what you said- realize there is a difference between not being able to go to a ride because you work late and not being able to work late because you have to run to daycare and now you can’t ride either because your home with kids. My rides have to be strategized with family stuff and I am running during my kids soccer practice at the soccer fields doing laps in the park.
Just giving you an idea of what happens when Mrs right rolls along and you have a family. What I can say is that I am glad I am more financially secure than many in my 40’s, so that stress is less. Live up your freedom. Much of what I found I enjoy doesn’t really cost money. Riding my bike, running, spending time with my girlfriend...
It is interesting how money seems to be a driver for most when many don’t know what to really do with the money. Of course lifestyle rise and the money gets spent, but I don’t think many people have a defined financial goal. So what work so hard?