I was speaking with a friend of mine who is on the verge of retiring saying, "fuck off," to working for a living. He's officially retiring from the workforce at the age of fifty five and is looking forward to turning all his efforts to living rather than working. I am very happy for him.

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This chap served in the Australian Defence Force (Army) for thirty years of his life and at forty eight decided to call it quits moving to the private sector (as a military contractor) and ended up working the next seven years earing twice as much as he did in the Army. He ended his ADF career as a Capitan and earned well in excess of $100,000 a year so it was a good move to double it in the private sector as often happens. He didn't buy hookers and drugs and alcohol with that money though, he channeled all of it into investments, carefully calculated ones as he had his whole career, and has been lucky to have them all work out quite well (Covid-19 even helped that along) and will be a self-funded retiree meaning he won't have to rely on government handouts...ever, and will have a comfortable amount of money for the rest of his days.

I know so many people who say things like, I'd not retire because people don't have any will to live and often die soon after, and others talk about how they love their job...Nutbags. I mean, liking one's job is great (I love mine) but I love my life much more and feel it deserves more time and effort (emotional or physical) than a job.

I asked the fellow what he'd be doing moving forward and he mentioned engaging in his love of woodworking, something he's not been able to do properly due to being constantly reposted and flying all over the place all the time, and he spoke about a year-long trip (in his soon to be purchased new caravan) around Australia - the big lap they call it. (I'm jealous!)

He is taking a cruise in the Norwegian fjords, a long-ass cruise, and wants to spend several months in the UK researching his ancestry, he's planning to ask his wife to marry him again and taking a honeymoon to end all honeymoons (I'm looking forward to that wedding), and extending his work of helping with military veterans that he and I do jointly. He wants to learn to cook, and to write a book about his (not insignificant) experiences in the military and time on the battlefield in various sandy places in the Middle East. He wants to buy some land in a remote place and build the log cabin he's always wanted (I'll be helping him), and to spend more time with his family and friends in meaningful ways and he wants to start a mentoring business to impart his vast knowledge to others - he plans to use military veterans (provide gainful and lucrative employment) in his team. I could go on and on, there's a seemingly endless list of things he will be doing...none of it involves dying of lack of focus or boredom...or lack of funds.

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I believe it is sad that some people don't have the vision to see beyond their job, that they can't find the passion for other things and actively pursue them. Some however, the chap I mention, myself and others, are able to do so...I guess it comes down to the understanding that life is not a permanent state of being, it is not endless. I also think its sad that people don't plan ahead for retirement and financial independence.

What are your thoughts and your plans to make the most of your years of working and do you see yourself finding enough to keep you occupied after you finish work...or do you love work so much you 'd like to do it until the day you drop dead? (Which could be anytime from this present moment.)