Work (good or bad) is a crutch many people rely on to feel as though they're accomplishing something.
I didn't work for 2 years (by choice) and never felt as if I lacked purpose and never felt the need to "accomplish something everyday."
Instead I exercised, read, watched TV, relaxed. I was constantly amazed by the number of people who said they'd hate that sort of routine.
I'd be board out of my mind. You'll never pull me away from computer(s), programming, terminals, and all the lot. I know many people in computer science like me. Computers are not a job, they are a way of life so much so that I find ways to fill my free time with more of them.
I know many people like me. One such (retired) person, who I will not name, has actually spent money to work for my current employer. He's done construction/demolition, data processing, data agregation, and goes to the north pole for us sometimes. He's a great guy who loves what he does and I don't think he'll be able to stop... ever.
I'm very much the same way. I love the work I get to do and I've done a lot of it for free just because I enjoy doing it. I also do freelance work with computers and I'm trying to break into other fields like machining, welding, and electronics. When I retire I'll keep doing that. Making things is just fun for me.
I love making things. My current day job is operating a 4kw laser cutter in a metal fabrication shop.
Good for you man, keep making cool stuff.
Then suddenly you have too many things to do. Kites to fly, surfboards to wax, opensource to patch.
Free time is lovely.
Boredom is great. Get bored. Go for a walk. End up running home to set up another AWS project that you just thought of.
It seems to me like there are different kinds of personality. I'm having a hard time treating my job as anything but a sacrifice of my time better spent elsewhere, that I need to do to afford the necessities. On the other hand, I know people who like having a job - among other reasons, because it creates a rhytm in their lives, much like a clock signal in digital electronics.
That said I left my last job because it didn't provide those things. No teamwork (project so big none was needed)
I think a lot of people crave work or spend all their "alone" time having a relationship with a computer because they are not comfortable in their own skin.[0]
[0] I say that because it applies 100% to me.
That seems unfair, since "crutch" in that context usually refers to something used to overcome an injury or disorder. But wanting regular structured work isn't a bad thing, just like your exercise/reading/TV/relaxation isn't a "crutch." Different people like different stuff.
I'd love to know how you managed that. Somehow built up an enormous savings and then blew it over 2 years? You are very fortunate to have been able to do that!
Make 100k for 2 years, spending 25k to live per year. So you have 150k in savings - taxes, lets round down to 100k.
You can now go 4 years without working.
I know people that do similar things... can use it to fund an indy game, or just play videogames for a few years.
I know it can be risky taking such a break from a career but I think it was worth it, I gained some great travel experience and better understand what I want out of life.
Now I earn more and spend more, too, lol. Enjoy it just the same though.
Ended up rejoining the working world when I saw a job ad for something that was "perfect" based on skills I had, interviewed and got it.
This will make you go out of balance or you will burn out.
My advice is for you to take a month or so and travel in Winter to other countries if you are young. Go to Argentina, it is now summer there, or Indonesia, or Morocco.
Making apps means you are free to travel and even continue working. Your money is worth 20x more or so in Argentina than Sweden.
Usually you could stay out of your country 6 months or so without fiscal problems. If you try it odds are you won't believe how you could live without it, but start small taking one month out at first.
I did it myself because I also started creating software. Now traveling the world is routine and for me staying in places like Boston, Chicago or Sweden in winter does not make lots of sense.
Working 9 - 5 is a sad necessity so I can pay for rent, bills, my car to drive to my 9 - 5, my dentist, etc. And I have to give up on my dreams because of it. Please please use your time wisely.
If you're just missing the office I suppose the only real alternative is getting a job again. At least you can apply for the "craziest things you've always wanted to do" given your situation :)
That's great for you, but of course Bukowski wasn't thinking of the "have your cake and eat it, too" world of tech workers in 2017 (who are generally overpaid and/or get to do what they love most of the time -- and quite often, subject to both fates).
But rather, you know, regular people.
and
https://itunes.apple.com/us/developer/inlovewith-ab/id666807...
I think these are his.
https://itunes.apple.com/se/developer/inlovewith-ab/id666807...