If you needn't to work, what would you do?

Posted by orff on Thursday February 04, 2021 @02:34PM
from the self-post dept.

Assuming you needn't to stay in your daily job but could keep some basic living standard, what would you do?

Founding a company? Teaching? Playing with kids? Joining politics? Consultancy? Nothing?

( 7 comments | 4 points | on HN )

Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by the_only_law on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:06PM (#26029195)

Tangential, I've wondered recently if it's possible to work only when you want. A lot of people talk about working just enough to pay for necessities, but I'd rather work a little bit to cover those necessities, then have most of my time where I can either live or choose to work on demand, i.e. to support hobbies that can get expensive.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by orff on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:08PM (#26029215)

yeah.. I was recently reminded of the consequences of possible gap in my CV. Such a bullshit - it's like a slavery with an extra step.

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Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by psyc on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:14PM (#26029262)

Sure, it's possible. That's what I've been doing for the past 10 years. Keep my overhead as low as humanly possible (I have simple needs - basically a small Steam budget and a Netflix subscription), and do short contracts when money gets low-ish. And really, it doesn't usually even get that low.

I know everybody worries a lot about resume gaps. I don't know. YMMV. All I can say is it hasn't yet disqualified me from a job I wanted. If all you do is contracts, and all they want is a contractor... I mean... ? If I've been working on personal projects, which I often am, I put it on my resume and talk about it.

That's it. I've enjoyed living this way.

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Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by elmerfud on Thursday February 04, 2021 @02:40PM (#26028956)

I guess it depends on the basic living standard. If you say, I can not work and keep the same standard of living I have now then I'd probably travel more.

Take a motorcycle trip around the world or something like that. Canoe down the nile. Sail to Antarctica. Stuff like that.

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Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by orff on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:10PM (#26029233)

legit question. I am thinking about rather frugal life. Flat in the city, no junk food, older car.

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Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by psyc on Thursday February 04, 2021 @03:22PM (#26029356)

I have a small flat in the city, a little junk food, and no car. I'll be totally honest - from time to time I feel a little twinge of regret, since I could afford a McMansion and an expensive car if I worked all the time. But I quickly remember that I probably like the idea of those things much, much more than I would like actually having them. Especially at the expense of having to work all the time.

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Re:If you needn't to work, what would you do? by CodeGlitch on Thursday February 04, 2021 @02:50PM (#26029044)

I would still program computers, probably around AI and cyber security, network security. Sleep lots because I love it. Spend a few hours a week doing something new.

Sounds amazing, where do I sign up?

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