Pros and Cons of a Mini-Retirement
Two Years ago, I read Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Work Week. I was pumped. This simple book inspired me to choose a clear path to a life of leisure and put systems in place to make it happen. Since separating from the U.S. military 8 months ago, I’ve been living the mini-retirement lifestyle. There are pros and cons. I expected some and a few totally surprised me.
PROS
1. Travel is effortless. In the military, it’s extremely difficult to travel long distances. There are rules, regulations, and invisible boundaries that influence every trip. Wanna leave the country? Good luck. There will be required classes, stacks of paperwork, and layers of approval to get through first. As a civilian on a mini-retirement, it’s shockingly simple to travel the world. I just buy the ticket and show my passport. The new freedom was addictive at first. When wildfires broke out in my hometown I headed East without any concern. Intoxicated by liberation, I just kept going East until I completely circumnavigated the globe. In a few months I crossed 5 continents and 7 countries. For 6 years in the military, I never left the U.S.
2. Side hustles become center hustles. My podcast has been my passion for about a year. When I had a job the podcast was squeezed in after work and over the weekend. If there was a conflict between work commitments and podcast opportunities, too bad. Now, I can spend the best hours of the day on my favorite project. Got a guest who can only meet on Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles? No problem.
3. Reading. I love reading, but most employers will frown upon workdays spent with your feet up reading a great book. It doesn’t look productive. Now I read much more, about 50 books so far this year.
4. Cocktail parties. When people ask, “What do you do?” they’re always surprised.
CONS
1. Adaptation. It can get old. At first, there was euphoria each day that I woke up without an alarm clock and called my own shots. Then, human nature set in and independence became the new normal. The conversations about my work, or lack thereof, got tiresome and I never had much to say when the guys were talking shop. The biggest thing I do to keep myself aware of how fortunate I am, is to write down a list of things I’m grateful for each morning. Time freedom always makes the list.
2. Demand for self-motivation. I have no formal team structure. I have no boss. I have almost no accountability. As nice as that might sound, it puts all responsibility squarely on me. No one will help me or check in to see how I’m preparing for my next podcast guest. When I was an employee, most decisions were made for me and there was a gravitational pull toward doing my job. Now, each time I sit down to work requires a conscious decision not to go to the beach, read a book, or do anything else I might enjoy. This demands more energy and discipline than I expected.
3. Being alone (with my thoughts). My old workplace came with a lot of friendships built-in. I could count on the people I liked to be around the water cooler, the conference table, or the couch in my office. If I wanted to ask a wise colleague for counsel, they were easy to find. Needed a ride home? There were dozens of drivers headed my way. Looking for someone to have lunch with? Just stop by a few offices in the morning and ask. Now, it takes a surprising amount of coordination and commitment. Friends are on different schedules coming and going from different places. What used to take a few hours notice can take days or weeks now. So, I’ve learned to get comfortable with eating lunch alone. It’s not all bad. I truly taste my food and going out for lunch has become special again. These quiet meals leave a lot of time to think. I reflect on the mini-retirement experience and imagine working for a company with a cafeteria full of colleagues. I draft pros and cons lists in my head. And in a strange way, the fantasy has reversed. Do I actually want to get a job again?