I read KaylaJudy's blog about getting let go from her job, earlier this evening and I've been thinking ever since what it would be like to not have to work. I don't mean to imply that KJ doesn't have to work - it just got me wondering how it would feel to do whatever you wanted.
Imagine: you wake up in the morning and you don't have to be anywhere. You make a pot of coffee, sit out in the swing or on the porch, or, in case of rain, in your most comfy chair... and just be. You can have all the coffee you want, maybe some sweet rolls, maybe even some freshly made sweet rolls, you know: the ones with the orange icing. Or. You could finish the coffee and make crepes or scratch pancakes with all the extras like bacon and a scrambled egg on the side... Hmmm... I'm sensing a food thing associated with time in the morning. Breakfast is my favorite meal, after all. Time to change tenses. Phooey on you having all the coffee, I am making a fresh pot. Me, mine, I... Sigh... If a man really wanted to treat me right, he'd just pack me off to Denny's or Cracker Barrel for an "anytime" breakfast.
Just for one year of my life, before I get too decrepid to care, I'd like to experience not having to make a living. This is, of course, a total pipe dream. I've no safely net and I have to work. Since I am self-employed, I couldn't get unemployment even if I had no work!! (Seems a bit unfair...) And I haven't seen any well-to-do men (patrons of the arts  of course) lining up to give me this opportunity.
I know there are people who enjoy this kind of life, but I don't personally know any of them and perhaps that's a good thing, so I don't have to deal with being envious. It's actually not something I can really comprehend, after all. Ever since I turned 16, I have had a job, sometimes more than one. I worked all through college and all three of my marriages. I've never even had that brief reprieve of collecting unemployment. Perhaps I should have worked harder... at being expendable...
It's not that I am lazy. I am anything but... Ask my friends. Ask my exes. No one will say I am afraid to work. But wouldn't it be a lark to "work" without worrying about making a living?
HELP WANTED: Immediate opening for generous patron of the arts. No experience necessary. Will train. Qualified applicants should possess more money than they know how to spend, an amiable disposition, and a complete lack of critical skills. 
Okay... back to work!!
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| What would it be like...? |
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lazareth
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Jul 31 @ 1:24AM
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I don't HAVE to work, but I have never NOT worked. So when I moved to Iowa to marry Donald, I thought _whoopee I don't have to work anymore. But after 7 months of sitting here I was desperate You can only do so much housework) so I applied at the local grocery store and got hired. I am soooo lucky, good pay food folks, no stress. Maybe its just the mindset knowing I don't have to work that makes the difference??????
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SunBabe
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Jul 31 @ 1:26AM
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 Let's just say that your description of a potentially ideal lifestyle isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Sometimes some of us need a little pressure (or kick in the keister) as incentive to actually become productive rather than settle for ultra-creative ideas catalogued (and gathering dust) in our heads.
Perhaps I should have worked harder... at being expendable...
Perhaps I should have worked harder at not being expendable. Maybe I'd have reached closer to my "potential" ~sigh~ 
 Fantastic " * ", MizTiger...a real meat and potatoes "thinker" blog.
PS, if you meet "The One" (the generous Patron of the Arts), could you please ask if he has a brother?  (uh, preferably with a ponytail...just in case the artsy "get off my butt" stuff doesn't pan out. )
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callmemax
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Jul 31 @ 1:38AM
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not having a job is boring. it's the same-ole same-oh, every day. SERIOUSLY, unless someone has planned on retiring their whole career, AND has had no major unexpected roadblocks (a spending spouse, divorce(s), bad investments, kids to be bailed out) arise,,, they will not have enough money to do everything they would like to do as retirees. with retirement coming earlier for people, they soon realize they need to make trade-offs. maybe less travel, even though they have more time. newer vehicles less often, even though they'd like to put on more miles. golf two or three times a week, instead of daily. people retiring earlier than planned, because their job is phased out. few """normal""" working people find a job they like at a young enough age and stay with it--- or even in the same field. even those """youngsters""" under thirty who do find that job, tend to trade off retirement saving for their children's expenses--- braces, gymnastics, sports / music summer camps, and finally helping with college costs. but, like everything else in life, there are exceptions to every rule. or not...
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keeno
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Jul 31 @ 2:17AM
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meet me at the nearest waffle house, i'll tell you the secrets of life, well, as i know it 
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Lovinheart445
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Jul 31 @ 2:34AM
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Well beings that I have been retired since Sept, 2004, I can't say i have actually enjoyed it....yet!. But I do know there will be a time coming soon that I will...My problem is this: I have all the money in the world, thanks to good retirement investment, that I'm able to travel anywhere in the world that I chose..Do anything that I chose to do, but there is a drawback...and that is this...I hate to travel or go anywhere alone. I've tried several times, but it just doesn't work for me. I'm too much of a person that likes to share. So if anyone out there who would like to go places, give me a shout. I would even be willing to shell out all the expences..Well...maybe.
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SunBabe
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Jul 31 @ 2:50AM
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hmmmm, Waffle House or Tahiti? Waffle House or Tahiti?
 Just pullin' legs, you two cuties. 
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Lovinheart445
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Jul 31 @ 3:06AM
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Tahiti...or whereever you wish yo go..
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jentoblues101
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Jul 31 @ 6:37AM
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I got a taste of that when I was in Thailand, and it was amazing, but it takes a mindset not recognized or encouraged in the States.
When I'm 60 I'm planning on pulling a Mission_Impossible and expatting myself to Mexico so I can grab more of that....
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atropos319
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Jul 31 @ 6:44AM
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Wouldn't it be a lark if Choos posted your ad ... and you actually found such a man?
Thanks for the read and the thoughts, Red ... although I'm now terribly hungry.
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ambient_silence
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Jul 31 @ 7:04AM
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You've missed the point.The time available is decreased proportionately by increasing trivia to fill the time available. You Americans have sure got the protestant work ethic bad
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sciurusniger
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Jul 31 @ 7:48AM
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Various life experiences eventually conspired to reorder my priorities, particularly those of the last few years. And so it is that money, always suspect anyway, became far, far less important than simply doing what I enjoyed. Even when making it.
While others look on and gasp at how I am sometimes pulled hither and yon by my responsibilities, from my perspective I have a great life. With a very good job that allows the flexibility to accomodate my other, non-income-focused interests, I can't imagine ever doing the "nothing" that is so associated with retirement. I will eventually simply trade one career for another and remain productive (ok, THAT'S subjective!) right until the end.
Excellent blog.
*
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Tunes4u
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Jul 31 @ 2:19PM
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I'm gonna sell the store and the house, buy an Airstream , and disappear.
If we were to meet at your local Denny's, we could have breakfast and coffee, with free refils. And if we sat there after breakfast,( which is my favorite meal too, well besides lunch and dinner, ) we could save a lot of money on coffee....just keep drinking it until lunch time. Free.
See?
Not so hard.
I think retirement is going to be fun. Long as I can find girls young enough to drive the bus....
I said DRIVE THE BUS! 
Not the ......oh nevermind.....
Gets so complicated so quick......
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missliss78
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Jul 31 @ 10:52PM
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I've had the wonderful opportunity the last several years not to HAVE to work.
It has been WONDERFUL. I have enjoyed it! I do live in a somewhat frugal manner in order to continue living this lifestyle....I can't travel & go just anywhere on a whim. But I am quite happy & content. I am allowed time to help out my aging Mom, my elderly (91, the end of Sept) Grandmother & keep my sweet almost 6 y/o old now baby niece as often as possible. One day I will have to go back to the daily grind of "work" but I've decided to cross that bridge when I get to it & in the mean time ENJOY!
Great blog, redtigr!!!!!! Sorry I missed breakfast!~
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Martin666
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Aug 1 @ 8:17PM
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I've been off now about a year, by choice. It's my third year off out of the last 6 or so, by choice.
I'm starting to like it. You have no idea how many books I've been able to read in the last ten months.
Oh, and I've gained about 20 pounds.
Crap...
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SallyF
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Aug 12 @ 11:08AM
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I'm still discovering the 'pearls' from my 3 week hiatus---just found this one! I had similar thoughts three years ago---the kids were grown and independent, Mom had passed on....for the first time in 30 years, I could think about mostly me. Wow, what to do with that? I spent the following year preparing---taught my assistant about all of my 'pieces' of the program for which I worked, visited Baker City often to look for a home, and dreamed, dreamed, dreamed.
My concept of retirement is that one puts on new tires and heads in a different direction. Else would it not be called 'untirement'? For me, this last two years has been well spent socially---wonderful small town community, volunteering, knitting group, writers' guild.......and much pondering. But, practically, I now have one foot in each place (and two homes to maintain---blind spot!). It's no easier now to decide 'what I want to be when I grow up' than it was in my early 20's.
Time to regroup and RE-tire once again. This has been an adventure to be cherished and am looking forward to the next. (maybe in my camper van :-)
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