Would you work if you don't have to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would fine a different type of job.

Like what?

[Anonymous]

I don't have to work, so I write books (published one and working on the 2nd now.) I do get a small income from that (fellowships, royalties, speaking gigs), but it wouldn't be enough to support a person. I worked for 10 years more than full time before I had kids at 32.

Sometimes I wonder if it's a curse to not *have* to work, and that I would more impressive accomplishments and life satisfaction if I had that pressure. Sometimes I try to mentally trick into believing that I must work in order to produce. Nora Nephron has this great essay about when she thought she was getting a major inheritance and planning her life of luxury... She said not getting it (it was way smaller than she thought) prompted her to work hard and that she never would have been as prolific if she had that safety net.

[Anonymous]

Hell no.

I have enough hobbies and interests that I would be very fulfilled with not working.

[Anonymous]

Apologies for all the typos/silly autocorrects!

[Anonymous]

Yes. I don't have to do paid work. I still do.

[Anonymous]

I'm currently not working and I like it. I stay busy.

What I don't like is women assuming I sit around and watch tv all day when in fact the TV doesn't go on until 9pm and then bed at 10:30.

[Anonymous]

I would never want to SAH while DH worked. If we could both f off and travel together, then I'd quit in a second. But I'd never leave him to bring in all the bacon.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do paid work. I have two organizations I'd like to volunteer for more than I do, plus I want to write and I have an instrument I'd like to get a lot better at so I could play in an ensemble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have to work so I don’t. It’s pretty damned awesome.

+1.

[Anonymous]

I would quit in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

I'd still do something but not what I am currently doing.

[Anonymous]

Work? No. Volunteer? Absolutely. I do have many hobbies but I also love giving back and would absolutely volunteer at DC's school, the hospital, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I love working. Okay, I like working.

I don’t plan on ever fully retiring. I will dedicate myself to my passion once I’m mid-50s-mid-60s and continue to contribute until I truly can’t anymore.

To add: I don’t “have” to work - my family of 5 could live comfortably on my husband’s salary alone. But I used to be a SAHM and that is very much not for me (big props to people that do that well). But I enjoy a lot about my job and enjoy being compensated myself. I don’t deal well without some external structure/pressures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have to work, so I write books (published one and working on the 2nd now.) I do get a small income from that (fellowships, royalties, speaking gigs), but it wouldn't be enough to support a person. I worked for 10 years more than full time before I had kids at 32.

Sometimes I wonder if it's a curse to not *have* to work, and that I would more impressive accomplishments and life satisfaction if I had that pressure. Sometimes I try to mentally trick into believing that I must work in order to produce. Nora Nephron has this great essay about when she thought she was getting a major inheritance and planning her life of luxury... She said not getting it (it was way smaller than she thought) prompted her to work hard and that she never would have been as prolific if she had that safety net.

Ephron-

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/11/my-life-as-an-heiress

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never want to SAH while DH worked. If we could both f off and travel together, then I'd quit in a second. But I'd never leave him to bring in all the bacon.

This is us. I currently work, so does DH. Both in high pay jobs. Neither of us has to work at this point, and we could comfortably retire on what we've saved. But if we keep working we'll be mooooreee comfortable. And there are days when i'm not busy, or work wraps up by 4:30 and i'm bored and restless. And i remind myself that i would go insane doing that for two weeks by myself.

I also don't know how some people sleep at night, letting their spouse go off and work all day while they, well, don't work. Every day I have worked is one less day my spouse has to work.

But i do look forward to retiring by 52 or so, with DH, and getting to do the second half of life that way.