Thank you for sharing yourself to the world the way you do. I hope you do it for a long time yet.

I read your posts for inspiration to stick with my goal and it really helps.

I will keep following if even for nothing more than your perspective on life as a whole. Very outside the box and I enjoy reading something refreshing. Of course, there are also great tips and tools!

Over the last two years, I suppose you could say I’ve been mentally gearing up for a radical life change. I’ve been tearing through books by the likes of Eric and Kelly at homegrownevolution.org, growing some of my own food and, as soon as i find new employment, I’ll be completely carfree (I cycle most places now). I work in the geospatial tech world and, in my freetime, am trying to wrap my head around open source options. Hopefully I’ll have some freelance options in the future.

The blog is an inspiration. Thanks for doing what you do! I wish I’d found your work earlier, but i’m glad I found it at all.

BTW, I found you through the good folks at rowdykittens.

By renting out all three of the spare rooms in my house, I have enough rental income to cover all my living expenses, allowing me to quit my irksome job last winter. I’ve shucked nearly every nonessential expense, and the freedom is worth the scaled-down lifestyle.

Some folks might balk at the idea of renting room to strangers, but here’s how I make it work. I called the United Way and other local nonprofit organizations to find out who hires AmeriCorps-VISTA workers, who are usually conscientious young people with “green” values, education, and interesting backgrounds. I offered to provide reasonably priced rooms for these workers, who always need affordable housing because of their modest living allowances. I quickly found two Montana Conservation Corps crew leaders to move into my two basement rooms. They camp out at their work sites for much of the spring, summer and fall, and they’re fun to have around when they’re home. My partner, who’s still working and paying down debt, rents the third room for his private retreat.

In addition, I’m turning my 1/10th-acre, small-town lot into a compact “urban homestead.” I’ve replaced the back and front lawns with intensive gardens that keep my partner and me supplied with fresh, organic vegetables and fruit for most of the year. With planning and inexpensive equipment, we’re achieving this goal even in northwestern Montana’s cool climate. We’re considering keeping chickens, which is legal in our town. (Another benefit of owning is the freedom to keep my beloved companion animals.)

Jacob, I read your blog for new ideas and inspiration, which I usually find.

Sometimes I get myself into situations where I _have_ _to_ be frugal, whether I want to or not! That’s because of not having an “emergency fund.” For example, the car breaks down unexpectedly, and I’ve just spent money on Christmas gifts (for my large family) and given them — in other words, the day after Christmas, or sometime between New Year’s and Dec. 25th — That actually happened to me.

Some things I do are frivolous and some are frugal. Examples of frugal would include (1) no TV (2) no bed (sleep on the floor) and (3) same cell phone for five years (no upgrades). Also (4) No air conditioning in the summer.

All four of those I’ve done for the past five years.

In necessity, I can live on very little food. I think bananas and oatmeal and lemons are fairly cheap. I use lemons to make my own lemonade, _without_ sweetener, for health reasons.

One of my many frivolities: Going to Kinko’s when my computer was broke, instead of going to the library.

The overall reason I read your blog isn’t for advice, inspiration, etc., though I get those things from your blog. It is because you actually have your own thoughts. You don’t just regurgitate the “gospel” for the masses.

Independent thought is so rare now.

Can’t think of anything I’d wish back into my life or routine.

I’m not nearly as extreme as you, and I still spend $625 a month on rent, but I manage to save about 75% of my income. So far I only have about 70k but eventually it will start adding up and I fully intend to retire when I’m 35 assuming I haven’t bailed before then out of boredom and frustration.

Back to the question posed…I’d say I’m mostly a dreamer right now…honestly not even sure if early retirement suits me. I like my career and it is flexible enough that I don’t feel like I have those “golden handcuffs” you speak of. My main goal is to pay off (or have that amount of cash saved) my home before I turn 50 (34 now). I feel like our options will greatly increase with that (our only debt) being paid off.

I read your blog bacause I like the way you view the world and also for much of the reasons Maus mentioned. “Your education as a physicist and your analytical rigor permeate much of your writing” I like that.