Various comments for Adfecto to absorb (I do love reading his contra-contrarianism):
* the money tap may not completely run dry for you (but beware the black swan), however you forfeit much control by not limiting what you suckle and consume from any employer’s teet
* by not spending less now (minimizing present life in your view), you impair your future capacity to create memories of good times that require little to no spending of saved money
* the deepest experiences (of body, mind, and heart) come from precisely those things that cannot be obtained via the expenditure of money but rather by the expenditure of time — these things and experiences are more precious than their material analogue: buying precious commodities with money — also consider that the quest for deep experiences does not detract from a parallel quest for the broad portfolio of experiences
* the more money you trade your life for and then blow on material experiences, the more time you forfeit for non-material experiences
* you disregard a couple of important platitudes at your (financial peril):
– continuously widen your margin of safety!
– less *is* more!

I have begun to find comfort in the pattern here: ERE posts, Adfecto comments, Steve Austin comments on comments. So predictable! Would someone please break this pattern on our behalf? I wish to be uncomfortable. ;-\

I think the three of you should team up and start a new blog, it would be so very entertaining! The diversity and depth of opinions are very interesting and helpful… one can literally see all the different sides of a given issue. I find myself agreeing with everyone: the original post is, as usual, completely rational and true. But I understand Adfecto’s moderation/live-in-the-moment/enjoy the journey philosophy. Then again, Mr. Austin does a nice job of killing two birds with one stone: one can both minimize expenses while maximizing pleasure, through hobbies that do not require a lot, if any, money. *Time* is a very important feature of this approach, as you say. For example, my two greatest hobbies are reading and oil painting, both of which produce pleasure that parallels the length of time I spend on these activities. No amount of money in the world can “buy” this experience for me, only time.
I understand that this approach is considered foreign in America, where one hardly mentions the value of time but rather quantifies everyone in terms of dollars and cents. I understand that it all leads to money at some point, but I guess the debate here can be simplified to: do you seek to maximize your spending power (fun through consumption) or your leisure time (fun through creativity/hobbies)?

Jacob-

You say you value time so you’d rather work less. And you say you’re already financially independent. But it seems to me that you work quite a lot – both in a day job and your freelance work.

@Judith – good point. It’s a combination of two problems a) I don’t work for money alone b) There is a certain inertia in a career in that I don’t feel like quitting the instant I hit my crossover point. It will most likely more be a situation where I simply don’t apply for a new job when my current contract runs out.