Congrats mate. Let’s make a difference.

I’ve looked at FI as an end goal for so long, then one day, suddenly, I have to look at it as the beginning of something else. I like what John had to say above about getting out of the goal-oriented mindset. Perhaps I should consider setting that as my new goal. Oh wait…

In fact, one of the nice things about being financially independent is it gives you the luxury to be an author (which is in general a very, very competitive thing to be in, especially if you aren’t a “big name” — at least from what I hear). If you don’t *need* the money than you can do it for pleasure and slowly build up. I think learning how to write fiction could be fun too and would be very intellectually stimulating.

About the physics, that would be cool. Although I think in defense of modern physics, skills have gotten so specialized because that’s what is necessary to make rapid progress. From a funding and societal progress perspective, there may be little value in having a bunch of well-rounded physicists when they can simply lean on each other’s specialties and focus on developing those. I’m a computational theorist, and while I understand the theory behind some of the more complex codes that I run, it would take me a number of years to actually write that sort of thing myself. I guess this is similar to a experimentalist just buying a Geiger counter off the shelf.

In terms of physics one of the things I have thought about doing is to revive “garage physics”. Making simple experiments using kitchen utensils e.g. how do you build a transistor using “primitive” ingredients, how would you build a battery, … a kind of low-tech high-concept laboratory. It seems to me that modern physics has lost ground-contact in a sense. How many physicists know how to build a Geiger counter and demonstrate the theory? Most buy the counter from a supplier and go from there.

I want to promote the ideas of net zero housing in conjunction with renewable resources; how it could be a huge step in reducing the ever increasing demands on our natural resources.

I want to live my own ideals and be as self sufficient as I can be. I grew up on home grown veggies, eggs, milk, cheese and meats. I want my daughter to know the confidence that we can take care of ourselves (at least most of the time)

The probem I am facing right now is this: do I choose to quit working, finish my degree and spend time with her sooner? Or do I delay even longer and try to buy us a little place of our own where I can practice what I preach?

It sounds like you’ve come to the same question that I came to during some time off in Japan a few years back. The problem you are probably facing is that all your life you’ve probably chased after goals. A phd, Financial Independence, etc.

The problem is, what happens when you’ve reached your goals? What happens when there are no more roller coasters to ride?

Most people’s instinct is to automatically look for another goal to chase. I can tell you from experience that you’ll end up with the same feeling at the end of that goal as you do now.

The only answer I’ve found is to stop focusing on goals and start living every day just for the experience of being alive today. There is a great book by Thich Nhat Hanh called Peace is Every Step which is about enjoying every single day of your life.

It might help you focus more on who you are and what you enjoy and less on setting goals to be accomplished.

Good luck with the big questions!